In Student Life and Success, we are focused on supporting students’ development and growth- both within, and beyond, the walls of the classroom.
Welcome to Student Life and Success (SLS) at Brock University.
Every day in SLS, we see something powerful happen when students feel connected to their peers, to their learning, and to this place. Belonging isn’t an abstract idea to us; we see it in the student who finds their community in a club, the one who discovers confidence through mentorship, or the one who reaches out for support at just the right moment.
And the research affirms what we witness. Recent studies show that when students feel they belong, their well‑being strengthens and their academic outcomes improve (vanKessel, Ryan, Paras, Johnson, Zariff & Stallman, 2025). Other work highlights how meaningful relationships and personalized support open the door to engagement, persistence, and student success (Gilani & Thomas, 2025). I see this reflected every time a student tells us, “This is the place on campus where I feel like myself.”
In SLS, we work hard to create those moments. We want students to start strong, and we’re here to guide them when things get complicated. We collaborate across the university to make sure that students see themselves reflected on campus and feel invited to participate fully in the Brock experience.
We also know the last few years have challenged students in unexpected ways. Stress, loneliness, and academic anxiety continue to affect how connected students feel (Dost, 2024). But we know that intentional community building and supportive networks can make a profound difference. So, that’s the work that motivates us every single day.
Our goal is simple and deeply meaningful: to help students flourish. To help them feel at home here. To support them as they learn, grow, and lead. And to walk alongside them as they shape their own Brock story, one filled with possibility, connection, and purpose.
Thank you for being part of this community. It’s a privilege to support our students as they navigate, celebrate, struggle, and succeed. And it’s an honour to play a small part in the many moments that make the Brock student experience exceptional.
Dr. Jenn Skelding
Executive Director, Student Life and Success
Current and Guiding Research
Dost, G. D. (2025). Student well-being: The impact of belonging, COVID-19 pandemic-related student stress, loneliness, and academic anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 16.
Gilani, D., & Thomas, L. (2025). Understanding the factors and consequences of student belonging in higher education: A critical literature review. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 34, 1–46.
Kroeper, K. M., Gopalan, M., Emerson, K. T. U., & Walton, G. M. (2025). Who gets to belong in college? An empirical review of how institutions can assess and expand opportunities for belonging on campus. Educational Psychology Review.
van Kessel, G., Ryan, C., Paras, L., Johnson, N., Zariff, R. Z., & Stallman, H. M. (2025). Relationship between university belonging and student outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Australian Educational Researcher, 52, 2511–2534.