Leaders on campus and in the community: meet the 2025 SLRA recipients

Front row: Maria Manette, Spencer Vallis, Khuloud Saqib, Liah Christie.
Back row: Hailey Forbes, Ella Fitzgerald, Melissa Álvarez Del Angel, Audrey Salinger

Career & Experiential Learning and the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) hosted the annual Student Leadership Recognition Award (SLRA) ceremony on April 3, 2025. The award recognizes students who possess, display, and apply leadership qualities and skills within the Saint Mary’s University community and beyond.

The SLRA was initiated in 2012 and is awarded to a maximum of three students from each Faculty (Arts, Science, Sobey School of Business, and Graduate Studies). Learn more about the Student Leadership Recognition Award.

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Meet the award recipients

Melissa Álvarez Del Angel

Melissa Álvarez is a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology. As an international student from Mexico, Melissa understands what it means to start over. Facing cultural shock and the silent battles of proving herself in unfamiliar spaces shaped her passion for advocacy and community care. Melissa is a Senior Residence Assistant and Chair of the Residence Wellness Team, where she leads initiatives focused on harm reduction and mental health awareness, creating spaces for students to feel seen and heard. Beyond campus, Melissa volunteers at Peter’s Place, assisting individuals recovering from brain injuries. She is also involved in the French Woodland Conservation Project, where she helps educate children about the preservation of yellow birch trees.

Liah Christie

Liah is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Chemistry Honours student minoring in Philosophy. A dedicated leader at Saint Mary’s University, she has excelled in academics, mentorship, and research. As a Peer Success Coach, she supports student transitions through personalized coaching and learning strategy workshops. Within the Chemistry Department, Liah has worked as a Research Assistant, TA, SNAP Centre Peer Tutor, and SMU Chemistry Society Co-President, fostering academic growth and engagement for science students. Beyond the lab, Liah is deeply committed to community health and advocacy. She has volunteered over 225 hours with Ronald McDonald House Charities, co-chairs the Halifax Community Health Board, and delivers educational mental health presentations as a certified JackTalks Speaker.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in French. Ella has volunteered for three years with Students Acting for Global Awareness and served as a Teaching Assistant in the Mathematics Department. Additionally, she has volunteered as a Pack Leader with SMUSA for two years, creating a safe and welcoming community at Saint Mary’s. Ella participated in a year-long Study Abroad program at the University of Seoul in South Korea, where she joined Korean tutoring groups, volunteered as an English discussion leader, and contributed to the International Student Fellowship program, which strives to build a diverse global community. Ella also completed two spring semester exchanges in Québec. Ella will begin her Bachelor of Education program following graduation to further her goal of making education more accessible to all.

Hailey Forbes

Hailey is a third-year Bachelor of Arts Psychology student, completing the Forensic Psychology Certificate. Hailey has a strong passion for leadership, accessibility, and student success, holding various leadership positions in the Saint Mary’s community. As a Peer Success Coach for Accessibility, Hailey supports Arts students and individuals registered with the Fred Smithers Centre by facilitating learning strategy workshops and one-on-one coaching. She also serves as the Vice President of the Psychology Society, fostering connections and growth among students. Additionally, Hailey is involved with the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative, working to raise awareness of sexual and gender-based violence to promote a safer campus environment. Outside of the SMU community, Hailey volunteers every summer at Camp Triumph, a camp for children who have a sibling/parent with a chronic illness or disability.

Maria Mannette

Maria Mannette is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student, double majoring in Computing & Information Systems and Management. Graduating as Valedictorian in Spring 2025, she has been an active leader on campus, serving as a Teaching Assistant, a Peer Academic Leader, a BComm Ambassador, and the Administrative Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society. She also played a key role in student governance as the Deputy Returning Officer for the SMUSA elections in 2023. In September 2024, Maria founded the university’s first Women In Business Society, serving as its inaugural President and igniting a legacy of female leadership, inclusion, and professional development with a growing community of over 100 members. Alongside her studies, Maria works full-time and volunteers with the Greek community.

Lydia Ramsay

Lydia Ramsay is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Finance and Accounting student and Sobey National Innovator Scholar. For the past two years, she has served as a Residence Assistant on campus, fostering an inclusive environment and community. Lydia leads as Events and Engagement Lead for the Women in Business Society, organizing impactful events such as the Women in Finance Panel Gala. Beyond SMU, Lydia has coordinated French leadership training for the Canadian Student Leadership Association and launched an online Student Leadership Certification Program. With involvement in SMU’s Venture Grade Program and Research Associate for the IMPACT Investment Fund, she excels in financial leadership. Lydia aims to further her leadership in finance and community impact with the Women in Business Society.

Audrey Salinger

Audrey is a fourth-year PhD candidate investigating genetic impacts on the recovery of two endangered cetacean populations. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Tromsø and a Bachelor of Science from UCLA. Audrey’s contributions to the SMU community include co-organizing the seminar and journal club series for the biology and environmental science departments and helping to facilitate the biweekly EDIA book club. Audrey works as both a teaching assistant for biology and ENVS courses and an exam invigilator for the Fred Smithers Centre. Off campus, Audrey volunteers as a student representative for the Nova Scotia Institute of Science, where she serves student interests among the broader scientific community by supporting initiatives for students to share their scientific research and learn about potential career paths.

Khuloud Saqib

Khuloud Saqib is a third-year international student majoring in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. Widely recognized on campus as the ‘purple-haired’ girl, Khuloud has made an impact through her leadership and involvement in student life. She started as a dedicated member of SMUSA’s Street Team in her first year, a role that required energy, extroversion, and direct engagement with students. She was also an active member of the SMU Cheerleading team for two years and served as the Captain of her team in her second year. Alongside this, Khuloud upheld various off-campus volunteer roles. Currently, Khuloud serves as the Vice President - Societies for SMUSA, where she plays a key role in supporting the 60 active societies, managing event risks, and ensuring policies are upheld.

