Meet your Valedictorian: Anastasia Sagel BSc’23, Faculty of Science

Anastasia Sagel

Meet your Valedictorian: Anastasia Sagel BSc’23, Faculty of Science

 Anastasia Sagel first came to Halifax to study at the Language Centre at Saint Mary’s; she liked the university so much that she stayed for her undergraduate degree in psychology. Immersing herself in the cheerleading community on campus, Anastasia became the captain of the team and would love to share her passion for the sport with students when she returns home to Germany. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in psychology with the goal of working with children who have PTSD. Anastasia is proud to be the Faculty of Science valedictorian with her family who are visiting from Germany for the big event. Congratulations! 

Preferred name: Anastasia

Program: Bachelor of Science, Honors Psychology

Previous education: St. Kaspar

Hometown: Bad Driburg, Germany

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s University?
I chose Saint Mary’s because of the percentage of international students.

How did you get involved in the SMU Community?

I was on the team for four years as a base and captain for three years.

Did you live and/or work on campus? 
For the first two years, I lived on campus.

What was your favourite class? 
My favourite class was Psychotherapy II with Dr. Skye Stephens.

What was your thesis title and description? Why did this research appeal to you?
The title was, “Does switching between languages have an impact on emotion regulation?” This study investigated how emotion regulation might change when bilingual individuals switch between languages. We recruited self-identified bilingual people (N=129) via social media and the Sona system. After imagining themselves in two different scenarios, we invited them to respond to a cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire. The scenarios were identical, except that one was supposed to take place in their native language and the other in their second language. I chose this topic because I am multilingual myself and I wanted to see how that makes me different from others.

Which instructor had the biggest impact on you? 

I had three: Dr. Jim Cameron, who was my thesis supervisor, who really believed in me and made writing my thesis fun; Dr. Skye Stephens, who taught so passionately, which assured me that I had chosen the right profession for me; and Dr. Andrés Arteaga, who was my main prof for my Spanish minor and the only one that I had from first year till my last and who only ever saw the best in me.

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Anastasia Sagel’s cheerleading team

Do you have a favourite space on campus?
The Atrium, which is the best place to study, and the gym.
Looking back, what was your favourite SMU memory?
My favourite SMU memories were when I presented my thesis at our psychology conference, and winning competitions with my team.
What will you miss about Saint Mary’s?

I will miss the feeling of sitting in the Atrium meeting friends and studying for class.
What are your goals for the future? How did Saint Mary’s help set you on this path?

I will be moving to Berlin to start my Master’s in clinical psychology at Sigmund Freud University. Saint Mary’s showed me that psychology is the right career choice for me and showed me that your past does not determine your future and that every semester is a new chance to improve yourself.

Did you or do you currently volunteer with any organizations?
I volunteered with our Cheerleading team at various organizations.

Did you receive any awards or recognition from the university or other organizations during your time as a student here?

I was placed on the Dean’s List three times.

Any other successes you’d like to share?

I am very proud that I will be graduating magna cum laude as well as winning every competition in our division with the Cheerleading team.

What advice would you give your younger self who was just starting university?

I would tell my younger self not to worry so much and enjoy the time more, rather than always focusing on what is next. Also that what is meant to be will be.

Student-managed venture capital fund invests in Quebec-based online insurance distributor

The 2022 Venture Grade: Student Venture Capital Fund team.

An innovative Quebec-based online insurance distributor that removes barriers and offers affordable plans to young parents has received a boost from a student-run venture capital fund at Saint Mary’s University.

Venture Grade: Student Venture Capital Fund, a student-raised and managed venture capital fund, invested $12,500 in Quebec-based Emma Labs. Emma Labs is an online insurance distributor that focuses on distributing low-barrier life insurance, specifically targeted to younger demographics between the ages of 29 – 40 years of age, who have young children or are expecting children. To make life insurance more accessible and affordable, Emma Labs has removed cumbersome barriers to entry such as mandatory health checks, five to seven week wait times, and the requirement to speak to an insurance broker to streamline their process. In their role as an insurance distributor, they offer plans on behalf of insurance carriers.

