Saint Mary's welcomes new Sexual Violence Advisor, Rachel Field
Rachel Field
Saint Mary’s is pleased to announce that Rachel Field has stepped into the role of Sexual Violence Advisor within the Sexual Violence Support Centre (SVSC) in Student Affairs and Services (SAAS).
In this role, Rachel will support students, faculty and staff in navigating and responding to experiences related to sexual violence and harassment, while also contributing to prevention, education and awareness initiatives across campus.
Her work includes providing confidential, trauma-informed support and response; supporting awareness and education initiatives through collaboration and oversight of the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative and the Athletic Ambassadors Program; collaborating with campus and community partners to strengthen coordinated care and response pathways; and contributing to ongoing efforts to foster a safe, supportive and informed campus community.
Rachel brings a varied and interdisciplinary background in community-based support, education and care work. Most recently, she worked as a Community Outreach Worker with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education within the SchoolPlus program. Prior to this, Rachel worked across a range of settings, including addictions support services, youth care environments, and therapeutic practice contexts, including work as a music therapist. During her undergraduate studies at Acadia University, she also served as a resident assistant, contributing to student support and community-building in residence life.
Rachel is currently completing a Master’s of Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University and brings a broad foundation of training, practice and lived professional experience across multiple helping professions.
“I try to approach people with empathy, consistency and clear boundaries,” says Rachel. “My work is grounded in a humanistic approach that recognizes people already carry a great deal of strength and resilience within themselves. Support, to me, is about helping create space for people to reconnect with that in a way that feels safe, respectful and collaborative.”
“Trauma-informed practice is often talked about as creating a ‘safe space,’ but safety is deeply personal,” Rachel explains. “What’s most important to me is being transparent, clear and responsible, while recognizing that every person’s experience and needs will look different.”
Rachel is thrilled to join the Saint Mary’s community and looks forward to experiencing the energy of the start of the academic year in September, from checking out the Welcome Weeks activities to Huskies games.
Please join us in welcoming Rachel Field to Saint Mary’s University!
Highlighting the SMU Community during National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) is an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate people who give their time, skills and energy to strengthen communities across Canada. At Saint Mary’s, many faculty, staff, students and alumni across the university quietly give back and make a meaningful difference through volunteering.
Through initiatives such as the Co-Curricular Recognition program and Community Service Learning, volunteering has also become an important way for students to put their learning into practise while making a positive impact.
“Volunteering enriches the student experience by connecting academic content to real-world situations,” says Christy Starkey, Co-Curricular & Career360° Lead at Saint Mary’s. “It helps build professional connections and offers a meaningful way to give back to the community.”
The impact is impressive: in 2025, over 450 students volunteered a total of 22,000 hours with 111 local organizations, including the IWK Foundation, Chisholm Services for Children (Links Literacy program), Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank and more.
This week, we are highlighting just a few of our student and alumni volunteers who are committed to making things better for all. Read on to be inspired and join us in thanking volunteers across SMU for all that they do!
Yusupha Njie
Yusupha is a third‑year Bachelor of Science student double-majoring in computer science and business administration. As Coordinator of the SMU Community Food Room, he proudly oversees a team of more than 50 volunteers, providing essential support to fellow students.
In 2025, Yusupha logged the highest number of CCR volunteer hours, contributing an exceptional 840 hours.
“To me, being part of a community means showing up for one another and ensuring everyone has the support they need to succeed.”
Deana Symes
Deana, a fifth-year Master of Science in Applied Science student, was recently named the 2025-26 Huskies Female President's Award winner for Outstanding Academic and Athletic Performance for her commitment to her rugby team and community, as well as being a five-time Academic All-Canadian and Dean's List recipient.
A leader with women’s rugby, she pairs excellence on the field with service off campus, volunteering as an assistant coach with Sackville High Rugby, supporting the SMU Community Food Room, serving as a medical responder at campus sporting events and being an active member of the Chemistry Society.