Ramon Stultz

Born and raised in Jamaica, Ramon Stultz is a third-year international student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management. Ramon co-founded the Premiere Emcee Team, where he draws upon his background in hosting high-profile Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events. He held the positions of Resident Assistant for two consecutive years and Research Assistant at the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, where he applied his finance expertise and passion for youth mentoring to support groundbreaking research initiatives for Black communities. Ramon also contributes to Tribe Network as an Administrative Lead. Ramon’s goal remains steadfast: to drive positive change, inspire those around him, and foster a thriving environment for learning, growth and innovation.

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Spencer Vallis

Spencer is a dedicated advocate, community organizer and leader, passionate about creating change. He is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Social Justice and Community Studies and minoring in Sociology. Spencer has led the SMU Pride Society for the past two years, advocating for institutional change, organizing queer-centric events, and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ SMUdents. He is a Teaching Assistant in the Faculty of Arts and represents 2SLGBTQIA+ students on the Sexual Violence Prevention Executive Advisory Committee. In addition to his leadership on campus, he works full-time in retail management and excels academically as a two-time Dean’s List recipient. Recently, he was appointed to the Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee with the City of Halifax.

Three-Minute Thesis winner to represent SMU at Eastern Regional Competition

Samuel Sequeira

Congratulations to Samuel Sequeira, a first-year Master of Science student in Environmental Science, who won first place and the People’s Choice award in the annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) contest at Saint Mary’s last week. His presentation was titled “Jumping into danger: Mercury, fungus, and the frog crisis.”

Abigail Battson won second place for her thesis titled “Finding a needle in a haystack: Looking for indirect evidence of black holes in star clusters.”

Hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the 2025 3MT event saw 11 Saint Mary’s Master’s students and PhD candidates explain their thesis research projects in three minutes using just one static PowerPoint slide, no other props and no visual aids. A panel of judges chose the first and second place winners, while audience members voted for the People’s Choice Award.

Condensing a thesis—the result of months or even years of work—into three minutes is a unique challenge, and doing it effectively is an impressive feat. Competitors are challenged to condense and communicate their work while still making it accessible to a non-expert audience, with the clock ticking.

In his master’s thesis research, Samuel is studying wetlands contaminated with mercury and arsenic, specifically the effect this contamination has on amphibians. Nova Scotia has a rich history of gold mining dating back to the mid-1800s. The processes used to extract gold from its ore produced waste materials that contained mercury and arsenic. Due to the lack of regulations at the time, these waste materials, or tailings, were discarded in low-lying areas, including wetlands. These historic gold mine tailings are a risk to several organisms, including amphibians. Since they spend their lives on land and in water, amphibians are constantly being exposed to these contaminants, which they can absorb directly through their skin and their diet.

Along with supervisor Dr. Linda Campbell, Samuel and a team of student researchers are working to determine how much mercury and arsenic are accumulating in amphibians’ tissue, and its implications for their predators, including endangered species of birds, fish and turtles. 

This project will also focus on whether a highly infectious fungal pathogen, which has caused the extinction of several species of frogs worldwide, has made its way to Nova Scotia.

Samuel completed his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s and is now enrolled in the Master of Applied Science program. He will compete in the Eastern Regional 3MT Competition hosted by Memorial University in June.

The Three-Minute Thesis presentations covered a wide range of topics from the Faculties of Arts, Science, and the Sobey School of Business:  

• Abigail Battson: Finding a needle in a haystack: Looking for indirect evidence of black holes in star clusters

• Lily Binney: The structural complexity of old-growth Eastern Hemlock and Red Spruce forests in Nova Scotia

• Gary Ernest: The interaction between leadership style and calling orientation in predicting burnout in academic vs. clinical physician leaders

• Angelo George: Cosmic neighbourhoods: How environment shapes galaxies

• Gabe Kipnis: Mapping and analyzing the local food network in the HRM

• David Lewis: TRaP-ping Historic Mine Tailing Arsenic & Mercury

• Sasha MacArthur: Beyond MRI: How SHG reveals the hidden story of collagen

• Nichole Michaud-Kuszelewski": Price wars: An empirical investigation of competitive pricing

• Megan O’Brien: Finding old-growth forest in Nova Scotia

• Samuel Sequeira: Jumping into danger: Mercury, fungus, and the frog crisis

• Alex Stokes: Exploring perceptions of citizenship and place in Prince Edward Island curriculum

From classroom to career: empowering responsible AI leaders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, not only reshaping how students learn in university classrooms but also driving innovative research across disciplines. At Saint Mary’s, our instructors are playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI advancements and the broader business community by integrating AI tools into curriculum and community-based research projects.

Find out how Saint Mary’s is supporting students and the business community navigate the fast-paced world of AI.

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Atlantic Canada AI Summit: May 1-3 at Saint Mary’s University

Organized by leading institutions, including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the University of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Canada AI Summit fosters collaboration across academia and industry in Atlantic Canada. 

The Summit will showcase cutting-edge AI research, facilitate industry-academia collaboration, and highlight exceptional AI talent in the region. It will feature three days of programming, including research presentations, workshops, a healthcare data competition and a youth AI pitch competition.

The Youth AI Pitch Competition on May 3 invites youth ages 13-18 to use AI and creativity to improve the Children’s Emergency Department at the IWK hospital.