The fund’s first investment outside of Atlantic Canada, Venture Grade chose to invest in the Quebec City start-up based on both company and market attributes. The company CEO and co-founder Felix Deschatelets is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in financing and marketing financial services start-ups. CMO and co-founder Jacomo Deschatelets has substantial experience in growth marketing strategies and financial security advisory.

“In terms of market attributes, the life insurance market is projected to grow over the next few years giving proven market demand,” says Hiro Tsuchiya, an associate investment analyst at Venture Grade.  “We expect that Emma Labs will add significant value to our investment portfolio as it has excellent exit prospects.”

Founded in 2016, Venture Grade is a venture capital fund raised and managed by graduate and undergraduate students attending Saint Mary’s University located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nick Perrin, the Fund’s General Partner noted that Venture Grade liaises with Silicon Valley’s C100 group, Boston’s Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England, and most of the Atlantic VC funds like Innovacorp, Build Ventures, Sandpiper, NBIF, East Valley, Last 40, and Concrete.

“The Venture Grade student venture capital fund is designed to formulate a win-win-win scenario,” says Dr. Ellen Farrell, co-founder of Venture Grade and a professor at Saint Mary’s Sobey School of Business.   “The fund contributors win by providing great opportunities for an unparalleled education experience; the students win by gaining scholastic opportunities not offered elsewhere; and the entrepreneurial ecosystem wins by having the funds go to worthwhile ventures in our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Saint Mary’s supports federal announcement of international students helping to address Canada’s labour shortage

Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

“International students contribute significantly to Canadian cultural diversity, society and economy,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “These students have come to Canada for the exceptional quality of our post-secondary institutions, and they contribute enormously to research, teaching excellence and the role of the academy in civil society. This announcement provides the opportunity for those students to round out their academic experience.”

“By allowing international students greater flexibility for employment while they pursue their studies, students will gain even more valuable work experience in Canada and build deeper community connections,” says President Summerby-Murray. “I want to thank the Government of Canada for their foresight to finding solutions that support the growth of post-secondary students and the Canadian economy.”

In addition to his roles as President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Summerby-Murray is also a member of the board of EduNova.

Students graduate from unique BNUZ-SMU partnership program

Graduation Cohort

Students graduate from unique BNUZ-SMU partnership program

Xu Jinfeng (left) will continue his postgraduate studies this fall at the University of Macau. Zheng Jingjing (right) will begin a master’s program at the Australian National University. 45 graduates plan to pursue postgraduate studies abroad this year.

Graduates from the Joint BComm Program complete 2 degrees: a Bachelor of Commerce (major in finance) from SMU and a Bachelor of Economics from BNUZ. Yang Junying (left), Zhou Keke (centre) and Wu Xinye (right) pose for a photo wearing the Sobey BComm hoods and gowns.

Jin Yue pictured here standing in front of the BNUZ Library, home to the Joint BComm Program.

From left: Zhou Keke, Wu Xinye, Yu Anqi and Shi Jingyi.

Shi Jingyi enjoys a final afternoon at BNUZ before heading to Scotland to begin a master’s program at the University of Glasgow this fall.

Liu Jiaqi says goodbye to the BNUZ Library where she completed many of her undergraduate courses.

Wu Xinye stands outside of our Joint BComm Program office in the BNUZ Library.  

Zheng Jingjing graduated summa cum laude with a BComm (major in Finance) from SMU and a Bachelor of Economics from BNUZ.

A group of friends celebrate their successful completion of the BNUZ-SMU Joint BComm Program at Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. From left: Liu Xinran, Liu Jiaqi, Shi Jingyi and Yu Xizi.

This week, the fifth cohort of students graduated from the BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce program based in Zhuhai, China. 81 graduates received both a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Economics from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, with 59 earning a major in finance.

