A Trent University graduate, Mr. Mark Jarvis, has been short-listed for the prestigious Donner Prize, which annually rewards excellence and innovation in public policy writing by Canadians.

Mr. Jarvis co-authored Democratizing the Constitution: Reforming Responsible Government, working alongside celebrated political academic Dr. Peter Aucoin and Dalhousie University professor, Dr. Lori Turnbull.

“Getting nominated for an award like this means that people have taken notice,” said Mr. Jarvis. “It’s really quite an honour. “Mr. Jarvis is also the co-editor of From New Public Management to New Political Governance: Essays in Honour of Peter C. Aucoin, to be released in June, as well as the author of a chapter in the first ever Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability. 

Mr. Jarvis looks back fondly on his Trent undergraduate years where he graduated from the Bachelor of Arts program in Sociology. "Trent was where I gained a lot of my research skills," he said. "Trent taught me to use different critical lenses, to be able to research and write about things that didn't necessarily fall into my field – perfect training when working on a book like this one."

He also benefited from the personal aspects of attending courses with small class sizes. "At Trent, you really get to know your instructors, which can help in many ways. I look back towards the end of my Trent experience, and I really didn't know what was going to come next. I was struggling with direction. One of my professors, Deborah White, sat down with me, listened to me, and helped guide me.  I never would have gone on to a career in academics if it weren't for her. And if it weren't for the opportunities that Trent afforded me."

The winner of the 14th annual Donner Prize will be announced Tuesday, May 1 at a ceremony in Toronto.

Posted on Monday, April 30, 2012.