Melissa Alvarez Del Angel
Melissa, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Honours student majoring in psychology, is highly involved on and off campus. She has provided extensive support to students as a Senior RA and she volunteers at Peter’s Place, assisting individuals recovering from brain injuries. Melissa is also involved in the French Woodland Conservation Project and has supported initiatives at the IWK Foundation.
“Volunteering has allowed me to give back to a community that has given me so much, and to create a positive difference, even if only in a small corner of the world.”
Noah Martin
Noah has made a lasting impact through sustained volunteer leadership and community engagement. He completed a work‑integrated learning placement with Shelter Movers, which provides moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse. He continued as Lead Volunteer with Shelter Movers, mentoring students, coordinating volunteers and modelling trauma‑informed practice.
His long‑term commitment to both Shelter Movers and the Nova Scotia Environmental Network has strengthened community partnerships, built trust and ensured meaningful, ongoing learning opportunities for future SMU students.
Naomi Onyechi
Naomi is a third-year Arts student majoring in psychology and criminology who participates in the Co-Curricular Recognition and Community Service Learning programs.
Following her CSL placement, she continued volunteering with the Halifax Association for Community Living. She is one of the first recipients to receive the Community Engaged Learning Certificate, which celebrates students who have gone beyond the classroom to meaningfully connect their academic learning with community-based work.
“Volunteering is an invaluable experience that changed how I connected with my schoolwork, as it took theories I saw in my textbooks and showed me what it looked like in a real-life context. I got to grow with a team and learned new ways of connecting with people, which helped expand my mind on what inclusion could look like.”
Maddie Vanderlinden BA’24
While completing her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Intercultural Studies and French, Maddie built a strong sense of community through her involvement with SAGA (Students Acting for Global Awareness), the French Society, WUSC (World University Service of Canada), and as a Welcome Weeks Leader—connections that made her experience unforgettable.
Today, she continues that connection as a member of both the Alumni Council and the Young Alumni Committee, roles she stepped into immediately after graduating.
“I chose to continue volunteering with SMU as a way to stay connected after graduating,” she shares. “I had such a positive experience during my time there.”
Empowering women through bold ideas
In celebration of International Women’s Month, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre brought together students and founders for an Innovation Sprint featuring FemXchange, a growing platform designed to help female+ individuals share skills, build connections and support one another.
The sprint welcomed 14 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University, all tasked with tackling a real challenge: how FemXchange can grow sustainably through partnerships while continuing to engage the right members and stakeholders. The opportunity came at the perfect moment, as conversations are already underway to deepen collaboration between FemXchange and the Centre, particularly in ways that could better connect students, alumni and existing programming.
“I was blown away by the bright, diverse minds in the room,” said FemXchange Founder Caroline Mastropaolo. “As a solo founder, having such a range of fresh, objective perspectives is incredibly valuable. I’m excited to hit the ground running with all these new ideas.”
Not only were students solving for business growth, but they were doing so for a platform rooted in empowerment and access. As a bonus, all female participants received one year of free access to FemXchange, turning the experience into something that extends well beyond the classroom.
The solutions presented reflected both creativity and strategic thinking. First place went to Saint Mary’s University arts student, Stuti Sandhu, who proposed partnerships with university alumni offices, venture capital firms and small business insurance companies. Her idea also highlighted an important social impact angle, suggesting the platform could support survivors of domestic violence and economic abuse by promoting financial independence.
Second place was awarded to commerce student Isabella Scuse and science student Abdinasir Ali, both from Saint Mary’s University, who developed a multi-partnership approach. Their strategy included collaborations with Etsy to support DIY entrepreneurs, Credly for certifications, Shopify for scaling businesses and RBC for funding and financial literacy.
Third place went to Saint Mary’s MBA students Laura Thompson, Benjamin Broadbent and Noah Zelin-Opps. Their plan focused on partnerships with universities, professional organizations and platforms like PrestaShop, alongside a detailed activation strategy that included chatbot integration and a WhatsApp ecosystem.
Overall, the Innovation Sprint highlighted what’s possible when the right people, purpose and timing come together.
If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.