Prof. Zhong Xin, Dean of the International Business Faculty at BNUZ, offered words of congratulations to this year’s graduates: “In the midst of uncertainty, you have overcome difficulties, explored inner peace and found the confidence to face whatever challenges may come.” She summed up this sense of hope and optimism by wishing students a bright future and encouraging them to use their actions to “seek and preserve the original passion and mission of your youth.”

The unique partnership of the Joint BComm program allows students at BNUZ to benefit from a cross-cultural undergraduate education, with half of their courses taught by BNUZ professors and the other half taught by visiting SMU faculty. Graduates of the program have earned a reputation as high performers in business and finance. This fall, more than half of the graduating cohort will begin postgraduate programs around the world, including in China, Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Others will enter the workforce immediately or begin preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam in China.

Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business, shared his congratulations with the class, noting “[This program] has provided you with the tools and skills to become successful business leaders with a truly global perspective. As you move to the next stage in your careers, we wish you the very best for your continued success, and we proudly welcome you to our extensive alumni community.”

The longstanding partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, dates back to 2002 and has included a range of 2+2 programs in Arts, Business and Science, as well as a number of other exchange programs and summer institutes for students, faculty and members of the community. More than 40 SMU faculty members from the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Arts have travelled to Zhuhai to teach in the Joint BComm Program since 2016, which has led to collaborative research opportunities with the International Business Faculty at BNUZ.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global pandemic, it was not possible for members of the SMU community to reconnect in person with friends and colleagues at BNUZ in celebration of the outstanding success of this year’s graduates. We honour those achievements as we welcome the newest members of our 53,000+ alumni network.

Enactus Saint Mary’s secures spot in national finals

The Saint Mary’s Enactus Team

For the ninth time in 11 years, Enactus Saint Mary’s is off to the final round of competition at the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto this September. At this in-person competition, Saint Mary’s University will compete against Toronto Metropolitan University, Wilfred Laurier University, University of Ottawa and Okanagan College for the title of national champion. 

These students have already gone through two rounds of competition, and those who succeed at the national final will compete at the Enactus World Cup, representing their country. Enactus, an international non-profit social enterprise, supports different student groups and small businesses aiming to tackle social, economic and environmental problems. With more than 2,000 schools from 33 countries taking part in Enactus each year, Saint Mary’s has an incredible opportunity to represent Canada this year. 

With three months until the highly anticipated competition, Enactus Saint Mary's is looking forward to the final round ahead. 

“[We’re] thrilled to be in the top five Enactus teams in Canada,” says Susan MacInnis, a co-president of the team. “Our amazing and supportive team are more motivated than ever to work together, expand our projects, and personal and professional development.” 

Highlighting their food insecurity program, Square Roots, and their digital education program, Options Online, Enactus Saint Mary’s members are ecstatic to have a chance to win a $10,000 grand prize, along with the national champion title to further impact their community. 

Enactus Saint Mary’s are moving forward proudly, with support from various local and global partners and sponsors. One of these partners, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), is especially supportive of Enactus Saint Mary’s. 

“I’m proud to support these amazing Saint Mary’s students and excited for them to share their innovative, problem-tackling ideas in the final round,” says SMUEC Director Michael Sanderson, one of the faculty advisors for the team. “This year Enactus Saint Mary’s has a great chance to become the national champions.” 

Reflecting on the past rounds and looking forward to the next, Co-President Maddie Bristol says, “We are putting our best foot forward on the National stage in September in Toronto. The coming months will show our commitment to positive community and environmental impact and our dedication to representing Saint Mary’s on stage.” 

Learn more about Enactus Saint Mary’s.

SMU creative writing contest winners announced

The English Language and Literature department is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s creative writing contests. The Writing Contest Committee shares a few thoughts on each of the winning entries.

The Joyce Marshall Hsia Memorial Poetry Prize:

First prize
Julien Sheppard BA’21, current MA History student, Patrick Power Fellow in Applied History 

We were moved by the narrative energy and particularity in these poems, and by the exactness of the perceptions of natural detail (the shimmer of gaspereau). One believes in the human voices, the characters one encounters: “When did you stop asking / about Margaret?” Some of the poems drew us in with their chilling images, their calculated ambiguities; others by immersing us in a conjured matrix of human and creaturely relationship. 