We are looking for AI-driven solutions to enhance the ER experience for kids and their families. Whether it’s making ER visits more fun, improving parent experience or advancing patient care, your ideas can make a difference!

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AI in the classroom

Preparing students for the workplace with AI learning

Anubhav Gupta and instructor Bryce Cross

Under the guidance of Sobey School of Business Lecturer Bryce Cross, who heavily incorporates large language models (LLMs) into his PhD research, Anubhav Gupta and his classmates are getting unique exposure to AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.

“Professor Cross loves talking about his research, and he tries to integrate it with the concepts he’s teaching,” Gupta shared.

This approach has allowed students to engage with AI in practical ways, such as using ChatGPT to analyze mystery companies, prompting the model to match anonymous balance sheets to the correct industry. “It was an interesting experience to see how AI and LLMs work and their limitations. You can use it, but you can’t replace the knowledge you’re learning at university.”

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Philosophy program teaches students to use critical thinking in an AI-driven world

Dr. Shelagh Crooks

With political turmoil, social divides, economic instability and the complexities of AI, the global landscape is full of challenges.

Philosophy teaches students how to think about concepts like fairness, autonomy and justice, skills that are increasingly important as we interact with AI-driven systems in the workplace. Understanding the societal impact of AI is not just a technical challenge—it’s a moral one.

“If we consume AI, we have to consume it with a critical eye,” says Saint Mary’s Philosophy professor Dr. Shelagh Crooks. “One of the things you learn in all philosophy classes is to be a skeptic…ask yourself, ‘Why should I accept this as truth?’ That is not something people do naturally.”

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Start a career in AI with SMU’s Master of Business Analytics (MBAN)

Interested in working in the growing industry of business analytics and AI? The Saint Mary’s Masters of Business Analytics (MBAN) program equips students with cutting-edge expertise and practical knowledge, emphasizing the development, evaluation, refinement and implementation of AI-powered analytics solutions to transform data into actionable insights, driving business innovation and success.

Students are eligible for an 8-month paid internship, offering hands-on experience with AI-driven tools and methodologies, strengthening their expertise and establishing a solid foundation for a successful career in business analytics and AI.

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Researchers using AI to solve real-world problems

Chris Mitchell and Shahriar Swapni of Citco with Dr. Pawan Lingras

The Office of Innovation and Community Engagement (OICE) facilitates research relationships between Saint Mary’s University and external partners, such as companies, government departments and community organizations. In their 2025 report, OICE highlights a number of completed and ongoing research projects which benefit from integrating AI systems.

Harnessing Data to Reduce Food Waste

Easy Platter, a meal-planning and personal chef service, partnered with Mathematics and Computing Science professor Dr. Yasushi Akiyama to design a framework to calculate ingredient costs, potential food waste and nutritional value for selected meal plans.

Virtual Guides Transform Tourist Experiences

Fundy Language Analytics Inc., which specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning for language applications, partnered with Mathematics and Computer Science professor Dr. Somayeh Kafaie to use Large Language Models to enhance their virtual tour guide app, Strollopia.

A Partnership to Diversify Revenue and Reduce Risk

Citco, a global network of independent firms, partnered with Dr. Pawan Lingras, Director of the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics (CDA) Program and his team of graduate students. Together, they developed a document scraping application powered by generative AI to diversify their revenue streams within the fund administration sector.

AI-Powered Animation Enhancing Creativity One Frame at a Time

Moonshot Rights Inc., a Canada/UK-based animation company, partnered with Dr. Jason Rhinelander, an Associate Professor in the Division of Engineering and Head of Technology and Innovation at the David Sobey Retailing Centre. Together, they are pioneering a new approach to animation by accelerating the generation of Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) computer-generated frames.

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Sharing AI insights with the business community and beyond

Arjun Asokakumar speaks at the 2024 Responsible Leadership Day

Driving responsible leadership of AI

The Sobey School of Business brought together inspiring leaders and forward-thinking students for its sixth annual Responsible Leadership Day in November 2024: The Future of Responsible Work in an AI-Driven World. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, the need for specialized knowledge remains high. Understanding how to judge the information AI provides you—and being able to evaluate its output critically—is key to using the technology responsibly.

The event included a thought-provoking keynote by Arjun Asokakumar, Director of Data Science at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), on how AI-driven automation may reshape job roles and skill requirements.

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Demystifying AI for businesses

In March, Sobey School of Business professor Dr. Yigit Aydede hosted a half-day conference titled Beyond the Code: Demystifying AI. The event featured three engaging sessions designed to educate, demonstrate and inspire action around the transformative power of AI.

Sessions covered simplifying AI concepts for both technical and non-technical users, demonstrating AI in action to illustrate how the technology is applied to solve real-world challenges, and a practical discussion with key stakeholders on how small and medium-sized businesses can effectively leverage AI to drive growth, boost productivity, and achieve long-term success.

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SMU competition supports AI innovation in healthcare

The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s hosted The Arena, an annual pitch competition, in March. More than 60 student entrepreneurs from across Canada participated.

The winning project was Wonder Guard—an AI-powered Catheter Bag Module, created by McMaster University PhD student Manak Bajaj. Wonder Guard is capable of detecting and predicting urinary tract infections (UTIS), integrating electrochemical biosensors for real-time detection, quantification, and prediction of UTIs. This allows immediate diagnostic feedback to users and health information systems for AI-driven clinical decisions.

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Considering the impact of AI development

In fall 2024, Faculty of Arts professor Dr. Teresa Heffernan joined UofT Jackman Humanities Institute Humanities at Large podcast host Melissa Gismondi for a conversation about AI. They discuss topics like the public's perception, limitations, environmental impact, and AI’s relationship with fiction. They also touch on the need for regulation and ethical considerations in AI development.