Huskies student-athletes raise record $28,489 for Special Olympics in annual MotionballU event
New exhibit at Patrick Power Library celebrates Black Canadian Histories
To mark its 50th anniversary and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, the Patrick Power Library proudly hosted the launch of Black Threads of the Canadian Tapestry, a new exhibition by artist Donna Paris and photographer David Zapparoli.
Featuring compelling portraits and accompanying audio stories, the exhibition highlights the diverse lived experiences of Black Canadians and invites visitors to engage with them in a meaningful way.
The launch event brought together students, faculty, staff and community members for an afternoon of reflection and celebration. Emceed by Associate Dean Hansel Cook, the program included remarks from Dean Suzanne van den Hoogen and Provost Dr. Shannon Dea, a moving libation ceremony by Black community members Ayo Aladejebi and Robert Meek, and a powerful spoken-word performance by second-year Arts student Anecia Shephard. Paris and Zapparoli also shared insights into the stories and artistic process behind the project.
The exhibition is now open on the first floor of the Patrick Power Library and will remain on display until Saturday, March 28. Visitors can explore a central banner and view portraits that link via QR code to personal oral‑history interviews recorded by the artists.
Black Threads of the Canadian Tapestry is supported by the Patrick Power Library and Saint Mary’s University, with contributions from the Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness and the Black Student Advisor. Additional funding was provided by the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Watch:
The event was featured on CTV News
Community Service Learning: Connecting coursework, communities and contributions that benefit everyone
Community Service Learning Team: Masrooq Hossain, Diego Ramos, Novella Nicchitta and Keslyn States
The Saint Mary’s Community Service Learning (CSL) program has seen unprecedented success and growth in recent academic terms, reflecting strong student and faculty interest in community-engaged learning. Through collaborative projects that address community-identified needs, CSL connects academic learning with meaningful community engagement, helping students apply their studies in practical contexts.
CSL-integrated courses at SMU span a wide range of disciplines, from history, literature and intercultural studies to computer science, environmental science, psychology and business, but share a common focus on connecting academic learning with community engagement. Thanks to expanded external funding, Community Service Learning now supports an average of 350 students each year and reached a notable 425 participants across 32 courses in 2025.
In the last year, CSL has provided 83 students with bursaries to support engagement, recognize commitment and enable meaningful community projects. Ten highly engaged students were selected for funding through the pilot Community Engaged Learning Certificate, a nationally-funded initiative supported by Career Experience and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. Designed for students who demonstrate a strong commitment to CSL, the certificate recognizes deeper involvement and guides participants in reflecting on their experiences and translating that learning into resume-ready competencies with career coach support.
SMU students have many opportunities to demonstrate learning outside of the classroom, including CSL, co-operative education and co-curricular recognition
“What we’re seeing through CSL is students stepping into meaningful work and realizing how much they have to offer while they’re still learning,” said Novella Nicchitta, CSL Placement Coordinator.
“As the program continues to grow, we’re creating more opportunities for students to apply their coursework in community settings, and for faculty and partners to collaborate in ways that benefit everyone involved.”
“Students respond extremely well to the CSL option and frequently report that they 'love it' because it feels meaningful, applied and connected to real-world issues,” shared Dr. Margherita Cameranesi, Assistant Professor of Psychology, who has integrated CSL into multiple courses.
“In my courses, I intentionally design CSL-related assignments that are directly relevant to the host community organization’s goals and needs so students can contribute in concrete, appropriate ways.”
“Experiential learning is a great way to stay involved and give back to your community. I was able to have experiences which deeply enriched my learning of psychology. I think it is so important to be reminded that psychology is not just theories and symptoms – my hands-on experience was a very important reminder of this. ”
For many students, CSL is where coursework connects directly to community engagement. Honours Psychology student Sage Rizcallah, who took Typical and Atypical Development in Winter 2025, described their placement with Autism Nova Scotia’s Arts program as a chance to deepen their learning beyond the classroom.
The CSL program also makes experiential learning more manageable during a busy semester. “Many university students are simply too busy to be able to get applicable and course-related volunteer experience throughout the year," Rizcallah noted. "Experiential learning is a great way to get such experience, while still contributing work to an ongoing course, making it more manageable to fit into an already busy semester.”
