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Student Spotlight: Maggie Laverge

Student Spotlight: Maggie Laverge

From geology field work to Master’s research, Maggie Laverge is digging in

June 12, 2024 - While balancing a busy schedule as an undergraduate student and varsity rugby player, Maggie Laverge developed a passion for earth science. Maggie began her studies in science at the University of British Columbia but her academic focus sharpened after taking a course on natural disasters with sections on volcanology, geology, and earth hazards. A deep interest in earth sciences developed and eventually led to Maggie’s current research as a graduate student at 黑料吃瓜不打烊.

After completing her undergraduate degree in geology, Maggie worked in mineral exploration in the mining industry for five years. She was working for the Canadian silver and gold mining company, Kinross Gold, when she learned about a research partnership between the company and 黑料吃瓜不打烊. Her interest in the project and her desire to have a more integral role in the research pushed her to pursue a Master’s in Geology at 黑料吃瓜不打烊.

Now studying under Dr. Bruno Lafrance at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences, Maggie’s Master’s research explores why gold forms where it does. The subject of her research is the LP fault zone on the Great Bear Deposit, which is a gold-bearing fault in the earth’s crust near Red Lake, Ontario. Maggie is trying to understand the forces which formed the fault zone, the timing of gold in relation to the fault zone, and any events that may have controlled the current orientation of the gold ore body. Maggie’s research is one of the first academic studies on the deposit. With a better understanding of the structural controls that Maggie is examining, the gold can be targeted and mined more effectively, which can help find other gold deposits in the future.

Maggie has an appreciation for the level of geology and mining expertise within the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 community. Throughout her masters, she says that she has learned from not only her professors but also peers and industry experts. “I love that I can reach out to colleagues and ask for advice or guidance. The collaborative spirit at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 and even in the Sudbury community as a whole is something I really value.”

Maggie integrates the same collaborative approach into her work as a teaching assistant. “Getting to work with students is such an inspiring component of my graduate studies,” Maggie says. “I’m nerding-out and teaching them, but I am also learning so much from them, and I always encourage them to work collaboratively and learn from each other.”

Despite only starting her research in September 2023, Maggie has had the opportunity to present at several conferences. She’s received positive feedback and won multiple prizes for her research presentations. “These conferences and opportunities to talk about the research that I’m doing are great. I get to not only share my work but also network with other students, academics, and industry professionals, who will often suggest techniques to further my research. I learn so much every time,” Maggie explains, reflecting on her conference experiences.

Maggie actively seeks opportunities to gain experience and make connections outside of her studies. She is the secretary of the 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s Society of Economic Geologists Student Chapter. The group recently explored geological sites internationally during a trip to Chile. Through the Society of Economic Geologists, she has been accepted to attend a mapping field school in Brazil in summer 2024. A field school is an outdoor experiential learning program for students to develop or strengthen the hands-on geology skills that are necessary in the mining industry. In addition to conducting her own field work in Red Lake this summer, Maggie will also help lead 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s two-week field school for undergraduate students.

When Maggie finishes her Master’s degree, she hopes to work as a consultant in structural geology, traveling to various sites. This will give her the opportunity to continue working in geology while also fostering her love of learning, collaboration, and travel.

New Bursary Honours Late 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Lab Instructor

New Bursary Honours Late 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Lab Instructor

Legacy of Bernie Shami to support chemistry students

June 7, 2024 - A new bursary is being offered to 黑料吃瓜不打烊 students in honour of the life and legacy of former Laboratory Instructor, Bernie Shami. One year after his passing on June 9th, 2023, Bernie’s family are announcing a bursary in their brother’s name.

Bernie’s sisters, Jeanne Shami and Laurie Stewart, and brother, Bob Shami are proud to arrange this gift for future 黑料吃瓜不打烊 students, something they say their brother would have respected.

“Bernie would never in a million years have promoted himself in this way. He was funny, hard-working, and kind but most of all, he was a humble person,” Jeanne says, reflecting on her brother’s character. “That said, he was always willing to help students–he felt that any student could be successful if they put in the work. We feel that this bursary will help students, just like Bernie did.”