Second prize
Patrick Inkpen, BA student, English major

We liked the range of themes, forms and tones in this submission, and the way this poet marries poetic convention to original perception. There’s a compelling oddness about many of these poems, despite their traditional formal structures. 

Third prize

Melisa Kaya, BA student, English major, Creative Writing minor

We admire this poet’s attention to detail, to the metapoeic resonances that are possible on the page. The locutions are unexpected and vivid: "I crawled from my mother’s hollow like a squirrel of a willow ...." The concrete poem which begins the submission felt fresh and true: a new perception wrested from language, given linguistic form. 

The Margó Takacs Marshall Memorial Prize For Excellence In Short Story Writing

First prize – “Gone for Good”
By Melisa Kaya, English major 

A metanarrative characterized by an uncompromising wildness, an unwillingness to resolve; it seemed to us the most interesting of the submissions, though we sometimes struggled to follow the narrative thread. Still, we have decided to honour it with the first prize, to recognize its ambition and its distinctness, vis-à-vis the other submissions.

Second prize – "Where Do We Go?"
By Alex Baker, MA Philosophy student

A grisly existential tale, which surprised us with a new take on a familiar genre-fiction scenario. The sentences are compellingly constructed and the characters and settings are deftly evoked.

Third prize – "Soliloquy of Something"
By Theodore Moss III, BSc student 

A story that gradually brings us into sympathy with what initially seems a one-note narrator: the story moves from simplicity to complexity in a way that is compelling. What begins as a simple story about teenaged love and rejection becomes a complex story about friendship and meaning.

The annual poetry and short fiction contests are open to any student currently enrolled at Saint Mary’s University. Next year’s deadline for submissions will be in March 2023. Some of the previous winners have gone on to become nationally celebrated writers, such as Sue Goyette, Jenny Haysom, Jill MacLean and Danny Jacobs.

Togetherness, Pride, and Knowing it’s Never Too Late: Sobey School Valedictorians

Chelsea Hammersley

Adam Wagner

Chelsea Hammersley and Adam Wagner, the spring Valedictorians for the Sobey School of Business, may have led very different lives but their messages to students on convocation day had similar themes: the togetherness of convocation, pride in graduation, and the recognition that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

“We’ve had to endure battles and hardships, we’ve had to beat down walls that went up with changing environments that we had no control over.”

— Chelsea Hammersley

Chelsea Hammersley was born in Cambridge, Ontario, and moved to Halifax when she was 10 years old. She began studying at Saint Mary’s University in 2017, and graduated this spring with a double major in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations and Marketing. She reminisced in her speech about the struggles that not only she, but all of the students she was speaking to, faced getting to graduation.

“We’ve had to endure battles and hardships, we’ve had to beat down walls that went up with changing environments that we had no control over,” she said to the audience, reflecting their shared experience of completing their degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Chelsea’s speech was not focussed on the hardships. Rather, her focus was on her pride in making it to the end with her graduating cohort.

“Being able to gain an education is not something everyone is lucky enough or able to complete,” Chelsea shared, reflecting the fact that she is the first person in her family to gain a university education. Her pride was not only in her own accomplishments, thought. Chelsea made it very clear that everybody should be feeling the same. “You are all all-stars, and have worked for this moment in the most unimaginable times.”

“You are all all-stars”

It is unsurprising that Chelsea’s message was one of support for her cohort. While in school Chelsea was Vice-President of Project Development in Enactus, the University’s chapter of an international non-profit organization that encourages students to use entrepreneurial action to effect social change. Additionally, she has numerous academic achievements, and was the Enactus Member of the Month twice. Evidently, supporting her peers is where Chelsea thrives.

“Congratulations once again to my fellow graduates, know that I hope you find happiness and success, and that I will forever be your cheerleader.”

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Adam Wagner’s story is quite different from Chelsea’s. Born in Hague, Saskatchewan, Adam first attended university right out of highschool, but found that it wasn’t the right time for him.

