Graduate Students\u2019 Association<\/a> (GSA).<\/p>\nThe GSA represents and advocates for the nearly 1,700 graduate students enrolled in Brock\u2019s 49 masters and doctoral programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came into the role on a platform to amplify the voice of graduate students,\u201d she says, \u201cand to be a good liaison with the rest of the institution and community to get graduate student issues on the agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kitchings has a bachelor\u2019s degree in theatre and drama from the University of Toronto, as well as a diploma in acting from Sheridan College and a post-graduate diploma in public relations from McMaster University.<\/p>\n
To the GSA role she brings a skillset from 10 years of working in the non-profit sector nationally and internationally as an administrator, educator, communications specialist and fundraiser. Given her career experience, it\u2019s not surprising that professional development for graduate students is one of her top priorities for the GSA.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my objectives is to find ways to come up with additional funding support to make it easier for graduate students to go and to present at conferences. I also want the GSA to work in partnership with others on campus to help graduate students navigate a path out of graduate studies and into future careers, particularly transitioning to careers in non-academic fields.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kitchings is also conscious of the pressures that go with pursuing advanced degrees that involve intensive research projects, some of which are sensitive in nature. She will work with the GSA executive and program representatives to look at new year-round programming and resources to address issues around mental health well-being.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch takes a toll. Engagement can be draining and exhausting and difficult to navigate. As well, students experience their own personal setbacks, including financial stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kitchings is a strong proponent of self-care strategies for coping with stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne way for graduate students to take responsibility for their well-being is to utilize self-care strategies to help avoid and prevent burnout and setbacks,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
A few examples she recommends are getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated, taking time to reflect, and sticking to a nutritious diet.<\/p>\n
After a decade in the workplace, Kitchings says she made a quick and seamless transition back to academic studies with the SJES program being the right match to her interdisciplinary interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I decided I wanted to return to academic studies, Brock had the only program in which I could combine my interests in communications, business, arts and social justice,\u201d says the singer and spoken-word poet.<\/p>\n
Her MA research will involve exploring voice in testimony in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. Her supervisor is Professor Susan Spearey.<\/p>\n
On a personal level, Kitchings sees this year as an opportunity to show leadership in strengthening the graduate community \u201cas a safe and welcoming space for indigenous and international students.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the GSA, we are in a position to strengthen resources toward creating a graduate student culture that makes every student feel welcomed and a valued part of the Brock community,\u201d she says. \u201cThe GSA is here to listen to students so that we can support them around what they say they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2016-17 Graduate Students\u2019 Association executive<\/strong><\/p>\nGSA President –\u00a0Shannon Kitchings<\/p>\n
VP Equity and External Affairs – Sarah Cavelle Miller<\/p>\n
VP Communications – Kirsten Bott<\/p>\n
VP Student Affairs – MacKenzie Hunter<\/p>\n
VP Finance – Julian Petrachenko<\/p>\n
VP International – Caroline Drolet<\/p>\n
GSA Senate Representatives – Charissa Sanche and Emily Guertin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In all the communities that Shannon Kitchings has been a part of \u2014 geographically and personally \u2014 she quickly looks for opportunities to inject herself into the life of those communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":41515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3319,188,55,1,4],"tags":[147,4561],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41512"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}