Guelph-Humber applauds female excellence during 3rd-annual GH Women of Distinction event

Rachel Lyn Balintec, a fourth-year Community Social Services student, was nominated for a GH Women of Distinction recognition because of the impact she has made by leveraging research and academics as a tool for social awareness and positive change, while opening dialogue and empowering her peers to become contributors to social change. 

Rachel is active in the U of GH community, especially as an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and belonging. She served as a resource and events assistant at the Humber LGBTQ+ Resource Centre to support campus programming and create welcoming spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ people, and she was part of key events on campus like Transgender Day of Remembrance and a World Aids Day event. Additionally, she approaches vulnerable communities with care, as seen with her thesis project, which is focused on queer Indigenous students and how post-secondary education has shaped their well-being. 

Furthermore, Rachel has explored how nuclear disarmament education can be approached through peace education and empathy as a research assistant for the Soka Education Research Centre on Global Citizenship. Her advocacy and knowledge on the issue have resonated with her peers to be aware and concerned about the state of the world and to learn more about nuclear disarmament. 

She also provides enthusiastic mentorship to peers through connection and speaking engagements to inspire others. 

“Rachel Lyn Balintec’s influence lies in her ability to connect research, community involvement, and practice in ways that support inclusion, mentorship, and meaningful impact within her program and beyond,” one of her nominators  said. Another nominator said, “Rachel does not get involved in the community to check a box so she can add it to her resume, but because she has a clear passion for the work she is doing.”

Priya Puran, a Justice Studies alum (class of 2024), was nominated for a GH Women of Distinction recognition because of the leadership, community empowerment, academic excellence, and equity-driven advocacy she has displayed. She has been cited as someone who turns vision into sustained, meaningful, and measurable impact. 

Priya is pursuing a master’s degree in Socio-Legal Studies at York University, where she’s researching technology-facilitated abuse, legislative accountability, and intersectionality – notably for women and marginalized communities. Her academic efforts translate into impact because she advocates for stronger legislative protections for survivors of technology-facilitated abuse in Canada. 

While doing so, she serves as director of operations and strategy and co-founded the DuoVida Foundation and DuoVida collective. The Foundation is the part of the organization where free professional development opportunities are planned and held, and the Collective is the part of the organization that encourages connection through fun events to decompress. DuoVida’s purpose is to bridge success with networking and fun, while also uplifting Black and Caribbean youth, and other marginalized communities. Additionally, she launched her own social media page (@PushingPrii) where she shares her own story to inspire and encourage shy, introverted individuals who experience social anxiety to strive for success, while overcoming fear, just as she does.

During her time at Guelph-Humber, Priya exhibited leadership skills and mentored peers through being a First-Year Experience leader, offering guidance through academic uncertainty associated with adjusting to a new environment. She was also active in the U of GH community as the vice-president of Alpha Phi Sigma, and through being a research assistant for Dr. Laura MacDiarmid and the Soka Education Research Centre on Global Citizenship under Dr. Paul Sherman.

“What distinguishes Priya Puran is her innovative and integrated approach to addressing challenges facing women and marginalized communities. Rather than offering temporary solutions, she builds long-term systems that combine education, mentorship, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, and cultural affirmation. Her work empowers women not only to succeed, but to redefine success on their own terms,” Priya’s nominator remarked.

She also spends her time volunteering, including with organizations like Sara Elizabeth Centre, Guyana Community House, and the Knights Table, as well as personal acts of care such as distributing care packages in the winter to those in need and feeding the hungry. 

Amrit Butter, a third-year Community Social Services student, was nominated for her devotion to mental health advocacy, equity, leadership, and social justice, as well as her strong academic performance – all achieved while maintaining a strong sense of empathy.

Amrit has been described as someone who strives to create inclusive environments that feel safe, especially for marginalized communities. In summer 2025, Amrit participated in the Indigenous Field Study Course in Psychology, and showed commitment to listening deeply, reflecting critically, and engaging ethically with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and healing. During this intensive course, she impressed her instructor, Dr. Allison Reeves, with her academic performance and was asked to become her research assistant, delving further into learning about Indigenous mental health and healing.

