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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 ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´.

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 ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. In her piece, Joelle discusses the trials and tribulations associated with building a professional career and how a new employee resource group at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ has helped to ease this transition.

In this final blog installment for the fall semester, we hear from James McNutt, a graduate student at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. 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 ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. 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 ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´. In this compelling and honest piece, Sarah discusses her experiences as a woman and mother in academia.

TK Pritchard, a recent graduate of ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ is our April blog contributor. Heavily involved in student government while at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´, TK bravely and honestly discusses transitions and transitioning while at university.

The summer edition of our blog is by Dr. Mona Rahman, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences. In this piece, Mona describes her experience of growing up in Kingston and the resiliency of the community that surrounds her.

Thank you to all of our contributors and readers from 2015-2016. We enjoyed your honesty, unique perspectives and thoughtful engagement.

In honour of the 175^th anniversary of ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´, the 2016-2017 blog will shine a spotlight on ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ alumni. Over the course of this year you will hear from both current and past students (undergraduate and graduate), staff and faculty. Each month check-in to see what our latest blog contributor has to say on the topics of equity, diversity and inclusion.