Dr. Tatjana Takševa, Professor and Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature, says CSL gives students the chance to bridge academic theory with meaningful experience.
“CSL fosters deep integrative learning and active application of theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, helping students connect classroom learning to authentic demands and expectations,” Takševa noted. “CSL facilitates discovery of multiple career paths, showing students how they can put to work their arts education for meaningful participation in today’s globally oriented civil society.”
Dr. Tatjana Takševa and students in WGST 6604: Contemporary Issues of Feminism
Adebola Osegbun, a master’s student in Dr. Takševa’s Transnational Feminism course, described her CSL component at The Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice as “the best and most memorable experience of my graduate studies”.
Matthew Nault at his CSL placement, and now workplace, United for Literacy
Similarly, Matthew Nault described his CSL placement with United for Literacy—connected to Dr. Takševa’s Reading and Wellness course—as “an amazing opportunity for experience and resume building that will be invaluable later in my career.”
Nault also participated in the pilot Community Engaged Learning Certificate and is one of several students whose placement roles have evolved into paid employment opportunities.
Beyond employment, CSL helps students explore potential career paths, expand their professional networks and gain clarity about what kind of experiences feel meaningful. For students like Chloe Gohier-Mossman, CSL also helped her build professional connections, gain advocacy experience and clarify her future academic goals.
“CSL opened doors for me to explore career opportunities, build professional connections and advocate for the communities I belong to, all while applying what I’m learning in my courses,” Gohier-Mossman shared about her experience working with the Chisholm LINKS Literacy Program.
Miranda Haley, Chisholm LINKS Program Manager, shared that CSL placements benefit both community partners and students. “The CSL program supports organizations like ours in filling important part-time roles, while giving students meaningful experience,” Haley said. “We value the opportunity to guide and mentor students as they develop practical skills, confidence and professional insight. At the same time, we learn from their perspectives, energy and academic knowledge, which strengthens our organization and the work we do in the community.”
To learn more about CSL opportunities for students, faculty, and community partners, visit SMU Community Service Learning, or connect with the CSL Placement Coordinator at service.learning@smu.ca.
Access Ability entrepreneurs come together to celebrate and connect
A town crier’s bell isn’t a typical way to start an event at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, but that’s how the Access Ability Entrepreneurship Celebration Event kicked off at Saint Mary's University last month. Will Brewer, owner of Planet*21, opened the afternoon in full town crier fashion, setting a light and welcoming tone for a gathering that was long overdue.
The event brought together entrepreneurs who participated in the Access Ability Entrepreneurship Program. For many, it was the first time meeting in person since 2023, when the program ran in a fully virtual format, making the in-person gathering significant.
The purpose of the event was simple: recognize progress. Entrepreneurs showcased their businesses, connected with mentors and community partners and watched promotional videos featuring participants and their work. Spring rolls were served by KevEthels, an entrepreneur from the program, adding a practical example of how participants continue to build and grow their ventures.
The room included family members, friends, speakers, mentors, videographers and community supporters. The mix reflected what the program is designed to do: create space for entrepreneurs with disabilities to develop their ideas while building strong networks around them.
Dayle Eshelby, a 2026 Speaker Series participant, shared afterward, “It meant so much to people to see the possibilities in that room. The energy was almost palpable. I am certain it will remain strong and be a boost for everyone.” She added that because of the program, she feels she is on the cusp of changing her life.
Alumni and speakers shared similar feedback. Ghazal Afrahi, a participant of the 2024 cohort, noted how valuable it was to reconnect in person. Speaker Pranay Malusare thanked organizers and emphasized that the entrepreneurs themselves are the driving force behind the Centre.
More than a celebration, the event marked a return to in-person community and reinforced the Centre’s commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship, not just in theory, but in practice.
Paralympian Katie Pegg talks student-athlete mental health
Katie Pegg competes in the Women’s Shot Put F46 Final at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France on September 4, 2024. Paralympic.ca
Most students worry about juggling school, work and exams. For Saint Mary’s track and field athlete Katie Pegg, life is similar: managing school, exams and her varsity athletics each term.
