Stephanie Simpson is using her experience as a Black student at Queen’s to understand challenges equity seeking students face.
A new position at Queen’s University, Simpson began her role as the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) on June 1. Previously the Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion), Principal Patrick Deane announced Simpson’s appointment on May 15.
“I now have the unique ability within this Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) portfolio to focus all my energy on how we’re going to create institutional change and ensure people are able to thrive in this community,” Simpson said in an interview with The Journal.
In her new role, Simpson oversees the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), the Office of the Ombudsperson, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and a new Office for Complaints and Investigations of Harassment and Discrimination in her role.
Building on her 27-year career in anti-racism activism and human rights, Simpson’s job is to create better collaboration, visibility, and ability across the University for equity related initiatives.
While Simpson’s role is the first of its kind at Queen’s, she’s no stranger to equity related issues. She first came to the University in the early ’90s for her undergraduate degree and was stunned at how different it was from her hometown of Mississauga.
“There was not just a lack of visible diversity, but what I experienced was a devaluing of people who were not white and able-bodied,” Simpson said.
Simpson described her undergraduate experience at Queen’s as difficult. Queen’s was not welcoming to Black students and failed to foster a sense of belonging, Simpson explained.
“I looked to student organisations such as The African Caribbean Students Association (ACSA) for , which is still going strong. I was able to find a home [with these associations] and a sense that, not only did I deserve to be here but it was possible to thrive at Queen’s as a Black student,” Simpson added.
Having worked for the Human Rights and Equity Office since 1996, Simpson was deeply disturbed when students of colour spoke to her about the daily microaggressions they experienced on campus.
“It felt like [I was] listening to a transcript of my life at Queens,” Simpson said. “When you see a pattern of experience repeated over the course of decades, that tells us that this is not an individual issue, it’s a systemic and structural issue.”
Equipped with an intimate understanding of inequities at Queen’s, Simpson wants to remind students the barriers they face are not a product of their own intelligence or value—she said it’s a systemic problem.
Simpson has equity-focused accomplishments under her belt already, having taught a course on race and racism, being a founding member of Black History Month Kingston, and chairing the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity.
As for what’s next, Simpson reported analyzing the University’s strengths and weaknesses in addressing equity related issues. She’s cross-referencing her role with those at other Canadian universities to collaborate with other experts on dismantling systemic barriers for students.
“The thing that keeps me up at night is how we can actually transform Queen’s into a place where every person leaves the school feeling like it was a home to them,” Simpson said.
“I really feel like it is my responsibility in this role to help address these problems.”
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