Serving as the 39th Rector of Queen鈥檚 University has been an honour and I am deeply grateful for the trust and connection that this role has already fostered. The past weeks and months have deepened my connection to the student community and reaffirmed why I stepped into this role: to foster a university experience that is safe, empowering, and inclusive for all.
I pursued this position because I believe in building spaces where every student can thrive. My goal is to create and sustain an environment where students feel seen, supported, and heard鈥攚here they can show up as their fullest self. This foundation of holism reminds me that student experience is never one-dimensional.
As I continue this journey, I want to share the foundational beliefs that guide my work and decisions in office. These were originally written and published during the Election of the Rector campaign period in February 2024.
I understand that my beliefs as a Rector can only be realized through continued learning. I commit myself to ongoing and self-directed learning. I recognize that we must be the best versions of ourselves in order to show up in the best way for one another. It would be a disservice to my community to not update my knowledge based on research and student voices, which will inevitably evolve over my time in office.
During my Bachelor of Education, I was asked to submit a formal Statement of Professional Beliefs to the Ontario College of Teachers. That exercise helped formalize an authentic reflection of my values. I now carry those same principles with me into my role as Rector. These beliefs continue to shape my priorities, my conduct, and my ongoing learning in this role.
The following beliefs are grounded in Indigenous frameworks of holism, rooted in the teachings of Professors who have generously allowed me to use their models to frame my approach. They are organized around the four dimensions of wellness reflected in the Medicine Wheel: intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual鈥攇uided by a holistic commitment to student wellbeing and equity. This is a living commitment to the values that shape how I lead and how I serve.
Intellectual
As Rector, I remain committed to understanding and addressing the educational barriers that students face. I actively listen, engage with student concerns, and work to advocate for choice, agency, and equitable learning conditions across all faculties and programs. From large governance tables to one-on-one conversations, I aim to uphold the student voice as central to academic success.
Emotional
I believe that meeting the emotional needs of students is crucial to the success of our schooling experience. I subscribe to the idea of Trauma Informed Pedagogy. It is crucial that we are offered a predictable educational environment to support nervous system regulation. I have seen and experienced the challenges that women face when obtaining and holding positions of leadership and as Rector, I am committed to challenging these norms and opening more doors for the women who will lead after me.
Physical
I believe that physically accessible spaces matter and that it is important that students hailing from equity deserving backgrounds feel safe to occupy them. I have and will continue to advocate for safe spaces for discussions to ensure that there are opportunities for those not comfortable reporting to or within the structure of the AMS Assembly and SGPS Council.
I will always be present and vocal, serving as both a mirror and microphone for student needs. I remain visible in governance spaces so that your voice cannot be ignored.
Spiritual
I believe in being a spiritually engaged leader to meet the needs of students. Acknowledging cultural and spiritual values helps create belonging and community. My mission is realized through the framework of culturally responsive pedagogy where I seek to have a deep understanding of and integrate lived experiences into closed-session meetings to ensure students feel represented.