The only difference is, Pegg is a Paralympian, and her schedule also includes high-performance training to compete on the world stage.
Now in her fourth year as a biology major, Pegg finished seventh in the world in Paris in 2024—her first Paralympic Games. Pegg, who was born with a missing radial bone in her right arm, has been a vocal advocate for young athletes to get into parasports. Her decision to compete under this designation earned her a bronze medal at the 2025 World Para Athletic Championships in New Delhi, India.
Featured in our lineup of SMU’s Olympians, Pegg adds to our rich history of athletic excellence here at Saint Mary’s, and she refers to her international experience as a “dream come true” for her goals as an athlete.
So, how does a student-athlete handle the responsibilities that come with balancing a heavy competition schedule with student life? Coming off the heels of Huskies Mental Health week, Pegg gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the reality behind the podium.
A mental game: training for the world stage
Pegg’s involvement in shot put at SMU happened quickly—almost by fate; she talked to the right person at the right time to try out. She followed a similar path when she found out she qualified for the Paralympic Games.
Going from “getting back into shot put” to qualifying for the Paralympics in a matter of months is a big adjustment, especially for someone still in school. Although physical training was a priority for Pegg—especially strength and conditioning—preparation was as much a mental game as a physical one.
“Preparing for the Paralympics was surreal. Because of how fast my path was through the high-performance environment, we were really dialled in on how best to support my mental preparation for the games.”
Pegg relied on a myriad of on-campus resources to support her through this career-making athletic opportunity, leaning on her academic advisors, coaches, professors and athletic directors to ensure she could achieve her goals in sport while still succeeding in her education. “It’s nice to know that there are people here at SMU who are ready to support you through every step of the student-athlete journey,” she says. “Even to this very day, they check in with me to tell me I can reach out to them for support with anything I need.”
With supports in place for her academics and training, Pegg worked hard at creating strategies to manage the pressure that comes with international competition. Reframing her self-talk to honour the process, and not just the win, was key to her pre-game strategy.
“Early on, I felt like I need to prove myself to others. Now, I focus on showing myself what I can do—and that was a big mindset shift we made as I prepared for international competitions.”
“One of the biggest takeaways going into the world championships was to remove some of the weight I was carrying mentally going into it. ‘It’s just another circle; it’s just another ball.’ I had to keep in mind that it’s another competition and your moments in these events don’t take away the hard work and training you put in ahead of that competition.”
Back to reality: adjusting to life off the pitch
The high of making the podium at her first Paralympics wore off quickly, and getting back to reality after the games came with its own set of challenges. “Everyone talks about the post-game blues,” says Pegg, “and part of me thought it wouldn’t impact me that badly, but it really did.”
Post-game blues can take many forms, including playing back and overanalyzing a performance. For Pegg, it manifested as extra pressure on herself to keep performing at that level after the international competitions ended. The aftermath of the season can be just as much of a mental battle as the training period that comes before it.
“I am still working on how best to manage these stressors and pressures, especially going from the Paralympic Games to going back to our indoor season. I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep performing at that same level, and it was almost as if I didn’t keep performing at that level, people might question how I got to the games in the first place.”
Pegg has since leaned on her supporters and other resources to develop better strategies for navigating life before, during, and after the games. Managing such a wide variety of stressors requires an agile support system—and she’s found that right here on campus.
“I found after my second world competition that I was better able to transition back to my normal routine—it was a lot easier on my mental health. I have worked on developing a more robust support group and had better strategies in place for managing that post-competition transition.”
“It’s really important to develop those relationships with on-campus supports early in your career as a student-athlete. It can feel intimidating to reach out at first but building that relationship early has helped us work together to make sure my education works for me and supports my goals and responsibilities.”
Katie and Assistant Coach Jodi Langley at the AUS Championships in February 2026
That support system paid off at the 2026 Atlantic University Sport Track & Field Championships, where Pegg threw a new personal best of 12.78m, winning a bronze medal and breaking a 43-year-old Saint Mary’s school record.
