University Secretary and Corporate Counsel, Lon Knox talks about their feelings of hesitancy leading a working group at Queen's.  But being comfortable feeing uncomfortable is an opportunity for learning and growth.

In our first post of 2023, Dr. Katherine McKittrick and Dr. Betsy Donald reflect on the Scarborough Charter, research and activism.

Whether you are 17 or 75, the first day of university can be both daunting and thrilling. It offers us a clean slate: a chance to find or build our community, seek new adventures, and expand our minds. It’s also in this very moment of new-beginnings that educational institutions have the opportunity and responsibility to introduce a new class of students to their potential life-long mentors – their professors.

The question at hand is: how do we determine who are ‘the best’ fit to be these mentors, and what ‘the best’ really means when hiring them?

The October edition of our blog is brought to you by De-Lawrence Lamptey, a doctoral student in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy. His research focuses on improving access to healthcare for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ghana. De-Lawrence’s piece beautifully captures the power and strength provided through the creation of community. Keep reading to hear De-Lawrence’s story of how he formed, nurtured and grew his own community at Queen’s University.

Our third blog installment is brought to you by Dr. Joelle Thorpe, whose PhD work focused on reproductive and stress endocrinology. Joelle currently works as Clinical Research Associate in the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine at Queen’s University. In her piece, Joelle discusses the trials and tribulations associated with building a professional career and how a new employee resource group at Queen’s University has helped to ease this transition.

In this final blog installment for the fall semester, we hear from James McNutt, a graduate student at Queen’s University. In this piece, we learn how education has and continues to be a positive resource and platform for James.

In our first blog piece for 2016 we hear from Billie Kearns, a second year Engineering student at Queen’s University. In her piece, Billie explores the complex concept of identity through both written words and spoken poetry.

In our second blog piece for 2016 we hear from Mala Joneja, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine. In her piece, Dr. Joneja explores the significance of promoting diversity in medical education.

The March edition of our blog is by Sarah Kastner, a doctoral candidate in the English Language and Literature department at Queen’s University. In this compelling and honest piece, Sarah discusses her experiences as a woman and mother in academia.

TK Pritchard, a recent graduate of Queen’s University is our April blog contributor. Heavily involved in student government while at Queen’s, TK bravely and honestly discusses transitions and transitioning while at university.