Dr. Kevin Hewitt, a professor in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science and a former chair of AV俱乐部 Senate, has been named associate dean, equity and inclusion in the Faculty of Science.
The new position was created to lead the development and implementation of an equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) strategy and framework for the Faculty.听
鈥淭his new associate dean position is a first for Dal Science and demonstrates our commitment to addressing the gaps in our existing EDIA initiatives and better supporting students, faculty and staff from equity-deserving groups,鈥� says Dr. Chuck Macdonald, dean of the Faculty of Science.
鈥淒r. Hewitt鈥檚 experience and long list of accomplishments during his more than 20 years at Dal, both through research excellence and a commitment to equity and community building, makes him an ideal fit for this new role."
Hewitt's new position begins immediately.
鈥淗er mentorship was what drove me鈥�
Born in England, Hewitt joined his grandmother in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines when he was just eight months old, while his mother immigrated to Canada.听
鈥淐anada wouldn鈥檛 accept immigrants with dependents,鈥� he recalls.听
At 10, he was able to move to Toronto to be reunited with his mother. Despite excelling in school and skipping a grade while growing up in the Caribbean nation, Hewitt was immediately moved back a grade upon entering school in Canada. 鈥淭hat spoke to the inequity at the time,鈥� Hewitt says. 鈥淐oming to this country when I was 10 and experiencing some of the things I did, I wanted to make things better for that next generation.鈥�
Both maternal figures in his life reinforced the importance of education.
鈥淔or immigrants to this country like my mother, education is the number one way in which you can succeed,鈥� he says. 鈥淗er mentorship was what drove me.鈥�
Hewitt knew that he would pursue post-secondary education, but he wasn鈥檛 sure what path to follow. His mother was a nurse and wanted Hewitt to become a medical doctor, but upon visiting her at the hospital where she worked, he realized he couldn鈥檛 鈥渉andle the death you would encounter.鈥�
He studied biology and physics, later 鈥渇alling in love with physics.鈥� His work has not completely abandoned medicine, though. 鈥淒eveloping medical instruments for diagnosing liver disorders brings me back to that goal of impacting medicine,鈥� he says, just as his mother had hoped for him.
A legacy of outreach and inclusion
In 1999, while working toward a doctoral degree in physics from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Hewitt organized a science outreach event for elementary to junior high school-age African Canadian students called 鈥淚mhotep鈥檚 Legacy Project I.鈥� Hewitt describes it as an attempt to marry his interest in community building with his passion for science.听
鈥淢y mother always emphasized the importance of community building and I took that to heart.鈥�
After earning his PhD in 2000, Hewitt was encouraged by former Simon Fraser professor Dr. Jeff Dahn to come to AV俱乐部鈥檚 Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science as a postdoctoral fellow that same year. After his fellowship, he started as an assistant professor in 2001. That initial outreach event inspired the 2003 creation of the Dal-affiliated Imhotep鈥檚 Legacy Academy (ILA) by Hewitt, Barbara Hamilton-Hinch (currently Dal鈥檚 assistant vice-provost equity and inclusion) and Wayn Hamilton.
Through mentorship activities and after-school programming, ILA aims to increase the representation of Nova Scotia youth of African descent in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). In 2011, ILA received a $1-million endowment from TD Canada Trust toward the creation of ILA-TD Scholarships for African Nova Scotian youth enrolled in STEM programs at AV俱乐部.
Hewitt led ILA for 10 years, an experience he describes as a 鈥渓abour of love.鈥� 鈥淓very year when we celebrated the students who passed through the program, I was in tears because you just saw the impact it was having on them.鈥�
Related reading:听Kevin Hewitt recognized by NSERC with its Science Promotion Award
A new direction for Dal Science
From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Hewitt served as chair of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Senate, the university鈥檚 senior academic governing body. In a Dal News story looking back at his six years in the position, he spoke of diversifying Senate鈥檚 membership, revising its policies and programs, and working with former Dal President Richard Florizone to authorize the Report on Lord AV俱乐部's History on Slavery and Race.听
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Kevin Hewitt, then-chair of AV俱乐部 Senate, speaks at the 2019 reception for the Lord AV俱乐部 Report. (Nick Pearce photo)
When the opportunity presented itself to apply for a new role with the Faculty of Science, Hewitt recognized that his Senate experience, along with the connections he made there, would be beneficial.
鈥淭hat work as Chair of Senate allowed me to see what was happening across the institution from an EDI lens,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t also taught me the importance of having diverse voices at the table in order to advance changes to our policies, programs and practices.鈥�
Hewitt has also served on national committees that advised Tri-council agencies on incorporating equity into the research evaluation process. 鈥淚 wanted to bring that national and university-wide experience to bear on a faculty that I care deeply for, that I鈥檓 a member of, and that has a great deal of support for us to become more equitable.鈥�
Hewitt looks forward to getting started in the role by collaborating with Science鈥檚 leadership team, students, staff, faculty members and its equity committee.
鈥淭ogether we can really advance the faculty, because equity is not a silo. It鈥檚 something that has to be incorporated into everything we do. And when I say equity, I mean a matter of fairness. Fairness in terms of access, what鈥檚 in the curriculum and representation.鈥�
