Professional Profile of the South Sudanese-Canadian, David Mabior Atem Kuir
David Mabior Atem Kuir’s Professional and Educational Profile (4-yr BA’07 & ACPPA’11)
July 28, 2017 (SSB) — Atem currently works as an Academic Advisor/Immigrant Access Advisor in the Academic Advising Office at The University of Winnipeg. Atem is an exemplary of what hard work, dedication and staying focused can achieve amidst all the human frailties and odds against success. Prior to this position, upon graduating in 2007, he briefly worked for Service Canada, a federal government.
In 2007, Atem was commissioned by the Former Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, and Former President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, to undertake an educational assessment among African communities in Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI). He carried out this task successfully, giving birth to scholarships for students of African descent joining UWinnipeg’s Collegiate and University.
This was a first of its kind for African communities in Manitoba, easing the financial burden of, and improving access to post-secondary education for individuals of African descent. This exercise ultimately led to the founding of the African communities’ educational bursary; Atem’s initiative that was incorporated into UW’s Opportunity Fund in 2008.
Thus, Atem’s idea and drive for bringing the university to communities has been successfully implemented and has led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The University of Winnipeg and ACOMI. The ten African students sponsored by The University of Winnipeg in 2007/2008 represented a huge contribution to the African communities in Manitoba, as well as Africa.
Therefore, Atem is the pioneer and accredited for the ACOMI-Bursary opened to all Africans regardless of age, gender, nationality, and religion. Initiating a bursary program was an ideal endeavor to promote access to education, human right values; and peace education, good governance and civic education which are essential to University Community.
He is also a big believer in the power of community, of which some prominent leaders and elders referred to him as a change maker. To put it into perspective, in his acceptance speech for the Marsha Hanen Award for Excellence in Creating Community Awareness that he received in the fall convocation of 2014, he referred to a community as a “human bank”, where citizens live and grow, and where students who become doctors, engineers, dentists, leaders, peacemakers, accountants/bankers, businessmen/women, teachers and so on, come from.
He encourages students to be part of their surrounding environment, whether they are on campus or in the community. This will enhance their understanding and networking.
In 2017 spring convocation, he received the MSC Distinguished Alumni Award. Atem’s acceptance speech was published at: https://paanluelwel.com/2017/07/05/mabior-atem-kuir-acceptance-speech-for-msc-distinguished-alumni-award-2017-convocation-canada/#more-49197
Atem has joined the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College at The University of Manitoba in Canada, in September 2016. He is a recognized educator in the affairs of South Sudan, in areas of public policy, social justice, community economic development, peace and reconciliation, human rights, and peace-building and state-building.
You can watch his acceptance speech via this link:
“David Mabior Atem’s Acceptance Speech for the Marsha Hanen Award for Excellence in Creating Community Awareness: Convocation, Canada (2014).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb0VxyRGmUY&feature=em-upload_owner
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