Our Renison Student Experience & Housing team are dedicated in ensuring you have a vibrant student experience!
We are here to support you help you thrive during your studies and have access to the supports and resources available to ensure your personal, academic, and career success. One of the ways we do this is by offering one-on-one meet-ups with students.
These meetings are usually 30 minutes in length, but can be customized for a shorter or longer time if needed.
During a one-on-one meet-up, we can chat about anything related to your personal and academic success. Some of the most common subjects that students talk about during a meet-up include:
- Study strategies, including textbook skim/scanning, notes reviews, test taking tips and dealing with test anxiety
- Time management help and helping you organize all of your assignments, tests, study time—and find time to attend events also!
- Questions about life at Waterloo and being a successful student
- Support with adjusting to life in Canada and the city of Waterloo
- Thriving while living in a student residence, and tips for how to make the most of your residence experience
- Conversations about mental health wellness and how to build healthy strategies into your day-to-day schedule.
- English practice! Just meet with us and practice your conversational English. We can talk about anything you like!
Want a one-on-one meet-up?
To book a one-on-one meet-up, find the Student Experience team member on this page you would like to meet with. Click the "Register for a Meet-up" button under their name. This will take you to a website called Calendly where you can book a meeting time that works best for your schedule. A meeting reminder email will be sent to you that will confirm your meeting date, time, and location. If you booked a virtual meeting, the email will include a Zoom link.
Students have the option to register for one-on-one meet-ups in a virtual or in-person format.
What's a one-on-one meet-up?
Students studying in an English Language Institute program or graduates of our programs who are currently studying at the University of Waterloo have the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one meetings with members of our Student Experience team.
These meetings are usually 30 minutes in length, but can be customized for a shorter or longer time if needed.
During a one-on-one meet-up, we can chat about anything related to your personal and academic success. Some of the most common subjects that students talk about during a meet-up include:
- Study strategies, including textbook skim/scanning, notes reviews, test taking tips and dealing with test anxiety
- Time management help and helping you organize all of your assignments, tests, study time—and find time to attend events also!
- Questions about life at Waterloo and being a successful student
- Support with adjusting to life in Canada and the city of Waterloo
- Conversations about mental health wellness and how to build healthy strategies into your day-to-day schedule.
- English practice! Just meet with us and practice your conversational English. We can talk about anything you like!
Peer Leader Teams
Renison's Student Experience & Housing team have Peer Leaders to support students in Renison's BASE, EFAS, and Social Development Studies (SDS) programs who can provide one-on-one meet-ups to support students with anything related to their personal and academic success. Peer Leaders are a great way to access support and friendship!
Are you a BASE, GEAR, or EFAS student? Meet with...
Karina Fu
ELI Peer Leader
Karina is a Economics program student and a proud graduate of the BASE program! Karina is here to support you as you adjust to life as a university student. Some things you can discuss with Karina include:
- Helpful strategies to improve your conversational and professional language skills.
- Getting involved at the University of Waterloo and volunteering.
- Life in Canada and supports that Renison University College can provide.
- Tips to adjust to the university environment and how to maintain a busy workload as a Waterloo student
Jason Pun
ELI Peer Leader
Jason is a University of Waterloo student in the Faculty of Engineering. Jason is here to support you as you adjust to life as a university student. Some things you can discuss with Jason include:
- Helpful strategies to improve your conversational and professional language skills.
- Getting involved at the University of Waterloo and volunteering.
- Life in Canada and supports that Renison University College can provide.
- Tips to adjust to the university environment and how to maintain a busy workload as a Waterloo student
Rhea Fegradoe
ELI Peer Leader
Rhea is a University of Waterloo student in the Faculty of Arts, studying Psychology. Rhea is here to support EFAS, BASE, and GEAR students during their studies.
Some things you can discuss with Rhea include:
- Helpful strategies to improve your conversational and professional language skills.
- Getting involved at Renison and in the Waterloo community.
- Life in Canada and supports that Renison University College can provide.
- Tips to adjust to the university environment and how to maintain a busy workload as an English language learner.
Fiona Feng
ELI Peer Leader
Fiona is a University of Waterloo student in the Faculty of Arts, studying Global Business and Digital Arts, and she is a graduate of Renison's BASE language program! Fiona can support you during your studies.
Some things you can discuss with Fiona include:
- Helpful strategies to improve your conversational and professional language skills.
- Getting involved at Renison and in the Waterloo community.
- Life in Canada and supports that Renison University College can provide.
- Tips to adjust to the university environment and how to maintain a busy workload as an English language learner.
Are you a Social Development Studies student? Meet with...
Sarah Malik
SDS Peer Leader
Sarah is a third-year Social Development Studies student who is studying in the co-op version of the program. This term, Sarah is doing her co-op at Renison as an English Language Institute Programs Assistant!
Some things you can connect with Sarah about include:
- Study strategies for SDS, including how to manage in-person courses
- Tips for selecting courses as an SDS student and how to find the courses that are a right fit for you
- Information about SDS specializations; she's working towards a specialization in Social Work!
- What it's like to take co-op in SDS
Jennifer Bradley
SDS Peer Leader
Jennifer is a fourth-year Social Development Studies student who is in her second year as an SDS Peer Leader. Jennifer is here to support SDS students in their adjustment into university studies. A fun fact about Jennifer is that she's also working on her ACE-TESOL certification so she can teach English to language learners!
