Sarah Vander Meer’s (MEd ’24) graduate student journey has been anything but linear — and she wouldn’t change it for the world.

On Thursday, June 13, Vander Meer crossed Brock’s Convocation stage to receive her Master of Education (MEd), embarking on her career as nurse educator for Hamilton Health Sciences.

While studying at Brock, Vander Meer worked full time on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as a registered nurse, underwent fertility treatment and gave birth to two children.

Her son was only three weeks old when she delivered her final presentation this past fall.

“Brock’s student-centred approach has made all the difference in my academic journey, and now my career,” Vander Meer said.

She was supported by the Metis Nation of Ontario to complete her Master of Education and credits the flexibility of part-time study and online learning at Brock as key to her success.

“I started going through fertility treatments in my second semester, which caused me to go on stress leave from work. My instructors were so supportive and accommodating,” Vander Meer said. “I am forever grateful to Brock for their flexibility and different program pathway options.”

Earning her master’s degree in education has allowed Vander Meer to transition from being a nurse to becoming a nurse educator working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

In her new role, Vander Meer is responsible for conducting nurse orientation programming and onboarding as well as introducing new technologies and bedside treatment methodologies in the ICU.

“Pursuing my MEd has inspired me to revamp curriculum for nurse education and shape the learning process for them as they begin their careers,” she said.

Through the course of her graduate studies, Vander Meer was motivated to explore different methods of teaching that were more participatory, driven to experiment with new approaches to make the learning process more engaging for nurses.

“I want to find out how we can communicate concepts and tactical information in an innovative way, so nurses can feel like they are an active part of the educational exchange,” she said.

While Vander Meer enjoys teaching those who are already nurses, in the future, she is interested in fostering an environment of learning and positivity at the university level.

“I want to share my knowledge and experience with the next generation, so when they come into the workforce, not only do they come with a solid academic background, but also a realistic outlook — and positive outlook — on what they might see working in the medical field,” she said.

To any person considering graduate studies, but unsure if they can make the time and financial commitment, Vander Meer said the first step is believing you can do it.

“In this economy, I had to work full time while I pursed my degree part time. It was a ton of work, but with support like I received at Brock, I am now working in a field I am passionate about and doing work that I love,” she said.

Associate Professor and Program Director, Master of Education and Undergraduate Educational Studies Michael Savage said the flexible and tailored approach of the MEd program was launched for working professionals like Vander Meer.

“It is now possible for people to complete their MEd degree at Brock entirely synchronously online, entirely in person or a mixture of both while engaging in full-time or part-time studies. It is hoped that this will lead to even more success stories like Sarah’s,” Savage said.