Tanille Butler
A Doctoral Candidate in Chemistry within the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary and a recipient of the 2024 SWAAC Student Award in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Her research focuses on exploring the interactions between proteins and small molecules, with the aim of leveraging these insights to develop a biosensor that enhances diagnostic capabilities for joint diseases. Tanille is driven by a passion for identifying and addressing barriers to success within her community and initiating projects to create a more inclusive and equitable space for all. Tanille was elected twice as the Graduate Students’ Association President at the University of Calgary where she utilized her position to effect meaningful change. During her tenure, she founded the graduate student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee, securing $10,000 in funding to support initiatives that reduce barriers for marginalized communities. Furthermore, she increased availability and meaningfully simplified the process for graduate students to access $500,000 annually in financial bursaries aimed at supporting student’s mental health, well-being, and emergency incidentals. Tanille also organized educational workshops to raise awareness of EDI concerns, fostering critical discussions within the broader community, and increased awareness and access to mental health resources on and off campus. Tanille identified inequitable financial barriers for international student travelers during the coronavirus pandemic and thus co-developed a program with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies. This initiative addressed logistical and financial issues surrounding mandatory hotel quarantines for international students arriving in Canada and secured over $72,000 in funding to cover such costs for approximately 120 students. As co-lead of the Service Committee at the University of Calgary’s Graduate College, Tanille initiated a technology collection program. This program collects and distributes electronic donations to newcomers and refugee families in Calgary as one way to support these vulnerable populations. Tanille is a leader in EDI initiatives within the communities she works, lives, and connects.