Meet your Valedictorian: Mehak Tekchandani BA’22 CertHRM’22, Faculty of Arts

Mehak Tekchandani

Mehak Tekchandani of New Delhi, India landed a terrific job in Toronto last summer, soon after finishing her studies at Saint Mary’s University. Just a week into her new post as an associate consultant with IBM Canada, she returned briefly to Halifax to be valedictorian at the fall graduation. Hurricane Fiona had other ideas and the ceremonies were postponed. Mehak is thrilled to be back on campus this week to graduate summa cum laude and receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, with a minor in economics and certificate in human resource management.

During her time at Saint Mary’s, Mehak excelled as a co-op student, and volunteered at the Language Centre and as vice-president for the Speak Up Society. She worked and lived on campus as a research assistant, teaching assistant, residence assistant and residence service officer. She capped off her final year representing Saint Mary’s at the National Model United Nations conference in New York, where the university’s team received a Distinguished Delegation Award last April. 

Why did you choose to study at Saint Mary’s University?
To be honest, it was more about Saint Mary’s University choosing me. I was given the Presidential Scholarship, which was a big help for me in achieving my academic goals. It was also my first time staying away from my family and SMU had an amazing reputation for being international-friendly and located in the heart of Halifax, a perfect blend of a big city and small town. Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Do you have a favourite space on campus?

Definitely Tim Hortons! I will never forget the conversations that brewed at those white round tables.   

How was your Model United Nations experience? 
We met people from all over the world. It was fascinating to hear their thoughts and how one action has a different ripple effect all over the globe. I realized how big the world really is and how much there is to know and explore. If you are at SMU, I would highly encourage you to take this course! I’d also like to acknowledge those who made our trip possible: Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, who helped us with the US visa process, and our amazing professor Dr. Marc Doucet, who was a constant support and a rock for our team of delegates.
Can you tell us a bit about your work with IBM Canada?

There’s a lot to learn and a lot to contribute. Young professionals like me are eager to make a mark in their chosen field but I think it’s important to take a seat back from time to time and truly understand how the system works. This helps make those contributions all the more meaningful. People are diverse, inclusive and incredibly encouraging. I am looking forward to what this journey has to offer. 

 What’s the inspiration behind your wonderful new blog?

The power of words is unimaginable and I love storytelling in all its forms. My blog “Predictable People” is a set of fictional stories of street vendors and others you pass by. How do people make bonds? How do people truly understand each other? How do we change a mindset? My hope is for readers to be a little more brave and a little more kind, for it could mean the world to so many. And it would mean the world to me, if you gave the blog a read 😂.

 Do you have any advice for future students coming to Saint Mary’s? 

Please get involved. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Remember to celebrate little victories along the way. University can be hard sometimes but there is always help; it’s just a matter of reaching out. Lastly, make friends and make meaningful memories. I am deeply thankful to my friends, who have been a constant support and made SMU feel like home away from home.

Watch Mehak’s valedictory speech on January 27 at 10 a.m. via the convocation live-stream.  

Read Mehak’s blog

Dr. Pádraig Ó Siadhail reflects on three decades with Irish Studies

Pádraig Ó Siadhail

When Dr. Pádraig Ó Siadhail emigrated from Ireland for an academic career at Saint Mary’s, faculty members and students were still using manual typewriters. During his 31 years as D’Arcy McGee Chair of Irish Studies, the biggest shift he saw over time was the advent of computer technology and the internet, he says.

Now Professor Emeritus, Dr. Ó Siadhail has contributed to a major shift in Irish Studies over the same timeframe: growth in the study of the Irish diaspora, and how the Irish maintain their cultural connections when they live in other countries. 

“It’s a two-way process,” he says. “It’s not just about providing our students with opportunities to learn about Ireland, but it’s also about the stories of what happens to Irish people when they come to Canada, the contributions they make, and the way in which their attachment to their homeland plays out in different ways.”

Born and raised in Derry, Ó Siadhail completed his PhD at Trinity College Dublin in 1985, at a time when Ireland was experiencing a significant period of emigration. He came overseas to Saint Mary’s for a one-year contract, which was renewed twice before it became a permanent position. He held the D’Arcy McGee Chair from 1991 to the summer of 2022. As the sole full-time faculty member in Irish Studies, he taught core courses in Irish language, culture and society, as well as cross-listed English and Linguistics courses.

