In advance of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Reporter celebrates the stories of extraordinary women shared by members of the McGill community.
The submissions come from across the University – students, staff and faculty alike – and highlight women who have inspired and had a positive impact on those around them.
While each story is unique, all express deep respect and gratitude. These women have left an indelible mark on their communities, offering lessons in resilience, compassion and strength, be it through wisdom shared in a lab, nurturing offered in a home, or the care given in a Second World War field hospital.
Hediyeh Amin, named by Darya Mirhosseini, PhD Candidate, Department of Mechanical Engineering
My mother has always been my greatest role model. She completed her medical degree after marriage and her first child, proving that dedication knows no limits. She specialized in her field and built a successful career, all while working full-time, managing a household and raising us with endless love and strength. Even after achieving so much, she never stopped learning. She was the first in our family to embark on a PhD journey, and her persistence inspired me to start my own.
She has always taught me to embrace challenges, stay resilient and rise after every failure. Her unwavering support and determination are the reasons I dared to take this path. Despite our different fields – hers in medicine, mine in engineering – we are supporting each other along the way, sharing the struggles and triumphs of research.
She lives by a Persian saying: ”Step forward without fear, for the road itself will show the way.” Because of her, I do just that. I am proud of her and the version of me she helped shape.
Patricia Tonin, senior scientist in the Cancer Research Program at the RI-MUHC, named by Julia V. Burnier, Livia Garzia and Joanna Przybyl, scientists in the RI-MUHC Cancer Research Program and Annie Leung, Attending Physician in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the MUHC
We are incredibly fortunate to have Patricia Tonin as our mentor, guide and champion. As a scientist, she has shaped the careers of many young researchers, but what makes her truly extraordinary is her unwavering commitment to supporting women as they navigate the challenges of building an independent academic career. Despite her demanding workload, she gives generously of her time to mentorship and has guided countless early-career investigators, both formally and informally.
Patricia leads with patience and empathy, recognizing the challenges of balancing research, mentorship and life outside the lab. At the same time, she is a fierce advocate, ensuring we have opportunities, standing up for us when it matters and making sure we never feel alone in this journey.
She has shown us that it is possible to be an excellent scientist, collaborator, teacher and still be devoted to one’s well-being.
Because of Patricia, we – and many others – have had the confidence to push forward, take risks, embrace our potential and advance our careers. Having her in our corner has made all the difference, and we are deeply grateful for her leadership, strength, encouragement and unwavering support.
On this International Women’s Day, we thank Patricia for being an exquisite role model and for her dedication to mentorship and to the next generation of scientists!
Phyllis Brown, named by Dean Yolande Chan of the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management
A woman who has always inspired me is my mother, Phyllis. She was brilliant, full of grace and deeply selfless. Her intelligence was matched by her kindness and hard work, and her strength shaped my understanding of leadership and service.
When I was born, she made the decision to set aside her dream of becoming a lawyer to dedicate herself fully to our family. It was an act of selflessness that speaks to the kind of person she was: someone who prioritized the well-being of others. Her sacrifices were never framed as burdens, but as expressions of love.
She set a high standard for love, shown through action, rooted in selflessness and centred on the collective or community. She also taught me the importance of beauty, quiet strength and composure, even in professional life. She grew stunning orchids in our garden. The orchids in my office daily remind me of her. I am uplifted as I think of her intelligence, elegance, generosity, humility, dedication, loyalty and, above all, love.
Guanghui Guo, named by Jie Gao, PhD candidate, Learning Sciences Program
My mom Guanghui has a lovely and kind-hearted soul. Our relationship is a unique tapestry, more akin to close friends than the traditional mother-daughter dynamic. She is the second child in her family and has contributed most to the family. Her life is full of amazing stories that can’t be summed up in just a few words, but her life has shaped how I see the world.
She’s the one who made me more optimistic and confident. As a child, I was introverted and fearful of social interactions. Her constant encouragement empowered me to overcome obstacles and express myself.
I admire her wit and courage in facing challenges, relish her humorous interactions with friends, and am deeply grateful for her selfless dedication to our family without seeking anything in return.
In the past, she was fearless and confident. She even travelled along the East Coast of the United States without knowing much English.
However, in the last year, she lost her beloved mother (my grandma), and it hit her hard. In the last hundred days of my grandma’s life, my mom stayed by her side, taking care of her day and night, barely getting any sleep. I deeply empathize with her sorrow, but I hope she can soon find her way back to being the happy, lively person she used to be.
