Maydianne C. B. Andrade

Maydianne C.B. Andrade earned a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and now holds the University of Toronto’s top academic rank – University Professor. Her fundamental research examines how social conditions affect animal evolution, diversity, and behaviour, mediated by challenges to reproduction in novel or changing environments. She is an internationally recognized expert on widow spiders with research on species spanning four continents, and conducted in her lab at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Her most recent work examines how flexible gene expression linked to environmental factors may underlie the success of invasive species. Professor Andrade received Exemplar awards from the Animal Behavior Society and from the Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior for her long-term research contributions to the field. In addition to her primary appointment in Biological Sciences, Professor Andrade holds cross-appointments in the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A former Canada Research Chair in Integrative Behavioural Ecology, she has been named an Honorary International member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, which has awarded her the Lawrence J. Burpee medal for outstanding achievement and science leadership.

In addition to her fundamental research, Professor Andrade is heavily engaged in knowledge translation and creative professional activities aimed at increasing inclusive practices and cultures in academia. In 2016 she founded the Toronto Initiative for Diversity & Excellence, a group of senior faculty from across disciplines, deeply engaged in the literature, who act as knowledge translators and facilitators for peer-to-peer education sessions about inclusion. Professor Andrade led development of an online educational module series that supports self-directed, scaffolded learning about inclusive professional practices. She was awarded the University of Toronto’s Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human rights prize for this work. At UTSC, Professor Andrade’s leadership roles have included Special Advisor to the Dean on Inclusive Recruitment and Equity Education, a four-year term as Vice Dean Faculty Affairs, Equity, and Success, and six months as Acting Vice Principal Academic & Dean. Currently she serves as Special Advisor to the Dean on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE, University of Toronto). At a national level, Professor Andrade is Chair of the National Killam Selection Committee, is an incoming member of the Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy for the Tri-council Institutional Program Secretariat, and is a co-founder and the inaugural President of the Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN). The CBSN is a multidisciplinary, national coalition of Black trainees and professionals in STEMM together with their allies, which advocates for justice for Black Canadians in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. While fostering professional development, CBSN programs centre the importance of outreach to Black youth, as well as increased visibility for Black Canadians in STEMM fields across sectors.