Looking ahead to next year, Pegg says she’s found what works for her to manage her health, wellness, and responsibilities. Among other things, she makes sure she has a dedicated schedule and relies on structure to keep everything going while making time for herself. She also crochets in her spare time—a hobby she finds relaxing and restorative in her time away from sport.
Pegg will now compete at the U SPORTS Track & Field Championships, March 5-7 in Winnipeg, MB.
Supporting student-athlete mental health
Athlete mental health isn’t just an afterthought here at SMU; it’s at the forefront of our programming and our resources. The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health is working with student-athletes to build a network of peer-driven resources that follow the mental wellness model that helped Pegg succeed.
“We believe high performance is mostly a result of individual effort,” says the centre’s managing director, Jacob Glover. “But that effort is most healthy, most manifest, and most sustainable when it is supported by a large network of people who care about the athlete— and in which that athlete can trust. Our work is not about building that network for student-athletes, but about creating the conditions for them to build it themselves.”
For more about athlete wellness at SMU, follow the centre’s social channels to stay up to date on their Athletics Ambassador’s program, or check out the SMU Huskies website to keep an eye on initiatives like Mental Health Week games. Saint Mary’s students also have access to additional supports, including the Counselling Centre.
Celebrating International Women's Day 2026
March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of women and girls. At Saint Mary’s, we encourage collaboration across faculties and departments, and between students, staff and alumni to create opportunities for learning and support for all women at SMU.
Read below to see events, resources and highlights of our incredible SMU community.
Campus events
Colours of the World: International Women's Day
Thursday, March 5
4-6 p.m.
LI 135, Patrick Power Library
SAGA and the International Student Centre invite you to celebrate and commemorate International Women’s Day.
Take a break from classes and honour the strength, resilience, and achievements of women around the world. This special painting event is a space to reflect, express and celebrate empowerment, equality and community. This is your chance to use creativity as a voice.
All materials and supplies will be provided, just bring yourself and your ideas!
Women Leading with Impact Panel
Thursday, March 12
5-8 p.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre
In celebration of International Women’s Day, SMUSA, in collaboration with the Alumni Office, will present Women Leading with Impact — an inspiring panel on leadership, resilience, and the many ways women create meaningful change in their communities and careers.
The discussion will feature student voices alongside alumnae Keisha Turner BA’12, COO of Akwekon Enterprise and Sarah McLean BComm’06, Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs at Maritime Launch. Together, they will share insights from their diverse leadership journeys and lived experiences.
SMU student: register through the Bounce app
Others: Register here
Women in Business Female Empowerment Mixer
Monday, March 23
6-9 p.m.
SH212-A, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre
Celebrate International Women’s Day with the Women in Business Society at the Female Empowerment Mixer. Featuring a keynote speaker, guided networking, and a welcoming space for students, faculty, professionals, and community members to come together and uplift one another.
Community events
2026 Women and Gender Studies Graduate Student Conference
Thursday, March 5
12-4:30 p.m.
Seton Faculty Lounge, MSVU
Register
Graduate students from Professor Tatjana Takševa’s course in transnational feminism will present their research at the 2026 Women and Gender Studies Graduate Student Conference in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The event creates space for critical dialogue, cross-institutional and cross-sectoral collaboration, and features emerging student-driven scholarship addressing global questions of gender, solidarity and power.
Keynote speakers:
Dr. Gugu Hlongwane, Associate Professor of English Language and Literature, SMU, and author of Electric Fences and Other Stories (Mawenzi House 2016)
Sam le Nobel, AMI Fellow, MSVU (2025-2026)
SMU Community Spotlight
Clara Gascoigne BComm’23 MBA’25 was named one of the Top 8 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians during a ceremony in Ottawa in January 2026. The former Huskies Basketball Guard made a name for herself as one of the most decorated players in U SPORTS women’s basketball, earning accolades like U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year, AUS Most Valuable Player and three-time AUS Champion while retaining a high GPA during her two degrees at SMU. Read more.
