Five UM scholars named among Canada’s Most Powerful Women

The Women’s Executive Network has announced its annual Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, celebrating the achievements of leaders across the country. This year’s theme was “Be Bold,” with more than 500 women nominated. 

Among this year’s winners are five scholars from the University of Manitoba, including Hope Anderson. 

“I like to think that a powerful woman is one who has the wherewithal to bring out the best in those she leads, mentors, and serves,” Dr. Anderson said. “I feel so grateful to be named to the Top 100, but how exciting is that – the power of hundreds and hundreds of women in Canada. That warrants celebration.” 

Here’s a look at the five UM women who made the list:  

Hope Anderson: Inspiring academic excellence 

Dr. Anderson, vice-dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and professor in the college of pharmacy, was listed in the professionals category, recognizing those who have a leadership role within their organization. She has more than 15 years of experience in academic governance and leads initiatives that empower graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and women in academia. She was named to the Top 100 list in the professionals category, recognizing those who have a leadership role within their organization.  

Kristine Cowley: Advancing spinal cord research  

As the Canada Research Chair in function and health after spinal cord injury (SCI), Dr. Cowley is a leader known for her research in SCI, biomedical neurosciences and knowledge translation. She sustained an SCI in her 20s, sparking her interest in understanding spinal cord functions. Dr. Crowley is an associate professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the Max Rady College of Medicine and the director of the Spinal Cord Research Centre for Health, Balance and Motor Control. She was honoured in the STEM category.  

Melanie Lalonde: Celebrating Indigenous knowledge  

Dr. Lalonde’s extensive work in ecology and evolution has shaped her field, including discovering the grey buckeye butterfly. An honouree in the emerging leaders category, Dr. Lalonde is a program development specialist in the faculty of science’s Wawatay program, which supports Indigenous students in blending Indigenous perspectives with Western science. Dr. Lalonde, a Red River Métis Citizen, serves as the treasurer of Seven Oaks Métis Council and is a part of the Infinity Women Secretariat.  

Leigh Michelle McClarty: Breaking barriers to care 

Dr. McClarty, an assistant professor at the Max Rady College of Medicine, was recognized in the emerging leaders category for her work reducing global health inequities. Her research focuses on improving public health programming for marginalized populations.  

“This [type of work] requires a collaborative, community-centric approach, and I am consistently inspired by my colleagues who graciously guide me through these processes,” Dr. McClarty says. “They help me better understand how to work toward safer, more equitable models of prevention and care that can adapt to the evolving needs and concerns of their communities.” 

Her research addresses barriers to care for communities affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in Manitoba, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ukraine. Dr. McClarty also serves as president of Nine Circles Community Health Centre in Winnipeg, advancing culturally safe care for individuals at risk of or living with sexually transmitted infections.  

Neeloffer Mookherjee: Empowering women in STEM 

Recognized in the STEM category, Dr. Mookherjee is an internationally recognized researcher in immunity-related functions and peptide-based therapeutics for chronic inflammatory diseases. She is the Canadian Institutes of Health Research sex and gender science chair in respiratory health and a professor of internal medicine and immunology at the Max Rady College of Medicine. Recognized in the STEM category, Dr. Mookherjee leads efforts to incorporate sex- and gender-based analyses into biomedical research, such as her work that looks at sex-specific impacts of air pollution on respiratory disease.