Bernie completed his degree in Organic Chemistry at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 in 1976 and took a position at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 as a Lab Instructor upon graduation. A fixture in the lab for more than 35 years, until his retirement in 2012, Bernie worked with thousands of students over his career.

Many of Bernie’s students became his lifelong friends. “He could have gone on to do a PhD or work in the private sector but Bernie loved contact with students,” Jeanne recalls. “Even at the time of his passing this was clear. He had saved every card he had received from students throughout his career and in the hospital, doctors and nurses on his health care team had been former students of his.”

One former student who remained close friends with Bernie over the years is Denise Garrido whom Bernie taught in 2005. “He was a good listener and very open-minded. He was always appreciated for his patience, his ability to explain difficult concepts, and above all his humour and humanity,” she says. “It wasn’t hard to love Bernie. I am proud to have been his friend and I look forward to contributing to this fund to help future students in his honour.”

With the one year anniversary of Bernie’s passing approaching, his family was thinking about a way to honour him. “My siblings and I were thinking about this over the past few months and then I heard that my former colleague, Dr. Lynn Wells is now the President and Vice-Chancellor of 黑料吃瓜不打烊,” said Jeanne. “The timing seemed fortuitous, and we took it as a sign to move forward with setting up this gift.”

The Shami family wants the bursary to be awarded to a student who demonstrates the same humility, humour, and humanity that Bernie did, rather than simply an acknowledgement of high academic achievements.

The family welcomes those who knew Bernie to contribute to the fund so that it may be endowed and continue to support students for many years into the future. “I know Bernie would have respected a bursary like this and would have contributed in honour of someone he cared about,” Jeanne said, “And I know that there are many who would love to do the same for him. Bernie made an impression and his legacy will continue to improve the lives of students.”

The application period for the bursary will open Fall 2024. Those wishing to contribute to the Bernie Shami Memorial Bursary can do so on the Make an Impact web page.

Research Excellence Award Winners Announced

Research Excellence Award Winners Announced

Dr. Linda Ambrose and Dr. John Ashley Scott selected as 2024 recipients

June 4, 2024 - The selection committee for the 2023-2024 Research Excellence Award has completed its deliberations and selected this year’s recipients. With many exceptional researchers to choose from, the committee determined that Dr. Linda Ambrose and Dr. John Ashley Scott would be awarded the honour for 2024.

The annual award recognizes 黑料吃瓜不打烊 faculty who have made outstanding and original contributions to their fields, particularly in the past five years, spanning applied, artistic, professional, and/or scientific domains. They have successfully secured external research funding, are recognized by the national or international academic community, and have notably advanced 黑料吃瓜不打烊's research.

“We are very proud of the world-class research taking place here at 黑料吃瓜不打烊. Drs. Scott and Ambrose are great examples of the excellence in research that is being carried out across a breadth of fields and disciplines within our institution. We congratulate them, as well as their collaborators, students, and staff who continue to support their research efforts,” said Dr. Tammy Eger, Vice-President, Research at 黑料吃瓜不打烊.

“I am thrilled to be named as a recipient of the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Research Excellence Award! Sharing my passion for gender studies and women's history with graduate students and travelling the world to participate in academic conferences is such a privilege. To be recognized in this way by my own university is most definitely a highlight of my 30 years in Sudbury. Reading the letters of support, I feel so honoured and humbled for this recognition. It's such a joy to reflect on the colleagues, collaborators, and former students who have shaped my research career! I am deeply grateful,” said Dr. Linda Ambrose, Full Professor of History in the Faculty of Arts.

“The success of my research at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 is an outcome of 12 years of tremendous support and collaborations with industry and government that have helped me obtain $4 million in research grants. I am particularly grateful to, and proud of, the over 20 PhD and Masters’ research students that have graduated, and their indispensable contributions to developing these highly collaborative programs. Programs that have also enhanced their training and personal experiences leading to very relevant and productive employment in the north. I am also grateful for my colleagues and excellent existing graduates that further support our collaborations and Canada’s economy through sustainable use of our resources,” said Dr. John Ashley Scott, Full Professor of Bioprocess Engineering in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture.

