Sociology PhD Student Wins Prestigious Vanier Award

This year, four Carleton University doctoral students won Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships making this the best ever showing for Carleton students.

These scholarships are open to PhD students across Canada and are valued at $50,000 per year for three years during their doctoral studies.

Genevieve Johnston was elated and overwhelmed with gratitude when she found out that she had received a Vanier CGS.

Johnston, a first year PhD of Sociology student, will be using the Vanier award to support her qualitative research on homeless and street-involved youth across Canada.

Her research explores how these youth negotiate and resist their marginalization through self-determination, resilience, and building communities of support.

Through her research, Johnston hopes to contribute to discourses on youth homelessness and offer a perspective that acknowledges the agency and courage of homeless youth, rather than focusing on their victimization.

Johnston’s supervisor is Dr. Jacqueline Kennelly, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

“Dr. Kennelly has been very supportive throughout the year and has generously involved me with her projects on youth homelessness,”said Johnston.

Dr. Kennelly gave Johnston the opportunity of working as a research assistant on the planning committee for the Coming Up Together on Youth Homelessness conference that they are organizing, which will take place at the University of Ottawa from February 20-22nd, 2018. The conference will bring together youth who have experienced homelessness, academics, policy makers, homeless service providers and the public.

Johnston said that she could not have won this award without the support and encouragement of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “The department truly cares about students and actively encourages student involvement by offering opportunities for socializing, self-care, and expanding our intellectual horizons,” said Johnston.