Indian-Canadian academic Ratna Ghosh has been awarded McGill University’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Learning. Conferred during the Fall 2024 Convocation on December 2, the award celebrates her transformative contributions to education over a career spanning more than four decades.
Ghosh, who became Professor Emerita in 2023, has earned numerous accolades, including Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished James McGill Professor, and being named to the Order of Canada, Order of Quebec, and Order of Montreal. She was also profiled in Time magazine.
Reflecting on the role of education in a diverse world, Ghosh stated, “Diversity is not going away – it’s going to stay – because human beings are different in multiple ways.” She has consistently advocated for the integration of diversity, innovation, and academic excellence into education.
As the first woman and person of colour to serve as Dean of McGill’s Faculty of Education, Ghosh made history by hiring the first Indigenous scholar for the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE). Her leadership has inspired generations of students and faculty.
“Dr. Ghosh has been a beacon of knowledge, wisdom, and compassion,” said Vivek Venkatesh, current Dean of the Faculty of Education. “Her achievements have propelled our Faculty to new heights, and we are immensely grateful for her contributions.”
Ghosh’s lifetime of accomplishments underscores her dedication to fostering inclusive education and shaping the future of learning.