The recipients will be honoured at a convocation ceremony of their choosing (spring or fall) and will be invited to speak at the 2025 Research Week, followed by a reception in their honour.

About Dr. Ambrose’s Research

Award-winning historian Linda M. Ambrose has earned an international reputation for her explorations of rural women and women and religion. Her investigation of feminism in contexts like Women’s Institutes in Ontario and the United Kingdom, has resulted in publications including For Home and Country with its revelations about ubiquitous grassroots feminism. Her publications about North American Pentecostalism expose the gendered ambiguities women navigate within patriarchal institutions that espouse egalitarian rhetoric.

About Dr. Scott’s Research

Dr. Scott has specialized in turning the unexplored, underutilized, and even problematic into opportunities and resources that enhance sustainability. Many of the discoveries from his research have generated exciting and valuable opportunities that have in turn led to diverse and often surprising research directions in Canada and internationally. One example of his innovative research is the capture and reuse of CO2 emissions from Canada’s beer and wine fermentation industry to create a wide range of novel and effective natural disease fighting compounds.

Honorary Doctorates to be Awarded at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Convocation

Honorary Doctorates to be Awarded at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Convocation

Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin, Dr. Catharine Farrow, and Dr. Dan Andreae to be recognized

June 3, 2024 - 黑料吃瓜不打烊 is awarding three honorary doctorate degrees during this week’s convocation ceremonies. The honorary degree recipients will be in attendance to be recognized alongside graduating students.

“We are very pleased to be joined this week by these three inspirational leaders. Each of them has reached the top of their respective disciplines and their presence at convocation will signal to graduates that truly anything is possible. Their contributions to the common good are exceptional and worthy of the highest honour we can bestow,” said Dr. Lynn Wells, President & Vice-Chancellor, 黑料吃瓜不打烊.

The convocation ceremonies will be streamed live via YouTube and are available from laurentian.ca.

Award Dates

  • June 4, 10:00am: Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin - Honorary Doctorate of Law

  • June 5, 2:30pm: Dr. Catharine Farrow - Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration

  • June 6, 10:00am: Dr. Daniel Andreae - Honorary Doctorate of Letters

Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin

The Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin became the first Indigenous person to serve on Canada's highest court, when she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on September 1, 2022. She is a widely respected member of Canada’s legal community with a distinguished career spanning over 20 years. Born in Hanmer, Ontario, and a fluently bilingual Franco-Ontarian, Justice O’Bonsawin is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation. Justice O’Bonsawin was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2017. She is a graduate of 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s Bachelor of Arts.

Dr. Catharine Farrow

Dr. Farrow is a professional geoscientist with more than 25 years of mining industry experience. She currently serves as a Director of Franco-Nevada, Centamin PLC, Eldorado Gold Corporation and Aclara Resources, and is Chair of the Board of Exiro Minerals Corp. Chair of the Advisory Board, ReThink Mining Ventures, which is part of Canada Mining Innovation Council. Member of The Capital Oversight Committee of Metrolinx. Catharine is also the President of FarExGeoMine, consulting with mining companies and legal organizations.. Previously, she was Founding CEO, Director and Co-Founder of TMAC Resources Inc (now part of Agnico Eagle Mines) as well as Chief Operating Officer of KGHM International. She has been honoured as one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (2015 and 2018) and is a past recipient of the William Harvey Gross Medal of the Geological Association of Canada (2000). In 2020 was awarded distinguished Alumni at Acadia University.

