Domestic and international graduate students have access to a safe, welcoming, and confidential space to discuss matters related to their studies with the Graduate Academic and International Specialist.

Support Areas

Below are some common areas that our specialist can support students with:

• Graduate academic policies and procedures
• Circumstances impacting the graduate student experience
• Barriers to timely completion
• Procedures for status changes (i.e., leave of absence, inactive term or extension requests)
• Graduate student responsibilities
• International student concerns
• Supervisor responsibilities and supervisor conflict
• Withdrawal from course(s) or program (voluntary or required)
• Referrals and connections to relevant services
• Mental health and wellness support

Please note this list is not exhaustive, and the specialist is always a great place to start if you are unsure of where to go or who to talk to on campus.

Meet your Graduate Academic and International Specialists

Heidi Madden

Heidi (she/her) holds a Joint Masters in Canadian/American Studies from Brock University and the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BA in History and North American Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Heidi has worked for over a decade in the field of student support with an emphasis on student experiences both in Canada and abroad. Building on her own time spent studying at multiple institutions and travelling internationally, along with her passion for student success, she provides guidance on how to navigate the world of graduate studies and academic progression through to completion.

Katie Pickles (on leave)

Katie (she/her) holds an MSc in Sociology with a focus in gender studies from the University of Amsterdam and a BA in Sociology from Brock University.

Katie has worked for the past several years in the field of student support in both Canada and internationally. Coupled with her lived experience as both a graduate and international student, she provides key insights into enhancing the graduate student experience. She is here to help graduate students navigate and manage any complex academic situations that may arise during their studies and understands, based on her own experiences, that sometimes things don’t always go as planned during graduate studies.