Waterloo co-op student Ann Gordon recognized for her contributions to community-building in the Faculty of Arts
When she began her co-op position as an arts student experience associate, Ann Gordon had two main goals: create events that would allow students to engage at their own pace and provide them with helpful tools and resources. “With my own student perspective in mind and the power to provide events and services, I wanted to help integrate people with the campus community in a way that suited them,” she says.
This was no easy feat starting in the fall of 2022, when many students were transitioning from online classes and felt reluctant to meet people and seek out new opportunities.
Up for the challenge, Gordon developed events like stress busters, professional headshot sessions and a resource fair to help students feel more connected to the faculty and to each other. As a result of her efforts, she received a 2024 Arts Award for Excellence in Service in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the Arts campus community.
Gordon, an Arts and Business student majoring in Liberal Studies, was initially drawn to the position in the Arts Undergraduate Office (AUO) because of the focus on engagement. “I had just moved to Waterloo the previous semester and really wanted to get involved, especially after the disconnection that I, and the community at large, faced during COVID-19,” she shares. “I heard about some of the struggles that students were having and realized that just the semester before, I was one of those students too.”
Gordon used her own experience as a lens for event planning, considering activities and supports she would have liked to have as a new student in a new city. “I realized that a lot of people wanted to get involved but were nervous or hesitant to do so,” she says. That’s why she designed each event to meet students where they were at, whether that meant making sure it was drop-in friendly, inviting counselling services to participate or adding multiple activity options.
She especially enjoyed planning stress buster events, often held during midterms and finals to help students relax and engage in something creative. Hundreds of students lined up throughout each term to interact with therapy dogs, decorate cookies and pot plants to take home. “As a student, it was very comforting to know that there was an entire role and budget dedicated to providing Arts students with fun and relaxing activities,” Gordon says.
When given the opportunity to join the AUO for a second co-op term, Gordon was happy to accept. This time, she hoped to develop something new that would help connect students to resources on campus. “I really wanted to create a touch point for students to explore resources as well as services to help them succeed,” she says.
To accomplish this, she organized a Student Resource Fair in Hagey Hub, bringing together academic supports, mental health resources and exchange and volunteer opportunities from across campus units.
She also gamified the event and included a prize pack to encourage students to interact with resource representatives and ask questions. “It was really encouraging to see how eager campus units were to participate,” she notes. “I felt proud to work within the university ecosystem to promote the academic, mental and physical wellbeing of students.”
Looking back, Gordon says her co-op experience with the AUO was everything she wanted and more. It offered a supportive environment, grew her event-planning and communication skills and, most importantly, allowed her to foster community with her fellow students - all of which she hopes to carry forward into her role as a don this fall. “I learned that there are so many people on campus who are happy to guide, mentor and support us,” she adds. “All we need to do is be curious, ask and participate.”
The University of Waterloo recognizes the importance of creating an environment that promotes and supports the health and well-being of our students. We do this by creating opportunities to foster a sense of connection, inclusivity and belonging and designing physical spaces that make it easier for people to engage in healthier behaviours. For more information about student resources and supports on campus, please visit the current student website.
