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is the Associate Dean (Access, Community & Belonging) in the College of Social Sciences & Humanities. In this leadership role, she provides support to the four CSSH faculties, works with the vice-deans on faculty initiatives, and provides advice and resources to faculty and department leaders, EDI committees, academic and non-academic staff and students. She also works with the Vice-Provost (Access, Community & Belonging) on university-level activities.

A professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, Dr. Beard recently served five years as associate vice president (research) in the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation (OVPRI), where she advanced equity, diversity, inclusivity, and Indigenous initiatives in our research environment, helping researchers connect these values with research excellence. In addition to these initiatives, Dr. Beard’s portfolio in OVPRI included Research Administration Services, Researcher Development and Success, Awards, support for the SSHRC-research areas, and the Canada Research Chair Program (with the Provost’s Office).

Before serving in the OVPRI, Dr. Beard served as chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, during which time she also served on the Provost’s Advisory Council of Chairs and co-chaired the Arts Working Group on Indigenous Initiatives (AWGII), now the Arts Indigenous Council.

A two-time Fulbright scholar, she is completing an SSHRC-funded research project and book on John S. McClintock’s Pioneer Days in the Black Hills: Accurate History and Facts Related by One of the Early Day Pioneers, 1939. Her research interests include life narratives, women writers of the Americas and Indigenous literatures.

 is the Strategic Initiatives Officer for Access, Community & Belonging (ACB) and Indigenous Initiatives in the College of Social Sciences & Humanities at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø. In this role, she supports the four CSSH faculties by working closely with faculty leads and EDI committees to co-develop initiatives that promote equitable access, strengthen communities, and foster belonging. She works alongside the College Associate Dean (ACB) and in collaboration with the Portfolio Initiatives Manager in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Access, Community & Belonging) to advance college-wide efforts that align with university-level priorities. 

In addition to her work with ACB, Monisha plays a key role in supporting Indigenous-led initiatives across the College, working directly with the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research) and faculty-based Indigenous leads. She focuses on relationship-building, supporting the implementation of initiatives, and reporting aligned with commitments outlined in Braiding Past, Present & Future, the University’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. 

Prior to joining the University, Monisha worked internationally at IBM, where she led multi-stakeholder projects focused on service design and organizational transformation. While completing her MBA at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø School of Business, she served as Vice President (Student Services) in the Graduate Students’ Association, where she co-sponsored the Student Experience Action Plan at its inception. Following graduation, she joined the Office of the Provost as a Strategic Academic Initiatives Officer, facilitating institution-wide consultations and analysis that informed The People Strategy and Changing the Story: The ß÷ßäÉçÇø’s Integrated Action Plan, where she contributed as a member of the writing collective. 

Monisha brings a systems-thinking lens to her work, with a focus on building trust, supporting leaders behind the scenes, and connecting people and ideas across the university to advance inclusive excellence in CSSH.