Dr. Karine Coen-Sanchez

Co-Chair, Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Karine Coen-Sanchez is a scholar and advocate in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa, specializing in immigration, identity, race, and racism. Her research focuses on deconstructing the concept of race and exploring how the term 'racialization' draws attention to how 'racial' identities are constructed and contested within relations of power. A highly engaged activist, organizer, and scholar, Coen-Sanchez has worked tirelessly to forge relationships and initiate systemic change among Black and racialized graduate students in Canada. She has steered numerous anti-racism initiatives on her home campus as well as on a national stage, including stakeholder mobilization efforts, the development of institutional diversity and inclusivity statements, and the hosting of community-building events. A sought-after speaker on systemic barriers in education, she has received multiple awards, including the 2023 SWAAC Award, 2023 Mobility Award, 2023 Nia Award, and Congress Graduate Merit Awards. She also secured a Mitacs Acceleration Grant promoting inclusivity in Canadian education. Currently, she serves as Co-Chair of SSHRC’s Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism, reinforcing her commitment to systemic change.