Faces of Renison: Walking Toward Connection
For nearly 30 years, SDS alumna Juanita Metzger (BA '96) has helped people discover the stories, connections, and sense of belonging that make a community thrive.
For nearly 30 years, SDS alumna Juanita Metzger (BA '96) has helped people discover the stories, connections, and sense of belonging that make a community thrive.
On Friday, August 21, the Renison community had the honour of coming together to celebrate the life and lasting legacy of Eva LeFlar, whose generosity and commitment to supporting young people continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Renison students.
As AI companions become increasingly common, Renison researchers Denise Marigold and Christine Logel explored the phenomenon firsthand. Denise created an AI "boyfriend," and together they examined what these digital relationships can reveal about human connection.
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.