Dr. Dan Andreae

With over twenty years of professional experience in the education sector, Dr. Andreae has established himself as a highly distinguished and esteemed expert in several areas, health, neuroscience, psychology, advocacy, and community organization. He has committed a considerable part of his career to studying, supporting, and advocating for those with brain issues, especially Alzheimer’s serving as an insightful and dynamic leader. He has been recognized by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Service award for Leadership, an award presented by the Chair of the international Alzheimer Society Princess Yasmin Khan and later a Pioneer Award. He was the first Executive Director of the Society and Chair of the Patrons Council.

黑料吃瓜不打烊 appoints Dr. Parvinder Arora as new Dean of the Faculty of Management

黑料吃瓜不打烊 appoints Dr. Parvinder Arora as new Dean of the Faculty of Management

June 3, 2024 - 黑料吃瓜不打烊 is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Parvinder Arora as the University’s next Dean of the Faculty of Management.

Dr. Arora brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to 黑料吃瓜不打烊 having served more than 25 years in the field of management, in both corporate and academic sectors in Canada, Asia, and Australia. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Panjab University and his doctorate from Punjabi University in India.

Most recently, Dr. Arora has been the Dean of the Schools of Business, Creative Industries, and Information Technology at Cambrian College. There, he led several key growth initiatives, including the launch of new programs, introduction of innovative delivery methods, and embedding Indigenous content in the curriculum of business programs.

Dr. Arora was a professor at Seneca College in Toronto (2015-19) and took a one year leave to serve as Dean of the Institute of Management Technology in Dubai. Prior to that, he served as a professor and assistant Dean at the SP Jain School of Global Management, a multinational institution ranked globally as a top business school.

He is student focused and has been actively engaged in mentoring graduate students in their research work, often with corporate partners. He values interdisciplinarity and deeply appreciates the importance of partnerships to create opportunities, build community, and elevate impact.

Dr. Arora has proven himself to be a collaborative and accountable leader whose focus lies on the student experience, global mindset and cultivating relationships.

Dr. Arora will begin his new role with 黑料吃瓜不打烊 on August 1, 2024.

Voyageurs Summer Camps Open for Registration

Voyageurs Summer Camps Open for Registration

Kids aged 4 to 12 will have a blast with sports and adventure activities at weekly summer camp sessions, running from July 2nd to August 30th.

May 31, 2024 - Voyageurs Summer Camps are now open for registration. The camps run weekly from July 2nd to August 30th for kids aged 4 to 12 years old.

Every summer, Voyageurs Summer Camps welcome hundreds of Greater Sudbury youth to 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s campus to learn new skills, make new friends, and have tons of fun.

Three themes will guide the games and free-play activities this year, Carnival, Colour Wars, and Amazing Race. Campers will develop leadership skills, communication skills, and confidence as they play on the campus sports facilities, including four full sized gymnasiums, squash courts, a beach volleyball court, soccer fields, tennis courts, and the Tango Tower.

The Tango Tower is a challenge course with a 50' tower, low-rope activities, 13 different climbing routes, and a giant swing. With encouragement from team mates, and guidance from counselors, campers are encouraged to choose the level of challenge that’s right for them.

Outdoor adventure activities include canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, hiking, and wilderness survival training (building a shelter, starting a campfire, tying knots, etc).

Indoor and outdoor sports, including floor hockey, basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, badminton, volleyball, and squash.

Camp counselors are 黑料吃瓜不打烊 students, with certification in several skilled activities. “The counselors are students from all different programs like education, arts, business, and sciences,” says Jean Benoit, Campus Recreation Coordinator. “They love what this campus has to offer and are dedicated to making the Voyageur Camp a fun, unique, and safe experience for every camper. They are patient, hard-working, and great role models.”

To add to the fun, every camper is given a camp T-shirt, and Fridays are always a pizza day. Drop off is as early as 8:00 am and pick up is as late as 5:00 pm. Camp activities run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The cost per week is $260.

To learn more about Voyageurs Summer Camps, email the Campus Recreation Coordinator at campusrec@laurentian.ca or visit the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 Voyageurs website, or . To register, please call (705) 673-6573.

Graduate Spotlight: Emily Benedicic

Graduate Spotlight: Emily Benedicic

She may be carrying on the family legacy, but this third generation Bachelor of Education Graduate is taking the degree to the next level.