“I was just not ready,” Adam shared with the crowd. “Two years later, I was asked not to return to university due to my poor output. Not much was going for me other than the support of my family and friends.”

“I took my bumps and bruises like many of you and found a way to make it happen.”

— Adam Wagner

Despite the way that he felt, Adam did not define himself by a perceived failure, and instead worked and found support in a mentor, Terry Loraas, who Adam cited as one of his main sources of inspiration for returning to school. Adam enrolled in night classes to bump up his high school marks, and after two years he was recruited to the SMU Huskies football team as an offensive lineman, giving him the opportunity to return to university for a second shot.

This time around, Adam was ready. “I took my bumps and bruises like many of you and found a way to make it happen. Five years later, here I stand with you on one of the best days of our lives. We learned from our mistakes, and used that knowledge to push forward and upward to get here today.”

As a member of Saint Mary’s University Student’s Association (SMUSA) throughout his time at Saint Mary’s and a player on the SMU Huskies football team, Adam was incredibly active in the university community. Adam’s encouraging spirit shone through in the closing remarks of his speech. “Don’t view the mistakes of the past as a drawback, but simply view them as a lesson towards the success that lies ahead of you. …This really isn’t the end, it’s simply the beginning of your next adventure.”

What’s next?

Chelsea and Adam both have big plans for the future, as well as advice for future students.

“My biggest piece of advice for new students is to not close yourself off to opportunities,” Shares Chelsea, who currently works with the Federal Government with Public Services and Procurement Canada in Labour Relations. “The co-op program at SMU is amazing and I would highly recommend all students, not just ones pursuing a BComm. Without it, I most likely would not have secured a job before graduation. Gaining valuable work experience while in school is a huge asset and will diversify yourself from other post-graduates. I also would say to join a society or an extra-curricular group. This allows you to make new friends and network with other students and professionals.”

Adam, meanwhile, is planning to move back west to his home of Saskatchewan to pursue some exciting new business opportunities. His advice for students? “Don’t blink! It all flies by way too fast. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. These are some of the best times of your life and you will come out surrounded by amazing people, if you just take a chance and put yourself out there.”

We wish Chelsea and Adam the best of luck with their future endeavours, and congratulate them once more on their graduations!

Journey Towards Peace: Students Reflect on Northern Ireland Experience

A group of students from Saint Mary’s had a transformative experience when they traveled to Belfast earlier this month.

Peaceful Schools International went on their annual trip to Belfast through the Northern Ireland Conflict Resolution Program, which provides unique experiential learning for Saint Mary’s students.  

The program prepares the participants to conduct peace education workshops for elementary school children in Belfast. The students have a full itinerary including workshops, outreach and meetings with community partners involved in peacebuilding, as well as understanding the history and cultural perspectives of Northern Ireland. 

“This experiential program is a two-way street,” says Dr. David Bourgeois, Associate Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator, Psychology and faculty advisor in the Saint Mary’s University Northern Ireland Peace Education Program. “While our university students learn a great deal about conflict resolution, peace education, public speaking and the importance of service to others, their individual and collective efforts have tremendous impact in the schools and communities we visit. I remain impressed by the dedication and passion shown by our students.”  

Peaceful Schools International has developed strong and unique partnerships with dozens of schools and throughout communities in Belfast. Through this program, students receive the opportunity to learn from a wide range of non-profit organizations in Northern Ireland which deal with post-conflict and sectarian issues.  

"It has been my distinct privilege to work and volunteer alongside our Saint Mary's students again for the 18th year,” says Bridget Brownlow, Coordinator, Experiential Learning: Peace, Reconciliation and Development and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education. 

 “Our students deserve the greatest respect and admiration for their extraordinary commitment and dedication to promoting the importance of peace education for thousands of children this past month in schools throughout Halifax and Belfast.” 

