Glendon alumna Anaïs Dagrou wins prestigious leadership award

A recent graduate of Glendon Campus has been named the recipient of the “Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2020 in Canada” award due to her many contributions throughout her years of study at York University.

Anaïs Dagrou

Anaïs Dagrou, a graduate of political science at Glendon Campus (’20), received the award from the Canada International Black Women Event. The award symbolizes the boundless legacy black women are building in Canada and beyond through their achievements, leadership and successes. The award recognizes Dagrou for her outstanding contribution to Toronto’s Black and Francophone communities. It also gives a nod to Glendon’s commitment to provide students with the essential knowledge to positively influence their environment, their community and even the world.

During her time at Glendon, Dagrou was committed to promoting African culture, advocating for bilingualism within York University and Ontario’s francophone community, and representing francophone students on issues such as access to education in the province of Ontario in her various leadership roles, including college director for Glendon at the York Federation of Students (YFS). As a strong advocate for the Francophonie and the improvement of French-language services, she took part in several awareness and mobilization actions in the field. During her last academic year, Dagrou became more actively involved in the Glendon African Network.

“As president of the Glendon African Network, I wanted to extend the visibility of the association on the Keele campus, but also throughout the city of Toronto,” said Dagrou.

In addition to developing political and equity campaigns to create safe and accessible spaces on the Glendon Campus, Dagrou and her colleagues from the Glendon African Network organized several events during Black History Month that showcased their identities as young Black francophones. This dedication, as Dagrou recalls, allowed them to gain visibility on the Toronto scene and expand their social and professional networks by being invited to major events such as The African Forum Toronto 2019 as well as Future Skills: A conversation with President Barack Obama. Dagrou specifies that her meeting with former U.S. president Barack Obama was a very inspiring moment.

“The entire Glendon community congratulates Anaïs Dagrou for her remarkable achievements, authenticity, mentorship and passion that have inspired many students,” said Mireille Millette, director, Advancement & Alumni Relations at Glendon Campus. “We look forward to supporting her in her future projects. Congratulations!”