May 31, 2024 - Both Emily’s mother and grandmother are 黑料吃瓜不打烊 alumnae and French teachers in Northern Ontario so it might not be a surprise to you that Emily is about to graduate from 黑料吃瓜不打烊 with a Bachelor of Education degree. But it was, in a way, a surprise to Emily.

“I never saw myself as a teacher. I had dreams of working in a museum one day,” Emily says. “I am interested in fine art and I love working with kids but teaching has never been part of my plan.”

Like many, Emily’s academic journey was not linear. After high school at ?cole catholic la Renaissance in Espanola, Emily moved back to her hometown of Foleyet to spend some time working and planning for her future. Eight years after graduating high school, Emily’s mom and grandma encouraged her to look into attending 黑料吃瓜不打烊 for her studies. They suggested she follow in their footsteps and get a Bachelor of Education but Emily was not sure it was a good fit for her long term goals.

That’s when Emily reached out to the late Dr. Ali Reguigui for some guidance. Dr. Reguigui, who was a prominent figure at the University and in the French community, offered Emily guidance that helped her get to where she is today.

“I told him about my interest in art, my hope to one day work in a museum, my love for kids, and my passion for Franco-Ontarian culture,” Emily recalls. “He encouraged me to go into the teaching program because the dual degree could open doors in ways I might not expect.”

Dr. Reguigui explained that the option would give her the chance to study in French, get a general arts degree, and she would finish with a Bachelor of Education as well. Plus with the option to study online, she could continue to live and work in Foleyet while working on her .

Emily had previously completed the Early Childhood Education Program at Collège Boréal and with her new trajectory at 黑料吃瓜不打烊, she would be able to transfer many of those credits to the B.Ed program.

Emily’s patience and perseverance over the years has paid off and she is now about to graduate from 黑料吃瓜不打烊 with both degrees and complete her term as the Delegate of the Faculty of Education with the Association des ?tudes Francophone.

“I took my time figuring out what I wanted to do and I feel proud of that. Even during the pandemic, I took a year off and came back again. I studied in-person and online,”Emily says, reflecting on her academic journey. “I went to college and university. I represented my program through the French student association. I asked for guidance and grace when I needed it. The process made me a more resilient and confident person.”

Fourteen years after graduating high school, Emily will start her Master’s in ?tudes Fran?ais in the fall. You might be wondering if Emily has decided to take on teaching. The answer to that is still “not right now” but Emily says the French B.Ed. was the right choice for her and teaching may be something she does in the future.

“I have found a way to connect all the dots - creativity, culture, and education can all work together,” Emily says emphatically. “I can make an impact in education without being a front line educator. My future plan is to create Franco-Ontarian teaching resources. I’m so excited to help teachers and students enrich their classrooms with teaching tools that are relevant and local.”

Emily will graduate on June 4th at 2:30pm.

Graduate Spotlight: Bradleigh Trudeau

Graduate Spotlight: Bradleigh Trudeau

A student embodying Indigenous culture and the science of environmental restoration

May 28, 2024 - Bradleigh Trudeau is not only about to be a new graduate, he is also a new parent. The convergence of these big life events only makes Bradleigh more confident as he pursues his dreams. Although a lot is happening at the same time, Bradleigh sees this time as an opportunity to pause and enjoy family life before diving into a career.

Bradleigh grew up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. An upbringing rooted in Annishanaabe culture, learning from his dad and his grandmother with whom he lived, Bradleigh spent a lot of time playing in the woods and developing a love for nature. His home community’s close proximity to Sudbury meant that Bradleigh’s family would often travel into the city for groceries and shopping.

“I remember how the hills around the smoke stack were black and rocky and now they’re green and full of plants,” Trudeau recalls. “Seeing that development over my life, made a huge impression on me. I knew I wanted to be a part of something like that.”