In the earlier years, Ó Siadhail worked closely with Dr. Cyril J. Byrne to establish the undergraduate Irish Studies program. As a result of their work, Saint Mary’s was the first Canadian university to offer a major in Irish Studies. The program has earned an international reputation for its emphasis on Irish language instruction.    

“When Cyril established the endowed chair in 1986 and then the academic program, from day one he stressed the importance of providing Irish language training to our students,” says Ó Siadhail. He adds that faculty members such as Dr. Seán Kennedy, with his work as a Samuel Beckett scholar and on the Queering Ireland conferences, have also expanded the program’s academic reach far beyond Canada.  

A past president of the Canadian Association for Irish Studies (2009-2012), Ó Siadhail has served for many years on the editorial committee of the Canadian Journal of Irish Studies. In recent years, his own research has focused on the Irish language in a transnational context. He recently completed a book manuscript on the Irish language and South Africa, and he’s diving into a new project on the story of Irish in Canada.

Among his nine book publications are a murder mystery, a collection of short stories, a history of Irish-language theatre, and award-winning biographies of Piaras Béaslaí, an influential player in the early 20th-century Irish cultural revival, and of PEI-born Katherine Hughes, an activist in the cause of Irish independence.

Though he’s no longer teaching, Ó Siadhail remains working on campus several days a week… and still logs plenty of computer time! When he’s not busy with his research, he hopes to catch up on some travelling and get back to fiction writing again.

“I will always remain interested in what’s happening with the Irish Studies program,” says Ó Siadhail. He’s also a keen follower of the Huskies men’s soccer team—his  son Cian is an accomplished athlete who was team captain last year.

Dr. Ó Siadhail’s impact as D’Arcy McGee Chair will be recognized during the Convocation ceremony on January 27 at 10 a.m. Watch via the convocation live-stream.

Learn more about Irish Studies at SMU

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.

Graduate Profile: Josh Jackman BSc’22, Faculty of Science

Congratulations to Josh Jackman, a Fall ’22 graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Geology.

After leaving SMU as a business student, Josh later returned to Saint Mary’s as a mature student and discovered his love of geology after taking a first-year course called “Understanding the Earth,” in which students study minerals, rocks, soils, fossils and geological structures in class and in labs.

After completing his honours thesis in his third year and winning several awards, including best presentation at the undergraduate geoscience conference, he’s now working on a Master of Science degree at Saint Mary’s.

Preferred Name: Josh Jackman 

Program/degree: Bachelor of Science, Geology

Hometown: Petersfield, UK

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s University?

The geology program at Saint Mary's has a great reputation, and Halifax is such a nice place to live. 

How did you decide on Geology?

Geology holds the key to understanding all of Earth's processes, the nature of life upon it, and the interaction of human cultures throughout history. 

What was your favourite class?

Geology 1200 and 1201 will change the way you think. It made me see the fourth dimension, how the world changes over time.

What was your thesis title and description? Why did this research appeal to you?

“Fluid inclusion systematics of polymetallic (Sb-Pb-Zn-As-Ag-Au) mineralization at the Lansdowne Occurrence, Digby County, Nova Scotia.” Fluid inclusions are an example of something very small, which can meaningfully represent enormous events.

Were you involved in the SMU Community (ie societies, clubs, sports, research)?

I was chair of the D. Hope Simpson Geology Society.

Which instructor had the biggest impact on you?

Dr. Pierre Jutras, Dr. Erin Adlakha, and Dr. Jacob Hanley have had a profound impact on my mind and attitude. Dr. Victor Owen (now retired) has been a great inspiration for me.

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

Bob Grantham Award, Mark Deptuck Award, Gordon Fader Award, and Award of Academic Excellence.

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

Wait until you're ready. You won't succeed unless you're having fun.

