The Program Office would like to recognize the many achievements of Dr. Voula Kanelis, co-site director of ABE Canada. Voula believes that science should be accessible to everyone, and she is an advocate for increased engagement of women and girls in STEM. As the associate chair of research of the Chemical and Physical Sciences Department at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), Voula also runs a successful research group that has produced many passionate scientists, teachers, and healthcare workers to the community.

Voula leads her students and the ABE Canada program with the same love and curiosity for science that continues to inspire her. She signed on immediately to engage in the program when the Program Office approached UTM about hosting an ABE program site, and she has been a passionate advocate for making sure that the ABE Canada team is reaching students from underserved populations. Voula continues to develop partnerships to expand the reach of ABE Canada into both French-speaking Canada and Indigenous communities. Thank you, Voula, for being part of ABE.