Four Professors Named 2024 University Scholars

Four McMaster professors have been named 2024 University Scholars, in recognition of their leadership in their respective research areas and disciplines, and the impact of their work.

University Scholars are mid-career researchers who have distinguished themselves as international scholars and have demonstrated a commitment to the discovery, communication and preservation of knowledge, excellence in education and pedagogy, and to serving local and global communities.

Each University Scholar will receive $15,000 each year of the award (up to $60,000), provided by the provost and the recipient’s dean.

This year’s University Scholars are:

• Trish Ruebottom, Associate Professor, Human Resources and Management, DeGroote School of Business
• Jason Busse, Professor, Anesthesia, Faculty of Health Sciences
• Tohid Didar, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
• Ada Tang, Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences

Trish Ruebottom | Associate Professor, Human Resources and Management | DeGroote School of Business

Ruebottom’s rigorous studies of marginalized and highly stigmatized groups, including years or work studying women’s rights organization in Libya, sex workers and the taxi industry, have greatly contributed to the global understanding of the intersection of organizations, inequality, social innovation and change.

Ruebottom’s work is published in top-tier journals and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Academy of Management Review Best Paper Award.

As part of her tireless work to advance equity, diversity and inclusion, Ruebottom takes care to share her research findings with practitioners and her expertise in her classes. She has designed courses on multidisciplinary entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and qualitative research methods.

She is collaborating with an international team on a Handbook on Emotions and Values in Institutions. At McMaster, she is part of the interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Community-Oriented Entrepreneurship (CRCE), the Social Innovation Hub and the Research Centre for Overlooked Workers.

Ruebottom’s commitment to equity and inclusion is evident in her service commitments and her generosity with her time, energy and expertise in supporting marginalized groups. She currently serves on the university’s Board-Senate Hearing Panel for Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence.