Even in these difficult times, Conrad Grebel University College continues to find ways to bring the community together to learn, share, and grow through fun and meaningful events. Pre-pandemic, Grebel alumni enjoyed returning to share their stories, give advice, and answer questions from young and eager students. On March 16, PACS alumnus Katie Gingrich (BA 2015) and Knowledge Integration alumnus Eric Kennedy (BKI 2012) met with a dozen Grebelites virtually to discuss their career paths and give valuable advice in an interactive environment. Students were interested to hear from alumni who are involved in social innovation and climate change research.
Katie is the founder of The Ripple Effect Education (TREE), a program that develops and delivers workshops to diverse communities with a goal to give youth the tools they need to resolve conflict in healthy and independent ways. Eric is a professor at York University conducting research on forest fires and climate change, or more formally, Disaster and Emergency Management. Both of these alumni brought a unique and interesting story, explaining the inspirations that led them to achieve their career goals.
Students were engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and learned valuable career-related skills. Coop representative Simon Frew and First year rep Isabella McClosky organized and hosted the conversation. Katie and Eric served as an inspiring resource to quell nervous fears and give understanding to the fact that in the end, we will all find a way towards a career. “The notion of experimenting and trying out different things is important,” Eric answered, when asked for career advice. “In terms of finding what is meaningful for you and what you are passionate about, it is done through experimentation and allowing yourself to try and pivot, rather than feeling like you need to have the answer on the day you walk across that graduation stage—because it will likely change ten times after that anyway.”
The Grebel Alumni Forum on Careers in Social Innovation was a successful event. Katie and Eric were happy to return to their old university home and to connect with and help younger Grebelites along their paths, which is a true testament to the bonds of the Grebel family.
Written by Jace Jaeden Ellis
