Xander Huggins, University of Victoria
Jaris Swidrovich, University of Saskatchewan
2025 CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
Winner – Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Category
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan
Supervisor: Dr. Shaun Murphy, Department of Educational Foundations, University of Saskatchewan
Dissertation: Indigenous Students’ Experiences with Pharmacy Education in Canada
“I have never encountered a dissertation that has had such immediate, groundbreaking impact on local, provincial, national, and international levels. Dr. Swidrovich’s research will continue to shape the future of pharmacy education and practice…In addition to the outstanding written quality of his dissertation, Dr. Swidrovich’s oral defense was incredibly moving and a testament to his passion, deep knowledge, and the significant contributions he has made to the profession of pharmacy.” Dr. Chelsea Gabel, Canada Research Chair, Indigenous Well-Being, Community-Engagement, and Innovation, McMaster University
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich’s dissertation examines the experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in pharmacy education in Canada. Drawing upon a variety of Indigenous methodologies and conversational traditions, Swidrovich’s research probes the tensions that exist between Indigenous knowledges and Western medical paradigms. The consequences of these tensions with white settler colonialism, Swidrovich demonstrates, have resulted in Indigenous Peoples experiencing isolation and exclusion in their programs, and being underrepresented in the pharmacy profession more broadly. The dissertation offers strategies for post-secondary pharmacy programs in Canada to improve the experiences, retention, and celebration of Indigenous Peoples.
Dr. Swidrovich has already achieved significant milestones early in their career. As a doctoral student, they authored or co-authored 13 peer-reviewed publications, presented at 5 international and 30 national conferences, and were principal or co-investigator on 13 peer-reviewed grants. Swidrovich’s research findings have been incorporated into national minimum standards for pharmacy programs in Canada, including the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), and have influenced pharmacy education practices in Australia and New Zealand. Swidrovich spearheaded the creation of the first organization for Indigenous pharmacy professionals in North America (IPPC), which has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students to become pharmacists and technicians. As the first self-identified First Nations Doctor of Pharmacy in Canada, and the only Indigenous pharmacy faculty member in North America, Dr. Swidrovich’s research and lived experience continues to guide international conversations on Indigenous health education.
Dr. Swidrovich completed a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSP) at the University of Saskatchewan. They are currently an Assistant Professor and Indigenous Engagement Lead at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
“Identify and remind yourself often the purpose of your work and why you are doing this work, while also expressing gratitude for all those who came before you who made this journey and this work possible. Additionally, with reference to Paul Brandt’s song, There’s a World Out There, do not let anyone tell you the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon. It is my hope that every graduate student and human being will bravely move forward into every space and place they find themselves and that they will always work on being a good ancestor.” Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, Assistant Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Winner – Engineering, Medical Sciences and Natural Sciences Category
Dr. Xander Huggins, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria
Supervisor: Dr. Tom Gleeson, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria
Dissertation: Groundwater-connected systems: A social-ecological framing, global data-driven applications, and sustainability implications
“The work is highly original, reframing the discussion about the ‘roles’ of groundwater beyond the economic. The methodology is wide ranging and extensive. The author brings together an impressively complete dataset in each case, summarizes the work, and places it in a clear and cohesive context…The work is truly transdisciplinary…[and] a master class in scientific visualization.” Dr. Ty Ferre, University of Arizona
Dr. Xander Huggins’ dissertation offers profound insights and novel frameworks for conceptualizing groundwater as a connected system embedded within socioeconomic, ecological, and Earth systems. His work advances theory and methods to understand groundwater’s role in these complex systems, moving beyond traditional approaches that consider groundwater as an isolated resource. This interdisciplinary approach is particularly urgent in the Anthropocene, where human activities increasingly dominate biophysical processes, and where actions to promote groundwater sustainability can underpin broader goals of social well-being, ecological integrity, and Earth system stability. Bridging numerous fields, including sustainability science, data science, hydrology, and civil engineering, Huggins has developed a novel classification scheme of the world’s groundwater systems and actionable insights into the vulnerability of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, the role of groundwater in conservation initiatives, and social-ecological hotspots of freshwater stress.
Dr. Huggins’ research has been published in six first-author publications in high-impact journals, including Nature Sustainability and Nature Communications, as well as a co-authored paper in Nature and a chapter in the United Nations World Water Development Report. In addition to his active research program, Dr. Huggins fosters and collaborates with interdisciplinary networks, including his role establishing and co-leading the Global Freshwater Systems Science Workshop, an international and multi-institutional network advancing interdisciplinary freshwater research. Dr. Huggins’ ability to clearly communicate complex ideas, both in writing and in presentations, has further elevated the reach and influence of his work.
Dr. Huggins completed a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) at the University of Guelph. He currently serves as a Killam, NSERC, and Canadian Space Agency Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University.
“In my experience, the only way I was able to find my research footing was by doing, failing, reflecting, and learning – over and over. I came to consider my PhD through the lens of a rare and nearly unbounded opportunity space for experimentation. I am glad that I gave myself permission to try bold and uncomfortable things, and that I challenged myself to be open and responsive to the surprises that came from them. More often than not, these ended up being generative and growthful moments.” Dr. Xander Huggins, Killam Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia | Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University
The CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes Canadian doctoral dissertations that make unusually significant and original contributions, both to their respective academic communities and to Canadian society at large. The award was established in 1994 and is presented annually by CAGS, with sponsorship support provided by ProQuest. For the 2025 award season, eligible dissertations must have been completed and accepted by the graduate school between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024.
As expected, there were many extraordinary nominees for this award and the competition was extremely difficult to adjudicate. CAGS received twenty-one submissions from across Canada in each category, and these were assessed by two independent committees each consisting of eight expert judges. Both committees were unanimous in their decision and commended the exemplary dissertations produced by Dr. Swidrovich and Dr. Huggins.
Dr. Swidrovich and Dr. Huggins will each receive a cash prize of $1,500, a certificate of recognition, and an invitation to present at the 63rd Annual CAGS Conference, to be held in Ottawa in November 2025. CAGS congratulates the winners for their tremendous accomplishments!