Stuti Sandhu, Nahriza Zahid and Nahriza Zahid won the 2025 Innovation Cup with Being There, a non-profit that uses preventive care to help older adults stay safe, stable, and independent while avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits. The cross-faculty team earned the $10,000 grand prize and an additional $1,000 for the Audience Choice Award. Being There is a project of Enactus Saint Mary’s. Read more.
The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health held a case competition this fall to address gender disparity in professional and collegiate coaching. The winning team: Sophie Scully, Jill Duggan, Ashley Penney, Kara MacLean, and Keyara Nelson, pitched a collaborative AUS coaching apprenticeship program, stating, “We envision a future where young women watching the bench can look at the staff and finally see themselves there too, not by exception but by expectation.” Read more.
The SMUSA executive team is breaking barriers as the first all-female executive team in SMU’s history. Augustina Tucker, President & CEO; Angelica Amara, VP Academic; Naomi Selemane, VP Events & Engagement; and Nariman Djamai, VP Societies, are empowering the student community through their leadership for the 2025-26 academic year. Learn more about the SMUSA team.
Resources
Women’s Centre
The SMUSA Women’s Centre is a positive, safe space located on the fifth floor of the Student Centre building on campus. Our space has couches if you would like to either hang out, work on homework, or study in a different setting. We are an awesome feminist-centred space that welcomes all genders and orientations.
Patrick Power Library
This year's theme for International Women’s Day is “Give to Gain.” The theme emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. As individuals, giving support means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, celebrating women's success, and more. When women thrive, we all rise.
The SMU Library's International Women's Day book list celebrates women’s contributions to our past, present, and future.
Find the display on the ground floor of the library, or browse the book list online. All Library resources are free for SMU students, faculty, and staff to borrow.
More inspiring women at Saint Mary’s:
Balancing the books and the runway: Chrissy Potter’s dual path from commerce to couture
What A Sin: new exhibition at SMU Art Gallery celebrates matriarchal power
Dr. Danika Van Proosdij leads Gold-certified Green Shores for Homes project
Turning a diagnosis into impact: How Emma McGill is building community through Gluten Free Living
President’s Award for Excellence in Research: Dr. Diane Crocker
More events this month:
Students tackle solutions for gender inequity in pro sports
The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health hosted its inaugural case competition last fall, bringing industry experts together to let student-athletes pave the way for a new generation of professional coaches.
Systemic barriers for women in coaching positions still exist, and according to a 2023 report by Women’s Sports Foundation, “women in head coaching positions at the collegiate level had fallen from 90% to 41% since the implementation of Title IX [in the United States].”
This competition was born out of a clear and necessary mission: to give students and student-athletes a dedicated space to tackle ongoing gender disparity in professional and collegiate coaching. This wasn’t just an academic exercise; it was a chance for the next generation of leaders to make a direct, tangible impact on the industry they love.
The competition
Dr. Annika Voltan of Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Ann Pegoraro from the University of Guelph and Maura Martina of Canadian Women & Sport briefed students on the case and provided the foundational insights needed to navigate the complex realities of gender inequality in professional coaching.
This thorough brief ensured that when the competition day arrived, the solutions presented were grounded in real-world knowledge and experience.
Taking the top spot with their pitch was "The Five R's," composed of Sophie Scully, Jill Duggan, Ashley Penney, Kara MacLean, Keyara Nelson and Leslie McLean.
“We propose that the AUS help address systemic barriers affecting the underrepresentation of women in coaching and leadership roles by creating an AUS-wide assistant coach apprenticeship that prioritizes the recruitment of varsity women and alumnae seeking to further their education.
In this program, we envision collaborative work between the faculty of graduate studies at AUS schools and their athletic departments to provide cohorts of 10-12 graduating student athletes the opportunity to be mentored as assistant coaches while completing a master’s degree at their respective schools. Our mission aligns directly with the AUS mission: creating extraordinary, personal, and memorable student-athlete experiences – the kind that build belonging.”
“We envision a future where young women watching the bench can look at the staff and finally see themselves there too, not by exception but by expectation.”
Team The Five R’s took first place in the pitch competition
They were followed by "HERizon" in second place, featuring Charlie DaFonseca, Reid Valade, William Thompson, Mathew MacDougall and Josh Wainman, who created a solution that brought support pieces such as childcare stipends, scholarships and paid work experience into the fold.