Her commitment to being a social justice advocate is seen with her long-standing involvement in the organizations Plan International Canada, as well as Apathy is Boring. She was also a volunteer research assistant with the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada (its mission is to advance accessibility and inclusivity in civic participation), and supported health promotion initiatives within the William Osler Health System. 

Furthermore, Amrit has also shown dedication to the mental health field and providing trauma-informed support to people in need, especially youth. She has served as a crisis responder for Kids Help Phone and worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association for a placement to learn more about recovery-focused programming.  

"She is an exceptional student, a thoughtful leader, a capable researcher, and a deeply engaged community member,” one of her nominators said. “I am confident that Amrit will continue to make meaningful and lasting contributions to the fields of mental health, community service, and social justice.”

Dr. Olivia Boukydis, Chair of the Community Social Services program, was nominated for a GH Women of Distinction recognition for her dedication to serving students, genuine kindness, and thoughtful leadership during a transformative time for the program.

“Through Dr. Boukydis’s efforts and dedication to bringing the CSS community together, we have experienced in real-time what the essence of the program is known for – connection, human experiences and empathy,” her nominator said.

Dr. Boukydis is a fierce equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) advocate, and ensures the program is rooted in this philosophy. Whether it’s through day-to-day interactions with students or through rebuilding a program that keeps EDIB at its core, Dr. Boukydis embraces diverse perspectives. 

Furthermore, through her innovation, she’s responsible for the program’s new Annual Field Reflection and Readiness Day, where students present their experiences to members of the U of GH community from their advanced practicum course, which summarized the lessons they learned during their field placements. Her nominator described the event as “pivotal” in preparing students for their career – while providing unwavering emphasis on the values of community and belonging.

Dr. Andrea Chance, instructor in the Business Administration program, received a nomination for a GH Women of Distinction recognition for her deep commitment to the Guelph-Humber community as a mentor to students, which enriches their academic and professional lives. Moreover, she has been committed to teaching within the Business program for nearly two decades. 

Dr. Chance goes above and beyond to enhance students’ experience at Guelph-Humber. A notable example is annually dedicating a weekend volunteering to host an accounting bootcamp for students, where she provided practical strategies, guidance, and support, while cheering students on to succeed. 

Additionally, she helped coach Guelph-Humber’s NIBS case competition team to prepare them for the 2026 NIBS Worldwide Case Competition. Here, she guided students through building, articulating, and defending strong financial narratives within business case analyses. Dr. Chance also served as a judge during the 2026 NIBS Worldwide Case Competition, where she provided students with meaningful constructive feedback. 

Moreover, she has been described as creating a psychologically safe environment for her students. For instance, she has treated her students to coffee and pizza lunches during times when she felt they needed a positivity boost. 

“She creates a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel comfortable seeking advice and are empowered to grow. Her mentorship extends well beyond curriculum requirements and has had a meaningful, personal impact on countless students,” one of Dr. Chances nominators said. 

Kyong Heo, the Psychology program support coordinator, was nominated for a GH Woman of Distinction recognition due to her exceptional and sustained contribution to the program through her influence, care-centred leadership, and deep commitment to student and community well-being.

Kyoung goes above and beyond; she doesn’t just treat being a program support coordinator as an administrative duty, rather she incorporates tenets of care, inclusion, and attentiveness in her role to ensure students and staff feel valued, welcomed, and supported. Her influence creates ripples of positivity within the Psychology program’s culture.

“Her approach sets a tone for the entire program: one where people matter, where questions are met with patience and respect, and where no one feels invisible,” one of Kyoung’s nominators said. 

Additionally, she supports student-led initiatives, such as the Psych Society and the Canadian Psychological Association campus chapter, where she fosters an environment where all students can feel seen, heard, and empowered.

As the first point of connection in the program for many students, Kyoung models respect, care, and professionalism – qualities that inspire others and strengthen the Guelph-Humber community.