Alumnus Stan Hartling Receives University’s Highest Honour

Stan Hartling, BComm’86

Saint Mary’s University is honouring one of its own with an honorary doctorate at its January 2023 Convocation. Stan Hartling, BComm’86, CEO and founder of The Hartling Group, is an entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist.  His businesses and charities benefit the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), a place he has called home for over 25 years.  

Under his leadership, The Hartling Group has grown to become one of the largest employers within the Turks and Caicos Islands with over 800 employees. The Hartling Group’s three luxury resorts have received the industry’s highest awards for design and excellence and are valued at over $500 million. The Group also has interests in large-scale construction and advertising and owns one of the largest private yacht charter operations in the Caribbean. Stan has been recognized as Developer of the Year by Caribbean World and Living Magazine.

Stan Hartling is renowned for his generous and extensive charitable contributions. In 2021, Hartling received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Turks and Caicos Human Rights Commission. He received the Pandemic Icon Award for humanitarian efforts and employee support during the 2020 shutdowns. Stan was recognized as “Philanthropist of the Year“ by the TCI United Way and inducted into the “Filipino Basketball Hall of Fame” for significant contributions to the sport. Stan is founding director of “Boys to Men” a mentorship organization for youth.

The Hartling Group has raised over $2 million for TCI charitable and scholarship organizations including the Cancer Foundation, United Way, Kidney Foundation and Salvation Army. Stan is the Honorary Chairman of the Salvation Army, Turks and Caicos Islands, a 20-year member of the Board of Trustees for the National Museum, and Honorary Director of the Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation. Hartling has also given back to his alma mater through a generous scholarship allowing students from the Turks and Caicos to study at Saint Mary’s University. His passion is to mentor and inspire youth to pursue entrepreneurial careers.

“We are very pleased to award the university’s highest honour to Stan Hartling,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Stan is recognized as a leader in the business community, a philanthropist, and an exemplary humanitarian. Known for his passion for entrepreneurship and education, he sets an example for others to follow.”

Dr. Benita Bunjun honoured for teaching excellence and educational leadership

Dr. Benita Bunjun

Dr. Benita Bunjun’s innovative teaching methods resonate deeply with her students and colleagues at Saint Mary’s University, inside the classroom and out in the community.

Her teaching philosophy, in a nutshell: “I am invested in envisioning programs, curricula and resources that promote alternative and diverse perspectives and knowledge systems which have predominantly been omitted, silenced and excluded from academic spaces of learning.”

Dr. Bunjun’s important efforts were honoured May 20 during Spring Convocation week, as she received two of the university’s top awards for faculty members: 

• the Father William A. Stewart, S.J. Medal for Excellence in Teaching

• the Dr. Geraldine Thomas Educational Leadership Award

“It means a lot to me to be recognized for the way that I teach, and also the ways that I’m trying to shift the culture of teaching. Delivering information and knowledge while also transforming spaces of learning with a kind of care built within pedagogy. That’s really important for me,” says Bunjun, whose teaching practice is rooted in intersectionality, interdisciplinarity and social justice.

“During my time as Dr. Bunjun’s student, she acted as not only a professor, but as a true mentor. It is largely due to her encouragement, support and engagement that I was able to finish my degree with honours and continue with my education. I have continuously witnessed Dr. Bunjun show similar care and engagement with other students, all while remaining respectful of individual differences and learning styles.””

— - Tia DeGiobbi BA’17

She is an associate professor in the Department of Social Justice and Community Studies (SJCS), and in the Women and Gender Studies program. Since joining Saint Mary’s in 2016, she has prioritized collaborative teaching and curriculum development with community educators and SMU colleagues, particularly in the realm of anti-colonial feminist knowledges.

Recent examples of this are two new courses offered this past year: Indigenous Settler Relations, which she co-taught and developed with Michelle Paul, a Mi’kmaw Water Protector and educator; and Indigenous Relations and Knowledges, also coordinated with Paul and co-taught with Prof. Raymond Sewell and Indigenous community educators Diane Obed, Aaron Prosper and Toni Goree. Her Community Organizing course is another pivotal undergraduate experience. Students learn to work together on advocacy for causes they care about, in real-world settings with community relationships Bunjun has built over time.

