Rachel Wakayama (BA ’26, BEd ’26) and Ashley Grover (MA ’19, PhD ’26) spent their time at Brock University fostering connection and creating positive change on campus.

In recognition of their impact, the two Faculty of Education graduates received the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal during Brock’s 119th Convocation on Thursday, June 11.

Wakayama, a Concurrent Teacher Education graduate with a minor in Educational Studies and Psychology, has a deep passion for travel and education.

A strong advocate for the transformative experiences gained by studying abroad, she volunteered with Brock International helping students learn about the opportunities available.

“Experiencing different education systems globally is a truly unique experience that provides a greater cross-cultural perspective,” she said.

Wakayama was inspired by her own experiences in Grenoble, France, where she studied language, as well as in the Netherlands, where she completed her minor in Psychology.

“I wanted to encourage other people to explore study travel, so they too could build independence and gain skills to help others; Brock makes that possible,” she said.

Wakayama volunteered at pre-departure sessions for exchange students in addition to participating in an International Education Week student panel, where she shared her experiences.

In the Faculty of Education’s Brock Learning Lab, she used her skills to tutor students from kindergarten to Grade 12 and support their language development and literacy.

She also tutored multi-language learners and newcomers to Canada, helping them feel connected to their learning and school community.

An active voice on campus, Wakayama guided tours as well as supported incoming students as a part of the Smart Start orientation program’s team.

“I wanted to help students feel comfortable on campus even before they started,” she said. “Working as a peer mentor in residence was also a very fulfilling experience.”

Wakayama participated in Brock Champions of Change, a club focused on female equality and human rights. She also put her French language skills to good use as External Affairs Co-ordinator for the Brock French Club.

Wakayama is grateful for the supportive community and kind environment at Brock, with no shortage of events and projects to be part of across a range of interests.

“You are always going to find your people here and find the thing that you enjoy,” she said.

Much like Wakayama, PhD in Educational Studies graduate Ashley Grover, was driven to help foster connection in her community.

Grover has always been fascinated with how people use stories to effect change, an interest she examined in her Master of Social Justice and Equity Studies, where writing about popular ’90s movies helped her to process her own experiences.

Grover’s doctoral research extended this narrative focus, exploring how memoir can be used to learn about trauma and help people make sense of their own experiences to feel less isolated and alone.

“I think that there is a lot of potential in post-secondary spaces to leverage reading memoir, so we can ensure that learners don’t feel imposter syndrome,” she said. “Instead of feeling like they don’t belong, learning about others’ journeys can show them that they have a place in academic environments.”

Grover said trauma survivors don’t necessarily reflect on their experiences and name them “trauma.”

“Reading and studying memoir, as well as learning from my supervisor and mentor, Dr. Nancy Taber, helped me to see how others had lived through harmful life experiences and how it shaped how their learning,” she said. “I realized that my life had followed a similar but also different trajectory, and it got me thinking about the role that trauma plays in how we learn and how we see ourselves as learners.”

Grover was inspired by the supportive community at Brock. She served as Vice-President of Equity on for the Graduate Students’ Association and was a member of OPIRG Brock.

Now a Curriculum Development Specialist with Learning Services at Brock, Grover provides tailored supports for students facing significant barriers to their education, as well as developing curriculum for programming that reflects diverse educational experiences.

“I have always felt supported by my community at Brock,” she said. “My favourite part has been the people.”

Brock University Board of Trustees member Arti Freeman (left) presented Ashley Grover (MA ’19, PhD ’26) with the Spirit of Brock medal on Thursday, June 11 during the University’s 119th Convocation.