2026 Lorch Award winners announced

By Hannah Wiley, Managing Editor 

The Women and Gender studies program announced their 2026 Lorch Award winners and one of the recipients includes The Griffin’s very own layout director, Liz Shingler. 

The awards, officially named the Dr. I. Joan Lorch Award for Women & Gender Studies, are given to a student and campus and community individuals who have made “a significant contribution to women and who exemplifies the pursuit of liberation and justice regarding sex, gender, and sexuality.” 

In the Canisius University students category, Liz Shingler, a senior majoring in philosophy and history won for The Martin Luthers – a student activist group – alongside Treasure McClain, a senior majoring in philosophy, computer science and digital media arts. In the Canisius University employee category, Dr. Joshua Russell, associate professor in animal behavior, ecology and conservation and anthrozoology, won as a scholar of queer theory and environmentalism. In the category of community organization or person, Beatriz Flores won as the founder and executive director of El Batey Puerto Rican Cultural Center, whose mission is to honor and empower Puerto Rican people. 

Everyone is welcome to celebrate the award winners and Women’s History Month on Tuesday, March 31 from 4-5:30 p.m. in Grupp.