Renison’s new Board Chair, Karen Spencer, has always been drawn to Social Work, but her journey into the field was, as is the case with many students, not a straight line.
When we think about Renison Resilience, and the hard work that goes alongside a degree at Renison, we might well place a photo of alum Charmaine Hammond (pictured right) beside that description. Now an accomplished speaker and trainer, Charmaine began her studies at Renison as a distance education student in Social Development Studies, with lectures arriving via cassette tape.
Lavorn Hunt (pictured right) did not want to study online. The 2021 Social Development Studies (SDS) grad and current Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student knew that online classes would fit into her life more easily than in-person classes, but she was skeptical that it would give her what she was looking for.
Andrea Charest (pictured right) has a foot in two important communities; maintaining her balance has been a rewarding struggle.
Transitioning into the first year of a university program can be tough, whether a student is entering directly from high school, transferring from another institution, or after spending time away from school after being in the workforce. The Social Development Studies (SDS) Buddies program, launched in September 2019, aims to help with this transition, providing peer support by pairing incoming SDS students with an upper year SDS student. SDS buddies provide additional support to new students, as a go-to person for questions or guidance.