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Guidance for students and faculty

The Patrick Power Library's Artificial Intelligence (AI) guide is designed to help students use AI responsibly and ethically in their academic work.

The Studio for Teaching & Learning has helpful guides and resources for instructors here: Generative AI in Higher Education. They also host learning events and share resources from other institutions, including an upcoming webinar series titled Mind the (Bias) Gap: Ethical AI for Inclusive Teaching, from May 28-30.

Engineering solutions: improving sustainability in additive manufacturing

Ghazaleh Afrahi of Shifting Shap3s with OICE Director Kevin Buchan. Photo: Wiebke Schroeder

Dr. Adel Merabet, a Professor in the Division of Engineering at Saint Mary’s University, is driving innovation through his partnership with Shifting Shap3s, a clean tech startup company leading the way in additive manufacturing and sustainable plastic waste solutions.

Shifting Shap3s has developed FilamentPro™, a product that decentralizes the recycling of additive manufacturing plastic waste. By allowing users to transform waste into reusable filament, the company tackles two key challenges: reducing environmental impact and improving material efficiency. To enhance FilamentPro’s performance, Shifting Shap3s collaborated with Dr. Merabet, leveraging his expertise in heat distribution, automation, and energy efficiency.

Dr. Merabet and his postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Mohammadali Kiehbadroudinezhad, conducted comprehensive feasibility studies and simulations, addressing critical challenges like filament quality, energy consumption, and productivity. These findings informed significant improvements to FilamentPro and paved the way for the next phase of the project. Dr. Merabet now leads efforts to design and test an optimized version of the product, ready for real-world application and market launch.

“Our experience collaborating with Saint Mary’s University has been truly transformative,” said Ghazaleh Afrahi, Founder of Shifting Shap3s. “This partnership significantly advanced our product development journey and enhanced the diversity of our talent team. We look forward to continuing this collaboration to strengthen our impact in reducing plastic waste and preserving resources.”

Through his work with Shifting Shap3s, Dr. Merabet is not only advancing engineering innovation but also contributing to a more sustainable future in additive manufacturing and material efficiency. This partnership highlights the power of combining expertise, creativity, and shared commitment to addressing global environmental challenges.

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The Office of Innovation and Community Engagement (OICE) at Saint Mary’s University facilitates research partnerships between the University and companies, government departments and community organizations. OICE is the initial point of contact for faculty members and external partners wishing to collaborate. The office assists with finding suitable expertise, contract development and advising on funding opportunities.

This project highlight is from the 2025 OICE Report, which features researchers from Saint Mary's University and their external partners.

Student-led startup named Canadian Champion at Hult Prize National Competition

Founded by Sheheryar Khan, a soon-to-be graduate in the Diploma in Engineering program at Saint Mary’s University, Alaagi is on a mission to replace traditional plastics with sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Using seaweed and other marine resources, the company creates fully compostable plastics.

The Alaagi team—comprised of SMU students Sheheryar Khan, Gabe Martin and Vaishali Sachdeva—was named National Champion after competing against 19 other teams from across Canada at the competition held in March at McGill University.

Kate Ramirez of the Hult Prize with Vaishali Sachdeva, Sheheryar Khan and Gabe Martin of Alaagi, and Hult Prize Advisor Aarondeep (Aaron) S. Bains

Another Saint Mary’s team that competed was Sociable, an online platform founded by Olivian Sanderson and Jason Phonchareon. The platform aims to help students build meaningful relationships through shared interests and community events.

With the national win, the Alaagi team immediately moves on to the next phase of the competition, working toward the grand prize of $1 million to be awarded at the Global Finals in London in September 2025. Alaagi has been mentored through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and is currently incubated through Enactus Saint Mary’s.

““Working with the team at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre was truly transformative. They supported my vision and taught me fundamental skills like how to pitch and manage my business. But I also have to credit my mom—she sent me to Saint Mary’s and to Canada to chase my dreams.””

— Sheheryar Khan

Alaagi Founder Sheheryar Khan presents at the Hult Prize Canadian National Competition

The Hult Prize is a globally recognized social entrepreneurship competition that challenges students to tackle the world’s most pressing issues through innovative business ideas. Each year, more than 187,000 students from 113 countries and 1,324 universities participate, pitching solutions for a chance to win $1 million.

“The Canadian National Competition was competitive and exciting! It was amazing to see teams from across the country come together—not just as competitors, but as colleagues supporting one another through the process,” said Kate Ramirez, North American Regional Manager of the Hult Prize. “This was the first Canadian National Hult Prize competition, and it set the tone for what’s to come.”

The Hult Prize competition consists of five stages. With their national win, Alaagi enters Stage 3: the Digital Incubator. Alongside 60 top teams from around the world, they will refine their ideas, validate product-market fit, build proof-of-concept models, and develop go-to-market strategies. Successful teams will progress to Stage 4: the Global Accelerator, held in person in London this August, where 28 teams will receive intensive mentorship, strategic guidance, and networking opportunities. Of those, eight will be selected to compete in the Global Finals in September, pitching their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges for the $1 million prize.

Follow the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre online for more updates on Alaagi’s journey and other student entrepreneur success stories.

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The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University is Atlantic Canada’s premier hub for fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and driving open innovation. Over the past five years, the Centre has supported over 4,000 students and 3,000 businesses through programs, mentorship, and entrepreneurial engagement activities.

Saint Mary's astronomers study swarms of black holes hiding in the Milky Way’s densest star clusters

Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet and Nolan Dickson MSc’22

Less than a decade ago, gravitational waves originating from two black holes merging in a distant galaxy were observed for the first time. Since then, the number of such detections has steadily increased, and much effort has been devoted to understanding the astrophysical origin of these cataclysmic events that send ripples through space-time. 