Check out what students have to say about this experience:

"This experience means more to me than words can describe. The work that this program does in the communities of Belfast, is beyond incredible. We work with children that are experiencing the intergenerational trauma of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and to be able to give them even a glimpse of peace through our workshops, is so powerful. I am grateful to be able to bring a smile to the kids' faces when we walk into their classrooms." 
- Meaghan Reardon, Sobey School of Business  

"Our team commenced our journey to learn and grow alongside the locals of Belfast, sharing stories, knowledge and wisdom. By discussing our lived experiences, we were able to enhance our learning journeys and embody the true meaning of peace and reconciliation."
- Kyle Cook, SMUSA VP Advocacy, Faculty of Arts. 

"I was fortunate to connect with the faculty and students at ‘Bunscoil An tSleibhe Dhuibh’ primary school. As an Irish Studies student at Saint Mary’s who is learning the Irish Language. I was privileged to experience first-hand an Irish language primary school and utilize my Irish language skills with the students during our peace education workshops."
- Liam Mason, School of Business 

"Having the chance to impact hundreds of kids positively and seeing how eager they are to learn about how to live in harmony shows how important and impactful empowering others through education is. This opportunity is invaluable!"
- Rashae Hart, Sobey School of Business  

"The teachers are not only dedicated to the students, but to the community. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this entire experience, it’s that teachers have the most important job in the world. The value of their contribution cannot be overstated."
- Maggie Kelly, Faculty of Science

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Inspiring words from Arts Valedictorians: “We all have a place in this university”

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Baden Mercer

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Weam Ibrahim

Baden Mercer and Weam Ibrahim have unique messages to share as valedictorians for the Faculty of Arts graduation ceremonies on Friday. Their speeches do have some common threads, though: gratitude for faith, family and the supportive environment at Saint Mary’s University.

Baden Mercer

“Religion for me has always been a personal area of study but not something I imagined I would study academically,” says Mercer, who started out as a political science major. After taking a few courses with the Department for the Study of Religion, he was intrigued and opted to do a double major.

“In today’s world, it’s definitely interesting to see how religion intersects with political systems, and to explore those tensions,” says Mercer, who grew up in Dartmouth and is an active member of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Last year, Mercer received the Harry and Lily Rutte Award for Spirituality in the Workplace, for a paper he wrote on the military chaplaincy. Winning the award motivated him to continue his research, so he’s returning to Saint Mary’s this fall to pursue a Master of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies. For his master’s thesis, he’ll expand his research to a national scale and explore how chaplains address contradictions between faith in the military and violence out in the field.

During his time at Saint Mary’s, Mercer has also been a passionate advocate for students with disabilities, as a student on the autism spectrum. “The Fred Smithers Centre of Support for Students with Disabilities has been a phenomenal support for me,” he says. The centre plays an integral role in helping students succeed in their academic goals, with services ranging from career counselling to ASL interpretation and providing a quiet place to write final exams.

The university’s smaller class sizes also provide a supportive atmosphere for students with disabilities, he adds: “Here, the professors get to know you, and take an active interest in how you’re doing. For new students coming in, if you’re ever having difficulty, there is always someone here to talk to at Saint Mary’s, whether it’s a classmate, faculty member, advisor, counsellor and so on.”

He’s the second generation in his family to graduate from Saint Mary’s—his father Dwayne studied engineering here 20 years ago.

Weam Ibrahim

Born in Libya, Weam Ibrahim was eight years old when her family moved to Canada so her father could pursue his PhD in Halifax. Soon she will have a Bachelor of Arts, and this fall she will begin work on a master’s degree in curriculum studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program.

“It takes a village for someone to graduate university,” says Ibrahim, explaining she couldn’t have made it this far without the support and encouragement of her parents, her three younger brothers, and relatives back home.

“I can’t wait to hug my mom immediately after the ceremony and thank her for everything that she has done for me throughout my degree, then call my dad and brothers in Qatar. Then I am looking forward to making a memorable video call to my entire family in Libya, as they are all planning to gather together and watch the ceremony online.”

In her speech, she will share a thought-provoking quote from the Quran, which translates to “Perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you; God knows and you don’t know.”

