Our Awards
The 2025 WRC Awards of Excellence
These annual awards showcase and celebrate the outstanding success of University of Calgary community members. Each year, women are recognized for their wisdom, resiliency, and compassion in the face of adversity. Award recipients exemplify outstanding leadership in their personal and professional lives and strive to make their communities a better place for all. This year, the awards are being announced on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025.
The 2024 WRC Awards Recipients
Fouzia Usman
WRC Distinguished Alumna Award Recipient 2024
Dr. Fouzia Usman, PhD, works as an Educational Development Consultant at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. She specializes in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as accessibility, and anti-racism in higher education. Dr. Usman completed her Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision at Loyola University Chicago in 2011, and her Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Studies at Southeast Missouri State University in 2004. She completed her doctorate in Educational Research (Leadership) at the University of Calgary in 2019.
Nabilah Gulamhusein
WRC Distinguished Graduate Student Award Recipient 2024
Nabilah Gulamhusein is a PhD student in the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her research program focuses on the association between female-specific events across the lifespan and blood pressure. Nabilah obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Calgary in 2020.
Carolyn Horwood
WRC Distinguished Undergraduate Student Award Recipient 2024
Carolyn Horwood is pursuing a novel dual degree program in both Health and Society with a concentration in Sociology, and International Indigenous Studies — the first of its kind in the history of the University of Calgary. Carolyn has taken substantial initiative to expand her capacities to promote Indigenous and community-focused health equity in both local and international contexts.
The Sheila O'Brien Award
Sheila O'Brien embodies a unique example of leadership that has allowed her to transcend the traditional barriers faced by women. Along with her leadership roles in the private sector, Ms. O'Brien has continued to be active in community and government affairs. The Sheila O'Brien Award for Excellence in Leadership is awarded annually to the volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and brought a sense of kindness to the Women's Resource Centre. The recipient is determined based on nominations by fellow WRC volunteers.
The 2024 Sheila O'Brien Award Recipient
Charlie Libre
The Sheila O'Brien Award for Excellence in Leadership
Charlie Libre is a Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies and receiving a minor in Sociology. His leadership has made a significant impact on the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) volunteers and the broader community of people who access its services.
Sheila O'Brien