Two recent studies, spearheaded by Saint Mary’s researchers, shed new light on this topic by probing the populations of black holes hiding in the globular star clusters surrounding our Milky Way galaxy. The work was led by SMU graduate students Nolan Dickson and Peter Smith under the supervision of Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet and done in collaboration with researchers in Spain and Australia. 

Globular star clusters are promising cradles for black holes to form, remain close to one another, and sometimes gravitationally capture each other. This can produce tight binary systems in which the two black holes spiral down to merge, emitting gravitational waves in the process. These clusters are extremely compact and can contain up to a million stars that interact through gravity. Shortly after they formed 10 to 12 billion years ago, their short-lived massive stars died and left behind black holes. But until recently, it was thought that globular clusters could not hold on to their black holes. Recent theoretical work and simulations have suggested otherwise. While some black holes may experience strong enough natal kicks to eject themselves from their host cluster promptly, and others also escape after energetic “slingshot” interactions with other black holes, it doesn’t seem to deplete the black hole population of most clusters completely.  

In their study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), Nolan Dickson MSc’22, PhD candidate and Durland Scholar, and collaborators put these ideas on firmer ground. By carefully comparing the observed spatial distribution and motions of stars in a sample of globular clusters with detailed dynamical models, they were able to infer the presence of up to a few hundred black holes near the centre of many clusters. These black holes typically amount to less than 1% of the cluster mass in these systems, which is small but still has important ramifications.

“Although we don’t see the black holes directly, they have a subtle but noticeable effect on the visible stars, effectively injecting energy into the rest of the cluster,” says Dickson. “Other research groups around the world have reached similar conclusions, but our study is the first one that simultaneously compares models to such a wide range of observations coming from different telescopes on the ground and in space. Our models are also very fast to compute, so we can easily explore a very large number of configurations with clusters containing varying amounts of black holes and make sure we identify the models that best match all of these rich datasets.” 

Peter Smith MSc’24

In a second study recently published in The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), Peter Smith MSc’24, now a PhD candidate at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany, took this method one step further by using exotic astrophysical accelerometers. In addition to analyzing the positions and motions of stars in globular clusters, he also considered the precise timing of “millisecond pulsars”.

Pulsars are like cosmic lighthouses, rapidly rotating compact stellar remnants that emit beams of radiation out of their magnetic poles. When the beams periodically align with Earth (once per rotation, every 0.001 seconds or so for a millisecond pulsar!), pulses of energy can be detected. This makes them very precise and stable clocks. As pulsars move inside a globular cluster and are accelerated by all the stars and black holes, the measured time intervals between pulses change slightly.

“This allows us to use them as powerful probes of the dark mass inside globular clusters, in particular black holes. It’s especially helpful when not much is known about the motions of the stars, which can be difficult to measure in distant clusters obscured by interstellar dust”, comments Smith. Using this method, he and collaborators provided much improved constraints on the black hole content of two clusters that had been the subject of constant debate in the scientific community. “And things will only get better in the future, as the next generation of radio telescopes is expected to dramatically increase the number of detected pulsars in globular clusters,” Smith adds. 

These findings offer new insight and further evidence that globular star clusters can keep hold of a significant number of black holes. “It’s an exciting time to be working in this field. Following the detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers, the study of globular clusters has experienced a renaissance”, says Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet. “But there is still a lot that we don’t understand. We are already working on how we can use our recent results to explore the physics of black hole formation and the birth conditions of globular clusters during the earliest stages of galaxy formation in the early universe.” 

Read more: 
 
 

• Multimass modelling of milky way globular clusters - II. Present-day black hole populations 

• Probing Populations of Dark Stellar Remnants in the Globular Clusters 47 Tuc and Terzan 5 Using Pulsar Timing 

By Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet

Master's theses round-up: African Heritage Month

Exploring themes of Black and African heritage, identity and justice

February is African Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of people of Black and African descent. To mark this month, the Patrick Power Library is highlighting the work of Saint Mary’s graduate students whose research explores themes related to Black and African heritage, history, identity and social justice.

A Master’s thesis represents years of dedication, inquiry and original scholarship, and we’re excited to showcase these contributions to academic knowledge. This collection of graduate student theses offers valuable insights into a diverse range of subjects studied by Saint Mary’s students. More student theses can be discovered in the University Archives’ online Institutional Repository.

Read on to discover the work of our student scholars!

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"Entering the workforce in Halifax: Strategies and coping mechanisms among the African migrant community"
by Priscilla Armah, Master of Arts in Geography, 2021

This study examines the job market experiences of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Halifax, using Bourdieu’s habitus and Labour Market Segmentation theory. It explores strategies, barriers like racism and systemic discrimination, and coping mechanisms, highlighting how interconnected individual, group and systemic factors shape labour market integration.

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"Forced/coerced sterilization of HIV-positive women in the Southern African region in the context of reproductive justice and intersectional gender-based violence"
by Ogechukwu Chinenye Chukwudozie, Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies, 2024

This study examines the forced sterilization of HIV-positive women through the lenses of reproductive justice, the intersectionality framework and feminist content analysis, highlighting how poverty, age, education and racism increase vulnerability. The author amplifies victims' voices and expands intersectional scholarship in Africa, emphasizing overlooked factors in the oppression of HIV-positive women.

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"Whose revolution is televised?: Young African Nova Scotian women respond to sexual politics in hip hop culture & everyday life"
by Alecia Green, Master of Arts in the Joint Women’s Studies Programme, 2007

This qualitative study explores how young African Nova Scotian women interpret Black female body representations in hip-hop videos. Using a Black socio-feminist lens, interviews with university students reveal critical media literacy, counter-hegemonic views shaped by academics, divinity, and community, and a belief that Black female beauty comes from within.

