Introducing the FASS Global South Graduate Scholarship
When colleagues in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies began asking Professor Michael Brklacich how he wanted to celebrate his retirement, he thought: How about instead of a party, we ask people to donate to a scholarship?
Established in this spirit of generosity, the new Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Global South Graduate Scholarship aims to strengthen and create new opportunities for the next generation of Global South scholars.
The scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to an outstanding international graduate student from the Global South entering or continuing a full-time graduate degree program within FASS, and who is conducting research into transformative societal or cultural issues.

Brklacich says the award is inspired by his “privilege of working for over thirty years in the Global South,” where he learned tremendously from other scholars while pursuing his research on human-environment systems.
The hope is that this new scholarship will help continue that cross-cultural knowledge exchange.
“When we can bring the expertise of underrepresented voices into our own institution, the whole institute benefits.”
– Dr. Michael Brklacich, Retired Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Following a career as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, Brklacich joined the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in 1992 and served as Departmental Chair from 2006-2012.
In July 2014, he was appointed as a Chancellor’s Professor in recognition of the “outstanding merit with substantial international impact” of his long-term contributions to researching the human dimensions of global environmental change.
His appreciation of opportunities and challenges for scholars from the Global South was expanded further between 2015 and 2020 when he served as FASS’s Associate Dean (Research and International).
“This new scholarship will provide crucial support to future cohorts of FASS graduate students who face systemic barriers to pursuing an education in Canada, and is a testament to Mike’s warmth of character and collegial spirit.”
– Dr. L. Pauline Rankin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
For his part, Brklacich hopes the scholarship will help lessen the financial burdens that might prevent someone from coming to Carleton and continuing their scholarly journeys.
“Graduate students from the Global South go through so many transitions just to come to Canada,” he explains. “If we can help them a small amount in launching their careers, that would be great.”
To make a donation through Carleton University to help support students for years to come, please consider contributing to the FASS Global South Graduate Scholarship fund.