Alice joined the Faculty of Science on Sept. 14 to lead the Science Career and Cooperative Education Office. With a vision of seeing every student reach their career potential and have a meaningful impact on the scientific community, the SCCE team supports cooperative education, experiential learning, employer recruitment and career development for students.

Alice has a long history of connecting job seekers with career opportunities and building strong partnerships with employers and industry. Prior to moving to Canada in 2012, Alice led an employment service in Ireland that was recognized for its excellence in supporting equity-seeking job seekers. Alice was the Project Manager of Employer Relations for Sheridan College’s inaugural Work-Integrated Learning Hub. Alice holds a Masters in Human Resource Management from De Montfort University.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
The Science Career and Cooperative Education (SCCE) team is a fantastic group of career education professionals driven by the desire to see our students succeed. I’m excited to partner with students, listen to their perspectives and learn more about their needs. I want to engage with students to raise awareness of the many ways our team can inform and support them on their journey from education to career.  

Having collaborated with employers across all sectors for nearly two decades, I recognize the tremendous value SCCE brings. I look forward to growing and developing our employer relations and creating new and novel ways to connect our students with their industries throughout their programs.

What career achievement are you most proud of? 
On a personal note, like many people, I completed my Masters while juggling a career and a young family. The day my Masters arrived in the mail, I was leaving for the hospital to give birth to my youngest son, so that has to go down as a day in my life when I achieved a lot!

Professional, while leading an employment service in Ireland that supported job seekers with disabilities, the 2007-2008 financial crisis struck and unemployment shot from 4% to 15%. All around, people were losing their jobs! We still had employment targets to meet if we were to ensure continued funding.  Facing the biggest challenge of my career,  I led our team to develop and implement a strategy that would allow us to survive and thrive, despite the crisis unfolding around us. We leveraged every possible opportunity and worked creatively, and amazingly we maintained our employment outcomes. I always draw inspiration and hope from that particular time as I learned that we are all so much more capable than we know.

Who’s made a difference in your career?
Early on, I had a manager who made a massive difference in my career. She created the space for me to push myself further than I ever thought I could. Looking back, I realize she believed in me long before I came to believe in myself!  She taught me so much about pushing the boundaries of what was possible and always left me with the feeling that I would succeed in whatever I was working on. I try to pass this on to others.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I always joke that I run marathons to relax! Running has been my sanctuary during this pandemic as it’s a tonic to get outside before or after my day for a run. I’ve signed up for a challenge to run and walk 215 km in November so that should encourage me to get out each day!

MEAGAN KINSELLA
Academic Review Administrator

Meagan joins the Faculty of Science Nov. 16 in the new role as Academic Review Administrator. Reporting to the Dean, Meagan will coordinate and support the academic and quality assurance review processes across all Schools and Departments and serve as both as the lead point of contact for all academic and quality assurance reviews and our connection with the MacPherson Institute, Meagan joins the Faculty of Science from the University of Guelph where she was an Online Learning Quality Assurance Specialist. Meagan completed an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s in International Relations from McMaster.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
“I’m most looking forward to building collaborative and enduring relationships across the Faculty of Science, with the MacPherson Institute and with other stakeholders so I can support academic and quality assurance activities, program enhancement and educational development.”

What career achievement are you most proud of?
“Looking back, I’m proud of my work to support student pathway initiatives such as Prior Learning and Recognition (PLAR) at Humber College. I revamped the Social Service Worker diploma part-time program’s portfolio-style recognition of prior learning process. This led to its adoption as a college best practice and contributed to my department’s efforts to improve pathway opportunities. With this revamped process, students could more easily navigate the PLAR process and assemble the documentation they needed to provide as part of their application. By 2018, students had submitted over 240 courses annually for PLAR consideration as part of their program requirements.”

Who’s made a difference in your career?
“I’ve been fortunate to receive mentorship from seasoned curriculum developers, instructional designers and academic managers that have been instrumental in my career development. I have added several tips, tricks and approaches to my toolbox through such mentorship that I am continually going back to.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
“I enjoy hiking along the Niagara escarpment, catching up with family and friends, and spending time with my cat, Peony.”