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"Presence and perseverance: Blacks in Hants County, Nova Scotia, 1871-1914"
by David Wayne States, Masters of Arts in Atlantic Canada Studies, 2002

In the early 19th century, Black refugees from the U.S. settled in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, facing harsh conditions and discrimination. This thesis traces the efforts of Black families in Hants County to adapt to these circumstances and improve conditions for their offspring's future success. States argues the agency shown by these people would result in the generations following them achieving a level of competency not thought attainable by the immigrant generation.

"The experiences and challenges of Black entrepreneurs in Halifax, Nova Scotia"
by Gabriel Nimoh, Master of Arts in Geography, 2022

Using the mixed embeddedness model and intersectionality theoretical framework, this study explores the experiences, motivations, barriers and coping strategies of Black entrepreneurs in Halifax. Findings highlight market opportunities, financial constraints, racial discrimination, and the role of mindset and social support in overcoming challenges. This study seeks to assist policymakers and practitioners in developing informed decisions that promote inclusion in the Canadian business environment.

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"In vivo facial tissue depth measurements of African Nova Scotian children for 3-D forensic facial reconstruction"
by Meaghan Alexandria Huculak, Master of Science in Applied Science, 2021

Partnering with the African Nova Scotian community, this student researcher collaboratively created the first African Canadian facial tissue depth database for identifying missing children. Using ultrasound technology on 54 participants (ages 3–18) showed age, sex, and nutrition contributed to tissue depth. This student’s thesis discusses the application of the findings in multiple forensic contexts.

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"Performing diversity: Black bodies in Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions"
by Itai Ashley Kuwodza, Master of Arts in Atlantic Canadian Studies, 2024

Kuwodza argues that the Black student experience in Atlantic Canada is explicitly limited by racist practices. The thesis traces the historical roots of exploitation and analyzes how colonial legacies, racial biases and economic disparities have contributed to the marginalization of Black individuals in Atlantic Canadian education and sport.

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"Where are the black female faculty?: Employment equity policy failures and the overrepresentation of whiteness"
by Isalean Phillip, Master of Arts in Women & Gender Studies, 2018

Philip’s thesis critiques employment equity and diversity practices at two Atlantic Canadian universities, using intersectionality and critical race feminism as theoretical frameworks. Through critical race feminist discourse analysis and interviews with Black women scholars, Philips analyzes the persistence of systemic racism and sexism, highlighting how the institutionalization of liberal feminist equity policies, diversity discourses and white patriarchal hegemony all sustain institutional practices of racialized gendered omission, erasure and misrepresentation.

SMU research supports right whale conservation

Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919

Dr. Timothy Frasier

Saint Mary’s biology professor, Dr. Timothy Frasier, is the principal investigator of a research team that is working to update a DNA database of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. CBC reports that the researchers have received funding through a contract with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which will allow the team to reanalyse the current DNA samples and expand to hundreds of more regions. The DNA samples collected help to identify individual right whales.

The funding contract includes an annual payment of up to $33,960 and can be extended each year from March 2025 to 2028. "It's a big jump," said Frasier in an interview with CBC. "Not only is that going to give us a higher resolution [of the genome], but the technology is going to make that much more efficient and less error-prone."

Learn more about the research and conservation efforts at CBC.ca.
Reported by CBC News and written by Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri.

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Related reading:

• Researchers study effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in endangered North Atlantic right whales

• Helping the North Atlantic Right Whale rebound

Jacob Hanley: 2024 winner of President’s Award for Excellence in Research

Dr. Jacob Hanley, recipient of the 2024 winner of President’s Award for Excellence in Research at Saint Mary’s.

As a global leader in the field of geochemistry and mineral resource geology, Dr. Jacob Hanley’s research conducted on campus at Saint Mary’s and nationally and internationally has been an influential force for faculty, students, industry partners and the scientific community.

Always happy to mentor the next generation of researchers, Dr. Hanley has supervised more than 50 BSc honours theses and graduate theses at SMU, with alumni moving on to successful careers in industry, government and academia. His lab’s active, varied research scope includes considerable student involvement, many industry and government funding sources, and spans a continent and centuries of data.

In a partnership with the Nova Scotia Museum, Dr. Hanley is currently engaged in an interdisciplinary collaboration with archaeologists, geochemists, and community members that may rewrite the understanding of pre-contact copper trade across North America. Using the chemical composition of copper from protohistoric sites in Nova Scotia, this research group is also tracking copper from its place of origin in 16th and 17th century Swedish mines to the Maritimes Basin of Canada, where it was repurposed by Indigenous peoples.

Another major research theme focuses on the geochemical origin of deposits of critical metals such as tin, tungsten, cobalt and lithium. Dr. Hanley’s team has developed ways of measuring concentrations of these metals at their source, deep in the Earth’s crust, by analyzing microscopic samples of trapped magma in crystals that are transported to surface during eruption. The supply of these metals is threatened, a concern that Canada has recognized as they are essential to national economic security and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Recognized for his research excellence, Dr. Hanley has won national awards, contributed to dozens of peer-reviewed publications and has received significant research funding, including $2.6 million as Principal Investigator from industry and government sources.

His career has already been exceptionally productive, creative, and influential, and we anticipate even more interesting work from him as it progresses.

Dr. Hanley earned his PhD in Geology from the University of Toronto, where he also earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Mining Engineering and a Master of Science (Geology). Now a full-tenured professor, he has held increasingly senior faculty roles in the Department of Geology at Saint Mary’s since 2007.

