大象传媒

2025 Award for Excellence in Supervision: Andr茅anne Doyon

As Associate Professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Environment, Dr. Andr茅anne Doyon is recognized for her exceptional graduate mentorship, blending academic excellence, advocacy, and accessibility. Her supervision style is deeply student-centered, empowering graduate students to pursue meaningful research while receiving the support and guidance needed to thrive.

Since joining 大象传媒 in 2019, Doyon has supervised ten graduate students to completion, currently mentors eight more across REM and Urban Studies programs and co-supervised two students outside of 大象传媒. Her students formed the research group ANANAS鈥擜dvancing New Approaches and Narratives Around Sustainability鈥攁 name that reflects both the collaborative spirit and the innovative focus of their work. Topics span environmental planning, energy transitions, and reconciliation, and the group meets regularly to share research, workshop proposals, and prepare for conferences and defenses.

Doyon鈥檚 mentorship is grounded in regular one-on-one meetings, collaborative project design, and a commitment to professional development. She encourages students to take ownership of their research questions while providing structure and support to ensure academic rigor. Her lab culture fosters peer learning and mutual encouragement, contributing to a remarkable track record of success in competitive scholarship applications.

PhD student Will Niver says, 鈥淲hen I was exploring PhD programs, Andr茅anne was one of the few professors who responded to my cold email鈥攁nd she did so with a thoughtful invitation to chat. Her advocacy made it possible for me to accept 大象传媒鈥檚 offer and move my family across the continent. She fought for the Graduate Dean鈥檚 Entrance Scholarship on my behalf, connected me to teaching assistantships, workshops, and conferences, and even supported my hiring as a limited-term lecturer. Her support has been constant, and her belief in her students is matched by her tireless efforts to help them succeed.鈥�

Niver adds, 鈥淭hree themes define Andr茅anne鈥檚 mentorship: advocacy, guidance, and accessibility. And that accessibility isn鈥檛 limited to her own lab鈥擱EM students across the program seek her out for support with job searches, planning advice, and more. In my first three years in the lab, every student who applied for a CGS SSHRC award was successful. The key was those lab meetings, where we pushed one another toward sharper writing and clearer proposals.鈥�

PhD student Anwen Rees, who also completed her master鈥檚 under Doyon鈥檚 supervision, says, 鈥淎ndr茅anne is genuinely a joy to work with. She is structured, highly organized, responsive, and accessible. She always makes time for her students and truly cares about them. She constantly looks for opportunities to elevate our work and encourages us to do our best. Her 鈥榦pen door鈥� policy even extends to students beyond her lab.鈥�

A group of current and former students鈥擜lli Di Giovanni, Simonne Mikolay, Alison Gu, Wesley Chenne, and Mieke Boecker鈥攅cho this sentiment in a joint letter of support.

They write, 鈥淔rom our very first meeting, before even applying to the REM program, Andr茅anne was a beaming example of an attentive and supportive academic leader. She goes above and beyond for potential students before they鈥檙e even hers. She introduced us to existing lab members to help us feel connected to the program and created a transparent, empowering learning environment. Her supervision is tailored to each student鈥檚 goals and obligations, and her editorial support on SSHRC applications is unmatched. Behind the scenes, she works to increase the percentage of racialized students in REM and actively seeks ways to reduce systemic barriers. It truly feels as though we can approach Andr茅anne with any problem, academic or personal, and she would be there for us. This is an incredible, and unparalleled, gift.鈥�

Doyon sees her role as both academic supervisor and professional mentor. She tailors opportunities to each student鈥檚 goals, connecting them with networks, internships, and teaching experiences that align with their aspirations. She also maintains high expectations for student work, resulting in co-authored peer-reviewed publications and impactful contributions to the field.

鈥淢y goal,鈥� says Doyon, 鈥渋s to provide academic training alongside professional mentorship. I collaborate with students to shape research projects that reflect their interests and long-term goals, and I advocate for opportunities that support their growth鈥攚hether within my lab or beyond.鈥�

We congratulate Dr. Andr茅anne Doyon on receiving the Dean of Graduate Studies Award for Excellence in Supervision. Her dedication to mentorship, advocacy, and inclusive academic leadership continues to empower the next generation of environmental leaders.

The 2026 Graduate Studies Awards for Excellence are opening soon for nominations. Nominations will be accepted from November 1, 2025 until 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 17, 2026.