James Hanley

BSc, MSc, MA, PhD

James Hanley’s career at the University of Winnipeg is marked by his commitment to equity in governance and for his role in facilitating initiatives that directly impacted Indigenous representation. Hanley also made his mark with a sustained involvement in the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (UWFA), assuming a variety of roles that prioritized the workplace welfare of university members.

He was appointed Chair of the Department of History in 2015 and served on nine different university committees, as well as various search and evaluation committees — lauded by his peers for using his contributions to matters outside of his own department. He has served UWFA in one capacity or another for nearly his entire career, perhaps most importantly in his eight-year term as Chair of the Workplace Safety and Health Committee (WSHC). Hanley’s work on the WSHC may have gone unnoticed by the broader university community, but he is a relentless believer in fighting for the safety and rights of faculty, staff, and students.

In the community, Hanley’s voice has been prominent in pushing back on anti-science rhetoric — via lectures aimed at promoting informed public opinion. He’s taken on speaking engagements to lecture on evolution and against climate change denialism.

Decisions made in Hanley’s purview always involved ample consultation with those most impacted. He believes greatly in a democratic approach that incorporates the ideas and feedback of those around him.

For his commitment to the betterment of education, work behind the scenes for the rights of all on campus, and open-minded approach to collegial governance, the University of Winnipeg is proud to honour Dr. James Hanley with the Robin H. Farquhar Award for Excellence in Contributing to Self-Governance.