The President's Award for Excellence in Research honours continued exceptional contributions to research and scholarship conducted by a full-time Saint Mary's University faculty member. More information can be found atsmu.ca/fgsr/presidents-award.

Meet your Valedictorians: Fall Convocation 2024

Three students will address their graduating classes at the upcoming Fall Convocation ceremonies at Saint Mary’s University. These graduates, recipients of the John and Heather Fitzpatrick Valedictorian Awards, were selected for their academic determination, involvement on campus and in their communities, and their unique journeys to the graduation podium.

All graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed at smu.ca/graduation on November 14 and 15. Congratulations, graduates!

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Krystal Lowe

Master of Science, Applied Psychology
Faculty of Graduate Studies | Thursday, November 14 at 2 p.m.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Krystal Lowe relocated to Halifax in 2013 with a dream of building a more meaningful life. She will graduate with a Master of Science in Applied Psychology (Forensic Stream) from Saint Mary’s University as a mature, first-generation student. Krystal’s academic journey began at 23 when she completed her high school diploma at the Nova Scotia Community College before enrolling at Saint Mary’s, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology in 2022.  

Krystal’s master’s research, Suicidality Among Individuals with a History of Criminal Behavior – A Test of the Three Step Theory of Suicide, earned her both the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s, and Scotia Scholar’s Master’s Award. During her time at SMU, she has worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant in the Department of Psychology, focusing on topics at the intersection of psychology and law. She also assisted with research on sexual violence on Canadian campuses in the Department of Criminology and served as the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative Coordinator, where she facilitated programs and workshops for the SMU community. Simultaneously, Krystal worked with Public Safety Canada as a research analyst in the Corrections Research Unit, where she assisted with files related to risk profiling, sexual violence and coercion in federal custody, and best practices in reducing recidivism. Her publications include work on domestic violence disclosure schemes and correctional psychology, and she remains an active researcher.  

When she isn’t working, Krystal enjoys writing, yoga, and hiking with her fiancé and two dogs. After graduation, Krystal will continue her work as the Education and Prevention Coordinator with the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, where she is deeply passionate about developing training and education to support the well-being of those working in the violence-against-women sector, as well as public education to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence.  

Krystal expresses deep gratitude to those who have supported and empowered her throughout her academic journey, particularly Dr. Marguerite Ternes, Dr. Veronica Stinson, Dr. Diane Crocker, and soon-to-be Dr. Dee Dooley, for their mentorship and guidance.

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Anubhav Gupta

Bachelor of Commerce
Sobey School of Business (undergraduate) | Friday, November 15 at 10 a.m.

Born and raised in Chandigarh, India, Anubhav graduates from the Sobey School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce, summa cum laude, achieving a GPA of 4.29 with a double major in Finance and Computing & Information Systems.  

Anubhav began his on-campus involvement as the Financial Director for the Commerce Society and a presenter for Enactus Saint Mary’s, where he secured first place in the national Scotiabank Climate Action challenge. He was also a Teaching Assistant with the Finance Department, a Global Skills Opportunity Ambassador, a Residence Assistant, and the Co-Curricular Record Engagement Facilitator. Anubhav served as the Vice-President (Advocacy) for SMUSA where he sat on the university’s Board of Governors, served as the primary spokesperson to the government, championed the student voice on several EDIA issues, and successfully spearheaded initiatives like the Zero Textbook Cost Course List and the Final Exam Weightage Regulation. During his time at SMU, he also received several awards, including the Academic Achievement Award, Chrysler Canada Scholarship, SMUFU Gold Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the Student Leadership Recognition Award. 

Passionate about making a difference, Anubhav aspires to take the lessons learnt at SMU and contribute to the community. He wants to study further and is presently trying to unravel what career path to embark upon – while the future is uncertain, Anubhav is excited about the endless opportunities to continue to learn and grow as an individual. He credits the wonderful friends he made at SMU, his professors, the mentors he has found here, and his family for their unwavering support that has made his achievements possible.   

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Magnolia Lillian Rice

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Faculty of Arts & Faculty of Science (undergraduate) | Friday, November 15 at 2 p.m.

Born and raised in Vermont, USA, Magnolia Rice is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, with Honours in Criminology and a minor in Anthropology. 

During her time at SMU, Magnolia was heavily involved in the community both on and off campus, acting as President of the Anthropology Society, Vice-President of the Criminology Society, a Pack Leader, a member of the Art’s Societies Gala Planning Committee, and a volunteer for multiple open-houses and campus events. She was also involved in the 7th Step Society of Nova Scotia, where she volunteered and wrote grants with people who have had conflict with the law, and she is currently involved in their Youth Justice program as a grant researcher. These experiences bolstered her sense of community, and she currently works as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Common Good Vermont, working to strengthen Vermont’s nonprofit sector. 

During her final year at SMU, Magnolia was a Teaching Assistant for the Criminology Department. She wrote her Honours Thesis on the motivations behind alcohol consumption in Vermont and was awarded the McMullan & Rege Honours in Criminology Convocation Award. 

Magnolia is very grateful for the people she met at Saint Mary’s and would like to specifically thank her parents and family, her incredible friends, and her professors for supporting her throughout her degree. She could not have done this without them. 

Saint Mary’s student recognized for academic achievements & deaf community contributions

Emi Morse, a first-year student, received the Honourable David C. Onley Scholarship Award from Canadian Hearing Services

Emi Morse may only be a few weeks into her academic career at Saint Mary’s, but she’s already making a name for herself. Entering the first year of her undergraduate program, Emi arrived at Saint Mary’s with big ambitions that begin with the Bachelor of Science program, focusing in Psychology, and will conclude with her eventually gaining a Masters in Audiology and becoming a Cochlear Implant Audiologist.