The lesson behind this passage is to try your best to welcome opportunities, no matter how they may appear in the beginning. Even something like learning to navigate the pandemic, she says. “Let these experiences serve as a reminder that we are able to overcome any difficulty that comes our way, wherever we may be.”

An honours BA with an English major and a minor in international development studies has turned out to be “the biggest blessing in disguise,” she says, though she didn’t realize that when she first embarked on her studies.

“I have always enjoyed the sense of community and acceptance during my time at Saint Mary’s,” Ibrahim adds. “As a visible minority, being accepted and appreciated everywhere I went on the SMU campus has played an enormous role in my university experience. It goes without saying that SMU manages to make everyone from all different backgrounds, faiths and races feel like we all have a place in this university.”

Q&A with Science Valedictorian Dané Van Tonder

Dané Van Tonder

Dané Van Tonder has been committed to being involved in the community at Saint Mary’s and in Halifax since she moved to Nova Scotia in 2019.

 An engaged, active student, she joined Halifax Helpers, an organization that provides extra school support for students aged 6 to 18. This experience built on her experience with a similar program she participated in while in Ontario. Dané also tutored Korean students in Science and English, enjoyed playing intramural volleyball and ultimate frisbee, and worked as an Environmental Technician at the Atlantic Gold mine full time while studying part time.

 A native of South Africa, Dané has been in Canada with her family for 10 years. She transferred to Saint Mary’s after a year at the University of Windsor and is now graduating with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biology with minor in Psychology. She will write the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) this summer and plans to pursue dentistry school in 2023.

Preferred name: Dané 

Hometown: Born and raised in South Africa, Cape Town, and now lives in Fall River, NS

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology 

Graduation date: May 19, 2022

Favourite class: Surprisingly, a Psychology course I took; “Human and Sexual Behaviour”

Awards: Science Valedictorian, Spring 2022

Future plans (education): Going back to school for another four years of dentistry (not sure where yet)

Future plans (career): Dentistry

Favourite spot at SMU: I spend most of my time in the library so probably the library on the third floor with a view to the plant wall

Advice for new students: Do your best and if you don’t do as good as what you’d like or hoped for, don’t be discouraged because if it was easy then everyone would be doing it and there’d be no challenge. As long as you do your part, the rest will come easy. Take breaks and don’t burn yourself out. Your mental health is more important. 

Q&A with FGSR Valedictorian Charlene Boyce

Charlene Boyce

Charlene Boyce (BA'92, MA'22) is a writer and creative professional who has worked in communications, community engagement and graphic design. She actively seeks work that aligns with her values, whether that be in higher education, non-profit systems change or environmental work. Her path has been circuitous and scenic, and she wouldn't change a step.

Her journey as a mature student began in MBA courses, but she realized that her interests lay in the nexus of history, culture and identity. She began her Master of Arts in Atlantic Canada Studies in 2019, completing her oral-history-based thesis during the pandemic while working full time. Through interviews with former employees, musicians and patrons, she explored the history of the Misty Moon Showbar and the implications that history holds for Halifax’s cultural identity.

In 2021, her short story Flour and Fire won first place in a Reedsy challenge and she has recently had a poem shortlisted by the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia.

Preferred Name: Charlene M. Boyce

Hometown: Truro (born in New Glasgow)

Graduation Date: May 19, 2022

Previous Degrees: BA'92 (SMU), DiplGD’94 (NSCC)

Thesis title: Music, Money, Memory and Cultural Identity: An Oral History of the Misty Moon Show Bar

Thesis description: The Misty Moon Show Bar was an iconic nightclub in Halifax that was open 1969-1994 and lives on in infamy, tied to a cultural identity of Halifax as a violent city of many bars. Interviews were undertaken with 13 narrators who worked at, were patrons of, or were musicians who played at the club, in order to establish an oral history and dig into the validity of this association. A thematic analysis establishes the community was linked through music, monetary benefits and shared experience. The report exposes the connections and care at the core of the collective identity, while looking at the ways that the Misty Moon is still collectively
commemorated.

Why did this type of research appeal to you? 