Dr. Bunjun with Fisson Tibbo (at left) and Jenn Waugh (at right), student coordinators of the 5th annual Critical Indigenous, Race and Feminist Studies Conference at Saint Mary’s.

Dr. Bunjun with students Fisson Tibbo (at left) and Fernanda Matos (at right), who were emcees at the 5th annual Critical Indigenous, Race and Feminist Studies Conference at Saint Mary’s.

Beverlee MacLellan BA’20 was one of the first students to graduate with the Social Justice and Community Studies major. In nominating Bunjun for the Father Stewart Award, MacLellan recalled being profoundly inspired from the very first class. Ten others, including former students, teaching assistants, mentees and faculty members, supported the nomination, praising Bunjun for creating an inclusive environment where students build critical thinking skills and self-confidence.

“Her office has become a safe space for anyone who finds themselves marginalized for race, nationality, sexuality, gender, class and/or disability, where she offers attentive listening and an abundance of snacks,” said MacLellan. “Her self-awareness makes her humble enough to listen to and accept experiences beyond her own, which is an important trait in the humanities, as it can improve perspective and scholarship.”  

Soon after arriving at Saint Mary’s, Bunjun created the Racialized Students Academic Network (RSAN), a crucial point of ongoing connection for both students and alumni. She and RSAN organize the annual Critical Indigenous, Race and Feminist Studies Student Conference (CIRFS). Now in its fifth year, the event has culminated in the book Academic Well-Being of Racialized Students (Fernwood Publishing, 2021), edited by Bunjun and featuring essays and poems by students, faculty and alumni. Plans are in the works for a second edition.    

“Everything I’m trying to be and do at Saint Mary’s is a building block,” Bunjun says. “This is the only conference like this in the Maritimes. The amount of labour to support that journey for students is tremendous, but not only is it an engagement with professional development but also of building strong transnational kinship relations amongst the students.”

“Her office has become a safe space for anyone who finds themselves marginalized for race, nationality, sexuality, gender, class and/or disability, where she offers attentive listening and an abundance of snacks. Her self-awareness makes her humble enough to listen to and accept experiences beyond her own, which is an important trait in the humanities, as it can improve perspective and scholarship.”

— Beverlee MacLellan BA’20

For many students who attend CIRFS, it’s their first time presenting academic research, so Bunjun offers advance workshops on how to write an abstract, and how to present at a conference. This year, she supported the Tenancy Rights of International Students (TRIS) Project coordinators to present at the conference. Bunjun also coordinates TRIS with SJCS students Lena MacKay and Nadian Looby, by working with international students at a number of local universities to promote their scholarship, rights, well-being and self-advocacy.

“During my time as Dr. Bunjun’s student, she acted as not only a professor, but as a true mentor,” Tia DeGiobbi BA’17 said in supporting the teaching award nomination. “It is largely due to her encouragement, support and engagement that I was able to finish my degree with honours and continue with my education. I have continuously witnessed Dr. Bunjun show similar care and engagement with other students, all while remaining respectful of individual differences and learning styles.”

In 2020, Bunjun also received the Saint Mary’s University Student Association Award for Overall Excellence in the Field of Education.  

For her Dr. Geraldine Thomas Educational Leadership Award, her nominators included RSAN and faculty members from four different academic departments. They recognized her tireless work as a mentor to students, teaching assistants and fellow faculty members, and for educating colleagues throughout the university in relation to her critical thinking on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) by advocating for the decentralization and implementation of EDIA in all aspects of the university.

As an innovative educator, Bunjun co-created the SJCS department and much of its curriculum. Her leadership “has been crucial to building our impressive student major and minor numbers only a few years into our department’s existence,” noted her colleague Dr. Val Marie Johnson.

Bunjun’s own research examines organizational and institutional power relations, with a focus on colonial encounters within academic spaces. She starts a sabbatical leave in September, and has a typically busy summer lined up working with students on directed study projects.

In expressing gratitude for the awards, Bunjun thanks her nominators, her own mentors, and her colleagues “who stand by my vision as a teacher, and who have demonstrated so much solidarity and care as faculty on our campus.” As a faculty member who has worked in five post-secondary institutions, she continues “to urge universities to be brave and make informed, relevant decisions to promote well-being in our institutions.”

