PhD student Mohit Dudeja was featured in a news article as part of the CBC's Making Their Mark, which explores the experiences of international students living in Thunder Bay.

In the article, "This international student in Thunder Bay, Ont., paid an unexpected price to study there: his mental health," Mohit shares some of the social and financial challenges he has experienced since he arrived in Canada from Delhi.

Gisella Scalese, Education Librarian, recently completed a two-year term as Co-President of the Ontario Teacher Education Library Association (OTELA). OTELA supports academic libraries in Ontario universities that offer both undergraduate and graduate education programs. OTELA members meet in person once yearly, and share information in virtual meetings held throughout the year.

"OTELA and its membership has been integral to my work as an Education Librarian at Lakehead University," Gisella says. "OTELA has fostered a community of librarians that are excited to share information with each other about teaching resources, collection building strategies, and ideas for connecting our students with these resources. During my term, we held an information-sharing meeting on systematic and scoping reviews for Education. I have held executive positions of Secretary and President in previous years and was honoured to be elected as Co-President from May 2021 to May 2023. I shared this role with Chelsie Lalonde at Ontario Tech University." 

The OTELA annual meeting is hosted at a different university campus each year. Lakehead University Library, on the Thunder Bay campus, hosted the OTELA meeting in 2019, and the Library is pleased to be hosting the upcoming 2024 meeting on the Orillia campus. The meeting will be organized by Chris Tomasini, Orillia Campus Librarian, and the new incoming OTELA Executive.

Dr. Gerald Walton (Professor, Faculty of Education, Thunder Bay) has received a Contribution to Teaching award for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The Committee noted Gerald’s commitment to excellence in teaching and dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment. In particular, they recognized that Gerald’s teaching “stands out for its adherence to humane educational principles, as well as advocacy for the needs of all learners.” They further noted that Gerald’s efforts to create a sense of belonging among students has not gone unnoticed, as the students who nominated him spoke of his “unwavering support in all dimensions of academic life, going above and beyond to ensure their success.”

Gerald explains that “it is a big honour me that I was nominated by international students. Apart from guiding them on how to achieve at the graduate level, I felt it was important to validate challenges that many experience such as language barriers, culture shock, loneliness, homesickness, and even racism, that I have never had to face in my studies. I admire their courage to leave their home countries to study here and I said so a few times in class. I hold students to high standards, but I also wanted to recognize the hurdles that many, perhaps even most, international students face. It's wonderful to receive such praise in the form of a nomination for this award.”  

Congratulations, Gerald!

Photo credit: Mr. Ankit Siwach

Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo (Associate Professor; Acting Chair, Undergraduate Education Programs; and Assistant Dean, Orillia) and Dr. Anne Showalter (ASK Project Manager and The MEHRIT Centre , Quality Alignment) are launching a new journal: the Journal of Applied Self-Regulation. The journal’s purpose is to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to share international research and knowledge about Shanker Self-Reg®.

Shanker Self-Reg is based on decades of research by Dr. Stuart Shanker, distinguished research Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Psychology and Founder & Visionary of The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd. (TMC). Through TMC, the research continues and grows in its application through the work of CEO Dr. Susan Hopkins.

“Self-regulation is the ability to remain calmly focused and alert during times of stress, and this knowledge can be applied to a multitude of situations,” says Sonia.

The first issue of the journal, to be published in the Fall of 2023, includes a compilation of conference proceedings from the Applied Self-Regulation Knowledge (ASK) Conference that took place at Lakehead University Orillia in May of 2023 with the support of a SSHRC Connection Grant. The conference focused on improving the mental health and well-being of post-secondary students, and included contributions from faculty members, graduate students, and mental health professionals.

The Journal of Applied Self-Regulation will be part of the ASK (Applied Self-Regulation Knowledge) website.

Dr. Pauline Sameshima (Professor, Faculty of Education) hosted a recent episode of Research Matters, a 30-minute community television program focused on research at Lakehead University. In this episode—titled Dr. Pauline Sameshima and the HOPE Collaboratory—Pauline spoke with three international researchers about their involvement in the HOPE Collaboratory.

The HOPE project is dedicated to developing a cure for HIV. HOPE, which stands for “HIV Obstruction by Programmed Epigenetics,” brings together scientists, researchers, artists, and community members. As noted on the HOPE website, the project “purposefully brings together diverse communities and uses creativity propulsion strategies to generate HIV cure research knowledge from a grassroots level, integrated with rigorous science.” HOPE includes 16 institutions around the world, one pharmaceutical company, and various community partnerships.

In the Research Matters video, Pauline speaks with Patricia Defechereux (HOPE Community Engagement Coordinator), Pisci Bruja Garcia De Oliveira (Community Educator from Brazil), and Luis Gutierrez-Mock (HOPE Community Advisory Board member).

For further information about Pauline’s involvement with the HOPE project, see Research in Action: Arts Build HOPE and a Bridge between Science and Public. Recently, she was also involved in the creation of an animation video, HIV Cure Strategy EXPLAINED via Animation.

Mohit Dudeja (PhD student and Contract Lecturer, Faculty of Education/Department of Gender and Women’s Studies) has won the Henry Mandelbaum Graduate Fellowship for Excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, or Arts (Doctoral Student), awarded by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA).

Each year, OCUFA recognizes 10 members of the academic community, including one doctoral student who demonstrates academic excellence, provides significant community service, and shows exceptional academic promise in their university career.

Mohit’s doctoral research investigates the experiences of Indian queer international students in small Canadian cities. Mohit plans to conduct in-depth interviews to explore the challenges faced by these students in navigating the intersections of their sexual and cultural identities in unfamiliar social contexts.