“Our two-year program combines rotational coaching experience, mentorship, NCCP training and access to a regional Women in Coaching Network.”
Third place went to the team "LeadHER Atlantic", represented by Taylor Lougheed, Marisa McClocklin, Mackenzie Beggs, Jacquline Moore and Lianne Rogers.
“Our team proposed a coaching certification and leadership advancement pathway designed to elevate women in sport. Within five years, the program aims for all women student-athletes to graduate with entry-level coaching certification in their respective sports, while each female varsity team is paired with a community woman mentor.”
Team HERizon took second place
Team LeadHER Atlantic took third place
One of the Centre’s benefactors, Leslie McLean, was on-site to award the prizes. Key members from SMU’s Athletics & Recreation department, the Faculty of Arts, the Sobey School of Business, and local and provincial sport organizations participated on the adjudication panel.
Looking ahead
By inviting student-athletes into the conversation, the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health bridged the gap between those who play the game and those who will eventually manage it–demonstrating the importance of having a diverse range of voices at the table where industry-changing decisions are made.
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What A Sin: new exhibition at SMU Art Gallery celebrates matriarchal power
A pair of NSCAD profs are celebrating the matriarchy in an exhibition at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery.
What A Sin, which opened to a packed house on January 23, features the work of Craft division professors at NSCAD, Ali Nickerson and Leesa Hamilton.
Nickerson presents a variety of media, including interactive soft sculptures, drawings, banners and paintings, while Hamilton offers quilted soft structures and banners. Together, their work creates a colourful, thoughtful, interactive immersion into women’s labour in its myriad forms, without judgment.
“We started leaning into this idea of a feminist cult,” says Nickerson. “When you walk into the gallery, you’re met with banners and seating, an invitation to sit, reflect, and ‘pray’ to the feminist before us, thanking them for everything they’ve given us.”
The pair knew each other a little as colleagues, but after Nickerson saw an exhibition of Hamilton’s at the Anna Leonowens Gallery, she invited her to join the Saint Mary’s show. A partnership quickly formed, each artist responding to one another’s pieces and creating collaboratively.
“We explore similar themes, we have an aesthetic that works together, but is really different,” says Hamilton. “Ali’s work is really free and playful and round, and I play within the lines. I love a grid.
‘The show isn’t about hierarchies, it’s about conversations.’
Hamilton’s large quilted patterned cones, cubes and cylinders were inspired by Maritime signal flags—a system of communication used between ships, i.e. “My position is doubtful”—while navigating work and parenting. “I was having trouble understanding and communicating my own needs, and the messages of distress were comforting in their simple requests and simple declarations of distress,” she says. “They felt humorously simple and true to my situation.”
Nickerson was influenced by the strong matriarchal culture of the south shore, where she grew up, “a collection of different, very strong matriarchs who lived within a setting of Shelburne County or Queens County and secretly ran these towns and were often dismissed,” she says. “Instead of talking about the dismissal, it’s more of a complete celebration of their power.”
The celebration of power extends into the traditional tenets of a gallery exhibition—instead of an artist talk, the pair will be hosting quilting circles on Fridays at the Gallery (check website for details). “The show isn’t about hierarchies,” says Nickerson, “it’s about conversations.”
Nickerson started quite the conversation with her students at the show’s opening when she explained the selfie station they were visiting: a banner featuring a combination of hand-printed fabric and nostalgic textiles with a circular opening at its center, surrounded by fluorescent pink fringe.
At the exhibition’s opening, she explained that the piece functioned both as an invitation and a provocation—raising questions about visibility, participation, and the performance of self within feminist and communal spaces.
The audience conversations taking place now began as communion and then collaboration between the two artists.
“There was this beautiful thing that happened as we started to complete work — that we were able to make work that responded to each other,” says Hamilton, “and place the work in a way that we felt there was a conversation happening between the pieces.”
What A Sin is on until March 29, 2026, at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery.
This story was originally published on NSCAD.ca and shared with permission.