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Learn more about the Social Justice and Community Studies program.

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!

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!

Multiple degrees enhance the family business for mother and daughter

Elora (standing) and Olwyn Gehue

Simultaneous studies in Arts and Commerce added up to the perfect combination for Elora Gehue of Halifax—and for her mother, Olwyn Terris-Gehue. The pair were seated side by side during their graduation ceremony this week at Saint Mary’s University.

“I’m not really sure how she felt about it when we first started to attend classes together but it definitely got better,” Terris-Gehue recalls with a chuckle.

“It’s been a great experience, honestly,” says Gehue, herself a mother of two young sons. “I think it made us closer too, being able to learn and grow with each other.”

The mother and daughter, ages 58 and 27, share an appreciation for the interdisciplinary learning options at Saint Mary’s. They took quite a few classes together, and are graduating with an unusual combination of credentials:

• Both receive Bachelor of Arts degrees with majors in Religious Studies, plus a minor in Indigenous Studies for Gehue.

• Both receive Bachelor of Commerce degrees; Terris-Gehue’s is a general business degree, while Gehue majored in Human Resource Management and minored in Psychology.

• Both receive Certificates in Atlantic Canada Studies.

• Gehue also receives a Certificate in Human Resource Management.

Academic curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit run deep in the Gehue family. The variety of programs complement each other as well as the family businesses, which include Lotus Business Solutions, Gehue’s business consulting firm; Ataj, a construction company with her father; and the family’s first retail outlet, Crystal Moon Wellness Boutique, which opened last fall just off Spring Garden Road. A pet supply store and an inclusive clothing shop are in the planning stages, and Gehue also starts a new job soon as Indigenous Student Advisor at Dalhousie University.

“We graduated together once before, in 2017,” notes Terris-Gehue, who was the last person to receive a Bachelor of Education degree from Saint Mary’s that year. Her daughter’s first BA included a major in International Development Studies and minors in English and Sociology. The IDS program sparked Gehue’s interest in equity, diversity and inclusion, which led to her focus on human resources. 

“Realizing the issues that I have as somebody who isn’t visibly diverse, it can be very complicated to navigate,” says Gehue, whose father is from Sipekne’katik. “So for me, venturing into HR is a way to help promote changes within corporate structures, because it can be very tough. Diversity is not just skin deep, it’s a lot of things.”   

During her first degree, Gehue was a member of the Alumni Council and served as president of the Indigenous Student Society. She coordinated the first Mawio’mi on campus, and volunteered on a committee that helped to implement some of the recommendations from the President’s task force on Indigenous students.

Her parents always encouraged her to be open and curious about exploring her culture as well as different paths of spirituality, and studying religion at Saint Mary’s opened up many areas of questioning and critical thinking. Traditional healing is a big focus in the family store, with smudge kits, gemstones, books, dreamcatchers, beadwork and art by local Indigenous and Celtic artists, and much more. The shop also has pop-ups in other locations, and was a popular fixture at the Evergreen Market on the waterfront in the winter.

The mother and daughter encourage new students to be adventurous in choosing their courses, and to reach out to their advisors, career counsellors and other campus supports. If a program isn’t clicking, you don’t have to get stuck on a single path, they agree.

“The wide range of courses at Saint Mary’s is wonderful. You’ve got wiggle room to try things, room to explore different options,” says Terris-Gehue.

They also appreciate the comfort of a smaller university. Terris-Gehue had jitters at first about coming back to school as a mature student but she quickly felt accepted and appreciated. Other students and even a few professors began calling her “Mom”, and she made friends with the mothers of international students, from Thailand to the Caribbean.

The Gehue family connection continues at Saint Mary’s in September, when Terris-Gehue’s 18-year-old son Dakota (and Gehue’s brother) arrives to begin his studies at the Sobey School of Business.

“He says to me, ‘So are you coming back, Mom, and taking some more courses so you can graduate with me too?’ I don’t think so, but who knows?”

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Plan a degree unique to your interests with the undergraduate program advisors available in Saint Mary’s Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and the Sobey School of Business.

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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