AFLIGA Thought Leadership Series, (Inaugural Edition)

Ghanaian-born George Sefa Dei is a renowned educator, researcher and writer who is considered by many as one of Canada’s foremost scholars on race, anti-racism studies, Black and minority education, African Indigeneity and anti-colonial thought. He is a widely sought after academic, researcher and community worker whose professional and academic work has led to many Canadian and international speaking invitations in US, Europe and Africa. Currently, he is Professor of Social Justice Education & Director of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT).  

On May 6, 2024, Professor Dei received an honorary doctorate from the University of South Africa at the University’s convocation ceremony with an address at the University’s convocation. On June 8, 2024, Professor Dei again received an honorary doctorate in Social Work from Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  Professor Dei is the 2015, 2016, 2018-19 Carnegie African Diasporan Fellow. In August of 2012, Professor Dei also received the honorary title of ‘Professor Extraordinarius’ from the Department of Inclusive Education, University of South Africa, [UNISA].

In 2017, he was elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Canada, the most prestigious award for an academic scholar. He also received the ‘2016 Whitworth Award for Educational Research’ from the Canadian Education Association (CEA) awarded to the Canadian scholar whose research and scholarship have helped shaped Canadian national educational policy and practice.  

He is the 2019 Paulo Freire Democratic Project, Chapman University, US – ‘Social Justice Award’ winner. In April of 2021, Professor Dei received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators [ONABSE] for his long-standing work promoting Black and minority youth education.  Also, Professor Dei in October 2023, was named by Silvertrust Media as one of the 100 most influential Black Canadians nationwide. He received this award at the African History gala where he was chosen as the keynote speaker.

In March of 2023 Professor Dei received the highly prestigious ‘2023 President’s Impact Award, given to a University of Toronto scholar whose work has reached beyond walls of academia to significantly impact local communities, nationally and internationally.  In April 2023, Professor Dei was given an Honorary Research Associateship in The Centre of Excellence in Disabilities, University of South Africa, [UNISA].  Professor Dei has forty-seven (47) books, over eighty (80) refereed journal articles, as well as 78 chapters in books to his credit.

 It is also significant to note that since 2008. Professor Dei has been a Fellow of the Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies [SACOST], and The Institute for Educational Research and Innovation Studies [IERIS], University of Education, Winneba, Ghana He has worked to co-published with University of Education faculty and staff, taught and mentored students, including working with SACOST as a Carnegie African Diasporan Fellow and in Visiting Professorships. 

Finally, in June of 2007, Professor Dei was installed as a traditional chief in Ghana, specifically, as the Gyaasehene of the town of Asokore, Koforidua in the New Juaben Traditional Area of Ghana. His stool name is Nana Adusei Sefa Tweneboah.