It's a very specific career path that stems from Emi’s own experience as a deaf individual with bilateral cochlear implants. Born without hair cells in her cochlea due to a genetic condition called Pendred Syndrome, Emi experienced total deafness from birth. Hair cells are essential for hearing, as they respond to sound frequencies and send electrical signals through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. Without these hair cells, Emi was unable to hear naturally. As a toddler, it was challenging for Emi to get a proper diagnosis as doctors chalked her symptoms up to slow development.

With her mom advocating for her, Emi was finally able to get a proper diagnosis and had implants surgically inserted into both cochlea. These implants stimulate the auditory nerve, mimicking cochlear hair cells with electrodes. This allows some auditory receptions to transmit to her brain through her external processor, which captures sound through a microphone and transmits it to the electrodes implanted on the cochlea.

Emi and her family learned American Sign Language (ASL) and Emi was connected with the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Association (APSEA), which provided significant support and guidance during her school years. Through APSEA, Emi was able to learn about assistive technology devices that supported her cochlear implants, was connected with ASL interpreters to help translate verbal class materials and was guided on how to navigate school as a deaf individual.

It was her experience with APSEA that compelled Emi to give back to her community, driving her to become a mentor for families and young children going through similar experiences. "Growing up, I experienced a lot of discrimination from hearing individuals, teachers and medical professionals,” recalls Emi. “I didn’t feel supported the way I needed to be and felt like it was just assumed that I wouldn’t be able to achieve certain ideas of success. I wanted to prove that deaf people can be successful and they deserve recognition and respect.” Emi elaborates that her experience with APSEA motivated her to give back to those in similar situations and to raise awareness about deaf culture and the resilience and tenacity of deaf individuals.

Emi was shocked to learn that her passion for giving back had resulted in her being named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Honourable David C. Onley Scholarship Award from Canadian Hearing Services. “Being a deaf person in a hearing world and being the only deaf person in my small town felt so tough and isolating,” describes Emi. “I had to work harder than everyone else just to get to the same level my peers were at. I’m living in a world that is not accessible, where I was expected not to succeed, but I worked so hard and I am so proud of what I have achieved.” The national scholarship is awarded annually to an individual who demonstrates outstanding academic achievements, resilience and dedication as a leader in accessibility and in the deaf community.

Leaving her small town to move into residence and start her post-secondary education at Saint Mary’s was a world of welcome change for Emi. “It’s been really fun,” signs Emi. “I’ve met so many people here in the dorm and during the Welcome Weeks events like the paint night and BINGO. Everyone is really nice and they’ve been really open to learning how to include me in verbal conversations.”

After facing discrimination throughout her educational journey, Emi was unsure what to expect from a post-secondary institution. “I chose Saint Mary’s because of its appealing support options and interpreting services,” notes Emi. “The Fred Smithers Centre had a lot of great accommodations that I needed, like the Digital Modulation (DM) systems that transmit primary audio directly to my cochlear implants and the GLEAN captioning software to help with notetaking.”

It may only be a few weeks into the Fall Term, but Emi has already settled into the groove at Saint Mary’s. Her excitement builds as she describes how she’ll be learning about the brain, how hearing people perceive the brain, and how things like neurons and receptors are fired. “I love the smaller classroom sizes at SMU,” describes Emi. “The professors have mostly been really nice and accepting of my accommodation requirements, ensuring my interpreters and I have everything needed for class lectures.”

When asked about her advice to future generations of deaf individuals, her ASL interpreters relay her message, while her fiery passion speaks volumes regardless of the language barrier. “Deaf people can do anything,” affirms Emi. “Don’t allow other people to make decisions about you. In those moments when it feels impossible, remember that if you do the work, you can do anything.”

Manage conflict with science: psychologist Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley offers free training

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, an organisational psychologist with 20 years of practice, has launched a free training program on conflict management. The program helps participants use science-based tools to understand their own conflict management style and effectively resolve conflicts with colleagues.

“People do their best work when they have psychological safety,” says Dr. Lee-Bagley, who has extensive applied experience and research knowledge on burnout, psychological safety in the workplace, behaviour and organisational change, and wellness leadership.

“When I work with executives, I see that friction between coworkers often gets more intense as you rise up the ranks and the stakes get higher. Now, workers at all levels have evidence-based training to help them manage any conflict and move forward with more trust.”

The program is available for free at impactme.app/courses. ImpACT Me is an app that helps people navigate life’s tough challenges. It offers science-based training on burnout and conflict management, and behaviour-based tools to help training stick.

“We are proud to offer this free science-based conflict resolution program. Organisations stand to save millions through better productivity, labour relations and talent retention,” said Will Pate, CEO of ImpACT Me.

Image: impactme.app/

The training program was developed as part of a Saint Mary’s University project to create psychologically safe workplaces.

“We are excited to be able to apply a vast research literature in civility and conflict in the workplace from our researchers to create a training program that offers practical, real-life strategies that can be used in everyday life,” said Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research at Saint Mary’s University. “By pairing our knowledge of workplace psychology with the psychology of behaviour change, we can have a lasting and meaningful impact on workplaces.”

The project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund, a grants and contributions program that invests in projects aimed at creating safer workplaces for federally regulated employees.

“A safe and respectful workplace is a fundamental right in Canada. Our government is proud to support initiatives like Saint Mary’s University’s that equip workers and employers with the tools they need to drive positive change and build healthier, more respectful workplaces,” said Minister of Labour and Seniors, Steven MacKinnon.