Some things you can connect with Jennifer about include:
- Study strategies for SDS, including how to manage in-person and online courses
- Tips for selecting courses as an SDS student and how to find the courses that are a right fit for you
- Information about SDS specializations; she's working towards a specialization in both Social Policy & Social Action, and Education!
Casi O'Connor
SDS Peer Leader
Casi is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student at Renison who has recently completed the Social Development Studies program. Casi's role as a Peer Leader is specific to first-year Social Development Studies students with a focus on mature students, online-only SDS students, and transfer students. Some things you can connect with Casi about include:
- Study strategies for SDS, including how to manage in-person or online courses as a mature student or transfer student
- Advice on building your learning skills for university; Casi is also a Peer Success Coach with the Student Success Office!
- Mental health wellness support while navigating a full courseload
Student Experience & Housing Professional Full-time Staff Team
A.J. Dixon
English Language Institute Student Advisor
Office: REN 1930 (English Language Institute Hub)
A.J. completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Victoria with bachelor's degrees in Education and Arts. As a Student Advisor, A.J. is here to support students in our English language programs during their academic journey. A.J. can help you with:
- Effective learning strategies and study habits for Canadian university life
- Time management strategies so you can keep track of tests, assignments, and appointments
- Effective note-taking skills and getting the most out of your courses
- Preparing for tests and quizzes and reducing test anxiety
- Conversation practice and sharing what he knows about Canadian history and culture
Alison McLaren
Student Experience Specialist
Office: REN 1904 (North Addition)
Alison is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, where she worked for eight years before joining the Renison community! As our Student Experience Specialist, Alison’s main priority is to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students where they have opportunities to grow both personally and academically. She is always happy to talk about her dog, Dudley, but you can also connect with her for:
- Mental health wellness and strategies to improve your well-being as a university student, including managing anxiety
- Conversation practice and language skills; Alison worked for a not-for-profit organization supporting English language learner (ELL) students for four years and is a certified Ontario teacher!
- How to get involved and make the most of your student experience at Renison
- Information about living in Waterloo region including recommendations of places to visit and things to see
Jen Burton
Housing Manager
Office: REN 0207 (Student Experience & Housing Hallway)
Jen is an alumna from Brock University in St. Catharine's where she studied Business Communications. As a proud Blue Jays fan, Jen is here to talk about all things baseball. You may also meet our honourary Reni-friends around Renison - Jen's children, Bryce and Hailey. As our Housing Manager, Jen is here to support students in having a meaningful residence experience. Jen can help you with:
- Questions related to living in Renison Residence, as well as off-campus in our local community, including Homestay
- Support with living on your own for your first time and how to navigate the transition
- Suggestions for effectively living with a roommate and having a fun experience in Residence
- How to get involved in your Renison community
Ryan Connell
Assistant Director, Student Experience & Housing
Office: REN 1108 (Renison Ministry Centre)
Ryan is a proud graduate from the Social Development Studies program at the University of Waterloo. As your Assistant Director, Student Experience & Housing, Ryan is very knowledgeable about all of the campus services and resources available to University of Waterloo students. Ryan grew up in a small town called Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario, and he is addicted to iced cappucinos from Tim Horton's. Some of Ryan's most popular things to talk about include:
- All of the campus services available to you as a Waterloo student and what you are able to access to support your academic and personal success
- Mental health wellness and strategies to improve your well-being as a university student
- Advice for studying in an online environment. Fun fact: Ryan completed his UWaterloo degree, two college certificates, and a Masters degree completely online
- Tips for adjusting to Canadian culture and building your language skills outside of the classroom
Rev. Scott McLeod
Chaplain
Office: REN 1108 (Renison Ministry Centre)
Rev. Scott McLeod is the Chaplain at Renison University College. Scott is a friendly face and a safe space to talk about anything and everything. Scott enjoys talking about spiritual questions, but you don’t have to talk about religion unless you want to. Some of the most popular things Scott likes to help with include:
- Mental health wellness and strategies to improve your well-being as a university student, including managing stress.
- Guidance to student services at the University of Waterloo as well as referrals to professional medical and health services in the local community.
- Spiritual care including acting as a spiritual director, helping students with faith questions, and valuing our spiritual lives.
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Pastoral care including being a listening ear, a safe person to talk to, and supporting people as they live through life's struggles.
Stefany Kraft
Student Experience Coordinator
Office: REN 1902 (across the hallway from the English Language Institute Hub)
Stefany Kraft is the queen of all things Renison! Stefany is a proud graduate from UWaterloo, where she double majored in Peace and Conflict Studies and Renison's Social Development Studies program. Stefany also completed her Bachelor of Social Work at Renison, where she completed her practicum in our Student Experience & Housing department as a Wellness Coordinator. During her undergraduate degree, Stefany worked as an English Language Institute Peer Leader, and volunteered extensively, including with Renison Academic Student Council (RASC) and as the student representative for Renison's Board of Governors. Stefany is here to help students have a phenomenal Renison experience. You can connect with Stefany to talk about:
- Mental health wellness and strategies to improve your well-being as a university student, including managing stress
- Guidance to student services at the University of Waterloo and what resources are available as a Waterloo student
- How to get involved and make the most of your student experience at Renison
- Conversation practice and learning more about life in Canada
