Shadia Rask joins Hanken as professor of practice
Rask holds a PhD in public health and has studied corporate responsibility at Hanken. Her research has focused on health inequities, employment trajectories, and non-discrimination in the labour market. Rask has previously led research and development projects at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and continues to be a visiting researcher.
Rask’s core expertise is on social sustainability, particularly questions related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and immigration. She has consulted on these topics for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). She is also a board member for UN Women Finland.
"I’m incredibly honoured and thrilled to start as professor of practice at Hanken. I see my appointment as an encouraging example of organisations resisting the pressure to abandon their DEI initiatives and values, and consciously strengthening their competencies related to DEI – the core topics of my professorship", says Rask.
Rask will contribute to Hanken’s teaching by giving lectures on DEI and migration-related topics and supervising theses. She will have involvements in societal impact activities, e.g. in events that bring together stakeholders to address emerging DEI-related issues. Rask will also contribute to Hanken’s internal DEI efforts and research consortiums.
"Shadia Rask’s appointment comes at an excellent time for Hanken, as we are stepping up in our DEI efforts both internally and in relation to our academic activities. Shadia’s expertise and network will be crucial for us in forming strong consortia for research projects and in organising meaningful topical events on DEI and related issues, as well as in our teaching, particularly in our master’s programmes on sustainability. We are delighted to welcome her to Hanken where the research interests of many faculty members resonate with hers", says Martin Fougère, professor in management and politics at Hanken.
Text: Marlene Günsberg
Photo, closeup: Nora Sayyad
Photo: Iida Ylinen