As International Women’s Day approaches, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my mother for giving me the strength and faith to explore life. I also wish her health and happiness, today and always.
Magda Huhn, named by Victor Chisholm, Student Affairs Administrator, Faculty of Science
My grandmother’s cousin, Magda Huhn, did astonishing things, especially during the Second World War. We only discovered and met Magda in the last few years of her life, but the bit I learned from and about her is very special to me.
Although she was refused admission to medical school in her hometown of Budapest because of the numerus clausus laws, that did not stop her. She tried another university in another city, and a sympathetic university administrator was willing to look beyond the indication of a Jewish father on her identity papers.
She felt powerless when she saw Jews hauled away from that campus. Fascist student thugs came to her classroom asking for the Jews, but at least once a professor stood up and simply told them off. Perhaps that fed her own courage. After she returned to Budapest, she and some friends forged baptismal records as fast as they could to help Jews evade persecution.
During the Second World War, during the Siege of Budapest, she again put her own safety at risk when she volunteered in a field hospital, up until the night when her superior warned her that the Soviets would be clearing out the hospital the next day (i.e., taking prisoners), and so once again she fled Budapest.
I have often wondered, would I have the same courage to stand up against evil? The question seems less theoretical today than at any point in my life, and I feel blessed to be able to draw on concrete examples from Magda (and other family members of that generation). Magda helped others, bravely in wartime, and over the long haul via her international biomedical career – and that inspires me.
Stephanie Larocque, Associate Director of Administration – Oncology, Pathology and Diagnostic Radiology, named by Jennifer Gumbley, Sally Crawford, Subhobrata Das and Rania Iliyan
On International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate the incredible leadership and unwavering support of our Associate Director, Stephanie Larocque. As a mentor, she has shown us what true dedication to both excellence and empathy looks like. Her ability to inspire and guide with integrity, confidence and kindness has not only shaped our professional growth, but also influenced so many others in the McGill community.
Her resilience in the face of challenges and her unwavering belief in the potential of others make her an invaluable role model. We’re grateful to learn from her every day and proud to work alongside such an inspiring woman.
Thank you, Stephanie, for all the ways you uplift those around you.
Julia Hansen, named by Stephen McAdams, Canada Research Chair in Music Perception and Cognition
In the early 1970s, I had the great fortune to study music theory, composition and piano with a remarkable teacher and mentor, Julia Hansen, at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. For me, Julia has always stood as the gold standard of what an exceptional teacher is: firm but kind, rigorous but open-minded, always ready to open doors for students striving to move beyond the classroom materials, and continuously inspiring students to live a life full of beauty, appreciation and giving.
She taught for many years in the community college system in the San Francisco Bay Area and continues to teach piano to students from five to 80 years out of her home in Half Moon Bay. She instilled in me a depth of appreciation for what music can be, and although I left the study of music per se to pursue a career in experimental psychology, this appreciation has kept me close to music even as a scientist, indeed, practising my science in the Schulich School of Music.
My fondest memory, aside from her wicked sense of humour, is of the many times she invited groups of students to her home to have music-listening and discussion sessions and to hear her play on her concert grand piano (often with her standard poodle lying under the piano to absorb the musical vibrations).
There are several generations of musicians who are deeply indebted to her insights, guidance and, most important, to her love of music from many cultures that she imparted to all of us.
Sarah Glover Duncan, named by Nikki G. Lobczowski, Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences Program, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
I have been fortunate to have many women in my life who have inspired me, but there is one that stands out. My sister, Sarah, is my best friend and biggest cheerleader. She has been by my side for every celebration and disappointment. She’s who I call when I need help thinking of a catchy title for a manuscript or advice with difficult situations. She leads a busy and full life but somehow manages to make me feel like I’m the most important part of it.
Sarah hasn’t had an easy life. We didn’t have much growing up and our father passed away when we were kids, on her birthday, no less. This past year she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40, after scheduling her first routine mammogram. She has every reason to be angry, jaded and selfish. Instead, she is a bright light, a beacon of hope to everyone she meets. She has used her recent diagnosis to spread awareness and help others get tested early. She prioritizes others’ health and happiness, even when she is hurting herself. She truly improves the lives of everyone around her.
Thank you, Sarah, on this International Women’s Day, and for every other day that I’ve been lucky enough to have you as a sister.