Now reflecting on his time as a 黑料吃瓜不打烊 student in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture, Bradleigh feels a sense of accomplishment. There is no better institution to learn about the world renowned regreening efforts in the Sudbury basin than 黑料吃瓜不打烊. No better playground to immerse oneself in nature than 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s vast campus. No better postsecondary setting for students to stay connected to Indigenous culture than the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC). On June 5th, Bradleigh will graduate having reached his goal to be a part of environmental conservation in Sudbury and prepared for a career in the field.

His journey to this moment has not been easy. Bradleigh says joining the ISLC in his first year helped him feel a sense of home on campus. “It’s not only a place to study when you want quiet but also a place to access support from peers or mentors when facing personal or academic challenges. There’s a real sense of community there.”

That sense of community made such an impression on Bradleigh that he started working with the Centre.

“I took a couple of years off between high school and university so I am considered a mature student. The Peer Wellness Centre on campus was looking for a mature student to join their team. I applied and it led to also working at the ISLC in peer support.”

He says that the opportunity to support other students the way he had been supported earlier on in his studies was fulfilling for him.

“It was pretty cool getting to help students with the challenges they faced,” he said. “I took the job seriously and understood the positive impact that I could have on students by making them feel supported and connecting them with resources.”

Bradleigh’s son was born in the middle of his final year at 黑料吃瓜不打烊. His partner is also a 黑料吃瓜不打烊 student in the Criminology program. While starting their family in his final year of studies was challenging, Bradleigh is proud of where he is now. He says he is ready to take a break and enjoy some family time before deciding on a career path or if he wants to continue on to a masters program.

Taking the time to pause is a value in action for Bradleigh. He is adhering to his own advice for other students which is: “Find balance in your studies and personal life. Take breaks and get help when you need it. Disconnect when you need to and you’ll feel so much more equipped to take on challenges.”

Bradleigh will graduate on June 5th at 2:30pm.

Graduate Spotlight: Tharusha Wijewardena

Graduate Spotlight: Tharusha Wijewardena

Creating a life dedicated to urban turtle conservation

May 24, 2024 - Growing up in Sri Lanka, Tharusha Wijewardena, was surrounded by oceans and several species of marine turtles that inhabit them. Fast-forward to 2024 and she is about to walk across the stage as Dr. Tharusha Wijewardena at 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s June 4th convocation ceremony with a PhD and a plan to spend the rest of her life dedicated to turtle conservation.

“I have always had an affinity for turtles and transitioned to freshwater turtles once I moved to Canada,” Tharusha said. She developed her interest in freshwater turtles and aquatic ecosystems during her undergraduate degree at University of Toronto where she studied with Dr. Nicholas Mandrak. This is also when the work of Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Litzgus caught her attention.

Pursuing her PhD at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 in the Boreal Ecology Program was motivated by a desire to work with Dr. Litzgus, says Tharusha. “I was interested in herpetology and when you look at the kind of work Dr. Litzgus does, she focuses a lot on conservation. She is one of the leading researchers in Canada, maybe even in North America and she had an incredible reputation so I was inspired to get on her research team and work under her supervision.”

She started thinking about working with Dr. Litzgus while completing her undergraduate studies, but wasn’t able to make it happen for her Master’s. Instead, she studied at U of T again, with Dr. Nicholas Mandrak, developing what would later become a long-term relationship with the Toronto Zoo. In this field work, the team headstarted (a conservation technique for endangered species) Blanding's turtles, taking hatchlings from the wild and bringing them into a rearing facility for a couple of years until they were large enough to release into the wild.

In 2019, when she was ready to start her PhD, Tharusha heard about NSERC funding for the ReNewZoo program that was to be led by Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde and co-applicants including Dr. Litzgus. Tharusha applied to be a part of the research team. “I was honored to get the opportunity. Working on this team, I learned so much more than just academic skills but things like collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and virtues like patience and kindness. My advisors were a tremendous support and encouraged me to strive for more,” said Tharusha.

