Known for her work on social inequality, poverty, youth justice, mental health, and homelessness, Dr. Naomi Nichols has earned new recognition for blending activism and scholarship to drive systemic change.

She is the 2024 recipient of the Lee Founders Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), a lifetime achievement award presented to recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to social action programs that promote social justice. 

Prof. Nichols is humbled that her scholarly research, teaching, and service are being recognized for their contributions to the betterment of human life.   

“The award nomination letters came largely from my former students and people I mentored as graduate students, all of whom are now doing incredible things with their professional, personal, and activist lives,” said Professor Nichols, Canada Research Chair in Community-Partnered Social Justice at Trent, who teaches in the Department of Sociology and also directs the Interdisciplinary Social Research Ph.D. program.  

“I have yet to be able to make it through their letters without breaking into tears. These former students and mentees have shaped and changed me more than they probably realize." 

Recently, through her work as the director of the Research for Social Change Lab (RSCL) at Trent University, Prof. Nichols and others at the RSCL investigated Peterborough’s homeless-serving system. The research culminated in a number of open-access zines and reports and, following two community events co-hosted with Peterborough Drug Strategy, the team developed the Roadmap for Change. The practical guide charts the course for transformative social change in Peterborough, and is specifically designed to foster coordinated efforts across different fields, ensuring that resources and expertise are maximized. 

Prof. Nichols is now a part of a distinguished group of changemakers committed to tackling critical social issues with rigorous and compassionate inquiry, and she is continuing to champion this work. 

Currently, Prof. Nichols is completing a parenting and resilience community-based and participatory research project with Peterborough Public Health. Her next project will address four intersecting insecurities that are affecting small and mid-size cities: material insecurity (including food, housing, and income); public health precarity (shaped by climate change, a volatile drug supply, and unmet mental health needs); conflicts over shared public spaces (such as parks, libraries, and public transit); and shifting demographics.