Gina Molleson

One donor-funded award can add energy to a researcher’s work.

Gina Molleson epitomizes social justice activism and advocacy for women's rights. As an undergraduate she worked with the university's Outreach Services, an experience that provided resources and leadership opportunities. It also earned her a donor-funded award that honoured how her passion and advocacy had made a difference at the university.

"I loved Outreach Services because it provided me with a large amount of resources surrounding this issue, leadership opportunities as well as opportunities to network with community partners," she said.

Today, in her second year of a master’s program in sociology, Gina’s research still embraces social justice, something that underpins our Criminology and Justice program. She is comparing media representations of police interactions with youth since the establishment of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. She hopes to identify how the media's representation on this phenomenon has changed since its inception.

Gina's also involved in numerous activities related to youth issues, such as homelessness and youth-on-youth violence. She was a member of the research team who worked to create SAY App for Eva's Initiatives, a non-profit that provides shelter, programs and services for homeless and at-risk youth. SAY App is a mobile application that connects homeless and street-involved youth with services and supports across Canada. For giving back to the community, Gina received a donor-funded award.

"I was honoured to have received an award that highlighted the work that I was able to do for the community in the four years I was at UOIT," Gina said. "I am grateful for donors who support the hard work and dedication of students."

Gina's enthusiasm for social justice issues continues driving her ambition to do more research in this field. Ultimately, she hopes to become a professor as well as a respected researcher in Criminology.