Tharusha’s work with Dr. Litzgus made an impression on the conservation of blanding’s turtles but also on the scope of ecology research in Ontario. In May 2023, Tharusha was awarded 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s first ever Jane Goodall Student Scholarship for her exceptional dedication to biodiversity conservation. Along with Dr. Litzgus (who received the Jane Goodall Research Fellowship in Conservation Biology), Tharusha’s work was recognized by Dr. Jane Goodall during a visit to Sudbury.

Tharusha credits her PhD advisors for pushing her to apply for her postdoctoral position. “It’s a fairly competitive position that is awarded once annually. I was nervous to apply and unsure if I would get it but I got it and I was so amazed. My advisors were the reason I felt confident enough to apply. They truly encouraged me. Doing my PhD with them was one of the best experiences of my life.”

In her postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Urban Environments at University of Toronto Mississauga, Tharusha will collaborate with other researchers and community conservation organizations to observe the nesting ecology of snapping turtles and painted turtles in the Peel and Halton regions.

For Tharusha, this is just the next step in what she hopes will be a career dedicated to reptile and amphibian conservation in urban areas.

Graduate Spotlight: Mia Tucker

Graduate Spotlight: Mia Tucker

My journey at 黑料吃瓜不打烊, in my own words

May 22, 2024 - If you’ve ever wondered who writes these Student Spotlights, here I am, it’s me! I am Mia Tucker, Communications Assistant at 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s Communications Office, but today, I’m writing as both your subject and author.

I am an alumna and current student at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and soon-to-be graduate of Concurrent Education. Throughout my two degrees and five years here, 黑料吃瓜不打烊 has become my home and the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 community has become my second family. I’d like to share a few experiences with you before my time with this pen comes to an end.

I was born in Sudbury and raised in Toronto. Growing up I visited Sudbury often, giving the city a special place in my heart. As the end of high school approached, I started looking at Concurrent Education programs in Ontario. I discovered that 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s program was the most condensed in the whole province. The chance to spend more time in Sudbury, and the appeal of the fast program are why I chose to attend 黑料吃瓜不打烊. Over the years, my love for this community has continued to grow and I now plan to stay in Sudbury as I pursue my teaching career.

I knew since I was young that I wanted to become a teacher. I have always been passionate about learning, growing, and working with kids. Having two younger siblings inspired me, as I have always loved being a big sister and teaching them things I know. I believe that every child has unique capabilities and ideas that should be celebrated. Each child has the ability to become something amazing. That is what inspired me to want to teach - I want to bring that out in my students. My time at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 has prepared me for the future I have always dreamed of.

Over the past five years, I have gained invaluable teaching experience in different classrooms and grade-levels. My placements complimented my course work and instilled within me confidence and professionalism in my teaching practices. 黑料吃瓜不打烊’s small class sizes and connections I made with professors made me feel supported and like I was never on my own. I met like-minded individuals who valued education like I do. The past year was especially impactful getting to apply my comprehension in my last two placements at Sudbury elementary schools.

I moved into Residence when I was 17 years old for first-year of university. Going from living at home with my mom to living in residence in a new city was a huge transition for me. As I grew more comfortable on my own, I began taking on many leadership roles within residence and 黑料吃瓜不打烊. It was fulfilling to be able to help other students in my roles as a Residence Assistant, leader on student council, and peer mentor. I value community, inclusivity, and I wanted to be a support for other new students who may have had similar uneasy feelings during their transition to university life.

My involvement in the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 community is what led me to the unique opportunity to write this Student Spotlight. As a student employee, I worked on campus part time with flexible hours while studying. I was tasked with interviewing and writing stories (like this one!) about interesting people within the 黑料吃瓜不打烊 community for the news section of the website. I have developed administrative skills and understanding of professional communications that I can now use throughout my career as a teacher.

As I walk across the stage to accept my second degree at my convocation ceremony on June 4th, 2024, I will look back on my journey at 黑料吃瓜不打烊 with gratitude. I will envision my exciting future and all that I can accomplish with my abilities, relationships, and education that grew here at 黑料吃瓜不打烊.

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