History
Rachel DesRosiers joined IDRC in 1979 in the Division of Cooperative Program as one of the pioneers in strengthening partnerships with Canadian institutions.
Rachel was one of the first cadre of Deputy Directors at a time marked by several major program and administrative changes. In 1988 Rachel assisted with the transformation of Cooperative Programs to the Division of Earth Sciences and Engineering and, in 1992, to the Earth Sciences and Engineering in Environmental Management and Natural Resources.
Before retiring in 1997 Rachel worked in the office of the Vice President, Resources writing a report that led the way to the current configuration of the Resources Branch, that was slightly altered in 2019 when the Division of Human Resources was transferred to the President’s Office to become the People and Corporate Culture Division..
For Rachel, IDRC was Canada at its best, enabling researchers at home and abroad to find the knowledge needed to do development better.
Rachel’s dedication to the goals of IDRC did not wane after leaving the Centre. She knew that to work for IDRC had been a privilege that she wanted to help others share. She delighted in the formation of the IDRC Alumni to keep former colleagues in touch, and when Rachel learned about the IDRC Alumni Award to support young researchers in developing regions associated with IDRC, she began making anonymous substantial annual contributions to the fund.
With her untimely death in 2015 the Alumni recast its award as the Rachel DesRosiers Alumni Award to memorialize and honour a respected and generous colleague.
Click for a detailed Summary of the Alumni Research Awards made since 2007.