The Sheila Katz and Chris Rosene Scholarship in Global Solidarity honours the shared legacy of husband and wife, Chris Rosene and Sheila Katz, and their lifelong commitment to social justice. This award provides financial support to graduate students whose research, studies and work are contributing to building more just, sustainable and healthy societies.
Sheila and Chris’ distinct upbringings helped shape the shared interests and values centred around global solidarity that would eventually bring them together. Sheila Katz was born in Toronto to Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. After studying at the University of Toronto, she volunteered to teach English in Colombia, sparking a lasting interest in Latin American politics. Chris Rosene was born in California and spent his childhood travelling throughout the Americas, leading him to develop a strong international perspective. Chris completed a sociology degree at the University of California in Santa Cruz before moving to New York City to teach English. Sheila and Chris met in Guatemala in 1976 while working on a documentary about the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.
They shared a deep commitment to social justice and together dedicated much of their lives to working in international development. They moved to Mozambique in the late 1970s with CUSO (Canadian University Students Overseas), where they taught English, helped establish a language institute and also started their young family. The couple later worked in Costa Rica, furthering efforts for peace, justice and community development. After moving to Ottawa in 1991, Sheila worked with the Canadian Labour Congress supporting Latin American unions and Chris built a career strengthening public health systems around the world.
Sheila and Chris are fondly remembered by family, friends, colleagues and neighbours alike for being warm, caring and committed to making a difference. Both became Carleton students later in life, with Sheila pursuing a master’s degree at the Institute of Political Economy and Chris participating in continuing education courses.
The Katz-Rosene family hopes award recipients will feel emboldened to approach their academic and professional journey with the same adventurous spirit and fierce curiosity about the world that defined Sheila and Chris’ lives and careers.
Awarded annually by the Vice-Provost, Graduate Studies to outstanding graduate students entering or continuing in any degree program at Carleton University studying in one of the following areas: labour movements and union struggles, global public health, inequality and social movements in Latin America or Africa, or climate and environmental justice. Recipients will be chosen by an awards committee in Graduate Studies from a list of candidates recommended by each department. Endowed in 2026 by Josh and Ryan Katz-Rosene (MA/10, PHD/15) in memory of their parents.