News

Grassroots soccer is easy to overlook. It unfolds in public parks, on unbooked fields and is organized through WhatsApp groups rather than formal institutions. Yet in cities like Guelph, Ont., these gatherings are doing important social work: creating connection, trust and belonging across differences — ones that are often difficult to bridge elsewhere.

After overcoming barriers to education, MSW alumna Chelsey Freeman is helping others find connection, confidence, and belonging through HumanTies 101 and a growing community of lifelong learners.

When Renison University College alumna Ella Meng arrived in Canada from China, she was stepping into a new country, a new academic system and an unfamiliar future. Today, she has completed an Honours Statistics degree at University of Waterloo while leading a growing international company, KnowYi Technologies Inc., helping innovators turn ideas into products.

What can theatre make possible that a lecture or report cannot?

For Amir Al-Azraki, Associate Professor at Renison, and Janna Martin, sessional lecturer at Renison and a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Community Based Research, it can invite people into the story itself.

Students know that Renison University College is a great place to belong, but now, this sentiment is being recognized across the country.

Renison's All-College event on April 8, 2026, led by Dr. Jessica Riddell, was a day of reflection, connection and shared purpose that reflects a renewed direction for the College.

This week, Renison President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Marc Jerry had the opportunity to speak to the University of Waterloo’s Academic Leadership Program for Chairs and Associate Deans.

The theme was “Academic Leadership in Crisis” and the session was facilitated by Dr. Marty Cooke, Assistant Vice-President, Academic – Leadership and Strategic Initiatives at Waterloo. On the panel, along with Dr. Jerry, was Dalhousie University President Emeritus Dr. Richard Florizone and Waterloo Dean of Health Dr. Lili Liu.

This past fall, Dr. Denise Marigold took key concepts from the Positive Psychology course she teaches at Renison and turned it into a workshop for high school students called “The Power of Perspective.” Through hands-on activities, students were given opportunities to reflect on how shifting their perspective on negative experiences can foster more positive emotions, behaviours, and outcomes—while also developing a realistic understanding of the limits of positive thinking as a quick fix.

This week, Renison University College had its first annual Stone Garden Memorial Celebration, where we remember community members who have passed away. It will be held on the Monday following All Souls Day each year.

This weekend, we celebrate with Renison grads who will walk across the stage and receive their degree during Spring Convocation. Congratulations to each of you on your incredible achievement!

We are so grateful and proud to have you as part of the Renison community of alumni – and we can’t wait to see what you do next!

During Convocation, we also announce the Fall 2025 Student and Faculty Award Winners. Each award winner embodies the values of Renison in a special way, and these awards recognize their contributions to our community.