In 1988 when I came to SMU, I quickly discovered the downtown bar scene and I have remained intrigued by the interweaving of personal identity and cultural identity, reflected in some of the discourse around different interpretations of Halifax history and city’s identity. 

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s University for your graduate work? I was working here when the idea began to crystallize and I was familiar with some of the excellent history work undertaken here in the Atlantic Canada Studies program. I think talking with Raymond Sewell about his experience was a clinching factor for me. 

Any other successes you’d like to share, or difficulties you were able to overcome? During the drafting of this thesis, at home in the dark days of the pandemic, I honed and perfected my Productive Procrastination techniques. I’ve written more than 20 short stories during this time, one of which won a competition; I have also written poems, and undertook my first 3-Day Novel challenge, producing a 60,000 word manuscript in three days. I feel like this experience has really unlocked my long-harboured writing ambitions. 

Future plans? Keep writing, keep finding work that aligns with my values and keep learning. 

Advice to students? By all means, let fear keep you from doing things like jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, but never let fear keep you quiet when you need to speak, and don't let fear hold you back from taking exciting chances, like stepping into a new career or moving across the country. The growth you will achieve is worth the risk.*

*If you are already a skydiver, kudos to you! Someday, maybe I will... but probably not!

Saint Mary’s EIT and Sobey School of Business collaborate on new student-led internship

Kavitha Raveendaran, EIT technology intern

Through a brand-new collaboration between the university’s Enterprise Information Technology (EIT) management, the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Commerce, Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) student Kavitha Raveendaran has begun work as the first EIT technology intern here at Saint Mary’s. EIT supports the mission of Saint Mary’s University by connecting faculty, staff and students to the information technology resources they need, and Raveendaran sees her position as an extension of this mission.

“This internship is a bridge between EIT and the Sobey School,” says Raveendaran. “There is a lot of value in having more open communication between these groups.” The EIT Technology Internship program, as envisioned, creates an optimal learning environment for interns to apply their real-world and educational experience, benefiting themselves, their client departments, and the university.

Todd Williams, Chief Information Officer of Saint Mary’s University, recognized the deep and diverse skill sets possessed by students and saw an opportunity that would benefit graduate students, departments and faculties, and the university at large. The vision of the EIT paid internship, offered to graduate students within the MTEI program, was to provide the intern with the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real projects, involving people, process and technology, by assisting in the delivery of enterprise-level strategic initiatives to department stakeholders.

Raveendaran was looking for just such a position. An IT engineering graduate originally from India, she travelled to Saint Mary’s to pursue her MTEI degree. Her goal when she arrived in Halifax was to find a job in her field to do alongside her studies; with over 12 years of software development experience and having worked with large national and multi-national companies, she approached the IT department for job opportunities.

“I had never worked in a higher education domain before, and so I reached out to Todd Williams of EIT,” Raveendaran explains. “We had a meeting wherein I asked about part-time work and the potential for an internship. Todd really gave me the space to figure out what I wanted to do with this position. He collaborated with me and allowed me to customize the position based on where I could see myself succeeding.”

During this eight-month internship, which began mid-March of this year, Raveendaran will be working on institutional projects based on modernizing and streamlining communication technology used at the Sobey School of Business, as well as helping to identify technological needs for the new Sobeys Inspiration Hub. Kavitha appreciates the unique opportunity that an internship in her field within the university landscape poses for her.

“I am able to both work and study at the university,” she says. “It’s wonderful.”

An internship isn’t the only thing that Raveendaran has gotten out of her time at Saint Mary’s University—she’s also been inspired to further her education. After she finishes her MTEI degree, Raveendaran plans to pursue a Doctorate in Design Thinking, a domain she learned about from a professor she met while doing the MTEI program. She credits the faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s as the community that has given her the confidence to dream big.

“At first, I was terrified to come back to school,” she says. “I haven’t been a student for 12 years, how do you get back to that? Once I arrived I realized how warm and supportive everybody at Saint Mary’s is. It really feels like faculty sees equal potential in all of their students—it helped me see the potential in myself.”

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