Benny Skinner

BSIA Fellow   Indigenous Research Advisor, University of Waterloo   Master of Arts in Global Governance, 2023

Benny Skinner
BSIA Fellow, Graduate
BSIA Fellow, Graduate

RESEARCH CLUSTERS

RESEARCH CLUSTERS

Benny Skinner

BSIA Fellow

Indigenous Research Advisor, University of Waterloo

Master of Arts in Global Governance, 2023

Benny Skinner (they/them) is a two-spirit/non-binary person from Ka’qaqujue’katik/Qalipue’katik, Ktaqmkuk and Pampanga, Luzon. They are Mi’kmaw (Lewis family, Otter Clan) and Kapampangan (Magtoto family). They hold a Bachelor of Arts, Peace and Conflict Studies degree and a Master of Arts, Global Governance degree. Benny’s areas of expertise include Indigenous methods and pedagogy, decolonization, gender, and sexuality. Currently, they are an Indigenous Research Advisor in the Office of the Vice President, Research and International at University of Waterloo, working to advance the institution’s strategic goals of decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.

Benny also works as a professional human rights advocate with a specialization in trans and gender equity in sport. As a former varsity rugby player and coach, Benny was the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the varsity level at University of Waterloo, as well as the first openly transgender and Indigenous head coach of a varsity program in Ontario University Athletics. They were also the first openly transgender athlete to compete for the Canada Raven’s Rugby League program on international soil when they played in two test matches against Serbia in 2019. Their intersecting identities and their elite athletic career have conglomerated into a passion for putting representation, education, and activism at the forefront of their activities outside of their day job. This has tied neatly into Benny’s academic career, as their graduate studies research revolved around colonialism and gender/sexuality.

Awards

  • Inaugural Judy McCrae Warrior Impact Award for academic, athletic, and community service excellence, 2022
  • University of Waterloo Varsity Women’s Rugby Most Valuable Citizen, 2020-2021
  • Ontario University Athletics Women’s Rugby All-Star, 2018-2019, 2020-2021
  • University of Waterloo Athletic Scholarship, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
  • Balsillie School of International Affairs Global Governance Fellowship, 2020
  • University of Waterloo Dean’s List, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • USports Academic All-Canadian, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019
  • President’s Golf Tournament Athletic Excellence Award, 2018
  • University of Waterloo Varsity Women’s Rugby MIP, 2016-2017
  • University of Waterloo Merit Scholarship, 2014

Education

  • Master of Arts, Global Governance, University of Waterloo, 2023
  • Bachelor of Arts, Honours Peace and Conflict Studies with minors in Political Science and English
    University of Waterloo, 2019
  • High School Diploma
    Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School, 2014
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