“International queer students face a double barrier, transitioning to studying and living in Canada within the nexus of both identities, being both queer and international,” says Mohit. “Even queer campus groups fail to address the diverse identities and experiences of international students, and their shifting sexual identity and liberation relative to their home countries may raise worries about returning home. Research identifies that queer international students’ space in the Canadian social community is complex, frustrating, demoralizing, and frequently re-traumatizing. Building upon existing research, my doctoral study will investigate the lived experiences of queer Indian students in post-secondary programs. The findings will inform the development of inclusive policies and support systems for this population.”

Mohit adds that “I am deeply grateful for the recognition the prestigious OCUFA award provides. It reaffirms that I am on a solid pathway for my doctoral research, framed broadly as Social Justice. This recognition fuels my commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and positive change. I sincerely thank all who have contributed to my academic journey, and I feel fortunate to have such guidance and encouragement, especially from my supervisor, Dr. Gerald Walton."

Mohit will attend the OCUFA Awards of Distinction event, which will take place in Toronto in October.

Congratulations, Mohit!

“Throughout my life, I have found that setting a goal has helped me focus and stay on track,” says Christopher Behrens. “While I have experienced difficulties in my life, I believe that my determination and goal-setting approach, along with the support of others, has helped me achieve my dreams. This includes realizing my goal of becoming a Technological Education Teacher—and now, my sights are set on earning the qualifications to become a Secondary School Principal.”

In Spring 2023, Christopher graduated from Lakehead’s BA General program, earning a Chancellor’s Medal and the Dean’s Scholar Award for the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. These awards were particularly hard-earned, given the fact he was working full-time as Head of Technological Education in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board while completing his degree. Once again, he says his goal-setting approach helped to see him through.

“Throughout my journey at Lakehead, I set a goal of achieving 80% or higher. I very much enjoyed learning about social justice issues in the BA General program, which helped me to focus and learn. The program was fairly challenging, and I was exhausted at times, especially as I earned the degree while working full-time and experiencing some personal health concerns. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see my name on the list of award and medal winners. This means a lot to me, knowing my efforts have been recognized.” 

Inspired to Teach  

Christopher earned his teaching certificate in 2009, and landed his dream job two years later: teaching Technology Education in the very school he attended as a teenager. He explains that he was inspired by one of his teachers, who was a positive role model and demonstrated great care and compassion.

“My teenage years were challenging: my mom, who was suffering from cancer, passed away when I was 14 years old. I survived on my own throughout high school, living on social services and working part-time at full-serve gas stations. My Transportation Technology Teacher was a very positive force in my life during this time. He made a difference, and I wanted to do the same for other students facing similar challenges.”

Today, Christopher leads the school’s large, progressive Technology Education Department, as a Tech Honours Teacher, a Teacher Leadership Specialist, and Departmental Head. He says that having the opportunity to lead, and make a difference, is a “great feeling.”

Working to Achieve Principal Qualification

As Christopher has achieved the goals from his younger years, he has now set a new one: to become a Secondary School Principal. This requires him to further his post-secondary education—first earning his recent undergraduate degree, and now taking additional qualification (AQ) courses through the Faculty of Education’s Professional Development department. At present, he is pursuing the Principal’s Qualification Program, and will have completed the two-part program in August of 2023.

He says his educational journey will likely not end there, either.

“I have a commitment to life-long learning,” he says. “As such, I’m considering pursuing a Master’s degree in the mid-term, and perhaps even a PhD in Education Leadership in the long-term. I truly enjoy learning, teaching, and leading in education. It makes my life challenging and fulfilling, and I enjoy being in a profession where I can have a positive impact on the lives of the next generation, and my peers”.

Christopher also credits the support he has received from Lakehead, throughout his educational endeavours.

“The administrative staff, professors, and my classmates, have all been a positive influence. They are kind, professional, supportive, and encouraging. Although I have worked online for my courses, I feel very connected to Lakehead University, and the support of everyone has helped to guide me and keep me on track.”

With the support of a SSHRC Connection Grant and CanCode Grant awarded to Dr. Ruth Beatty (Associate Professor, Orillia), Colinda Clyne, Anika Guthrie, Christina Ruddy, and their research partners, a two-day Indigenous Mathematics and Education conference took place in April at the Orillia campus. The conference theme was “Relationships and Reciprocity.”

An aim of the conference was to give attendees—including community Elders, knowledge keepers and leaders, educators, and administrators from across the province—an opportunity to explore and discuss the First Nations & Métis Math Voices Project, a comprehensive, long-term, multi-site project that has taken place in elementary and secondary classrooms throughout Canada.

The conference also served as a forum for the 160+ attendees to develop relationships and share experiences, practice, knowledge, and ideas about connections between the mathematical content knowledge of the Canadian math curricula (including coding), and the mathematics inherent in Indigenous technology, design, and artistry.

The formal opening and closing were given by Anishinaabe artist Grandmother Vicki Pawis from the Chippewas of Rama First Nation to ensure that the conference began and ended in a good way. Three-hour workshops were held each day, so that participants could be immersed in the experience of exploring mathematics through Indigenous culture. The workshops examined the mathematics inherent in traditional Indigenous technologies and cultural practices, including looming and the making of hairbone pipe bracelets, medallions, and birchbark baskets (wiigwas makak). Participants considered how incorporating Indigenous pedagogical approaches align with current mathematics instruction and provide insight for creating more inclusive classrooms. They also learned from community research partners as they shared their experiences of the importance of including First Nations and Métis cultures in mathematics instruction.

Eighteen research partners were involved in the organization of the conference, including several student volunteers from the Lakehead community. For a full list of conference organizers and their biographies, please see the conference website.