Meet Zainab - a Renison student, peer leader, advocate for refugees, and wonderful community member. Learn what she has to say about her experience at Renison!
By Renison President and Vice-Chancellor, The Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry
This has been a year of transition for my family. Almost year ago, my wife, Marnie, daughter Carmen and I loaded up our 2008 Dodge Journey for the 2,600 kilometer journey from Regina, Saskatchewan to Waterloo, Ontario. When it comes to bonding moments, little can compare to 50 hours in a mid-sized vehicle.
The distance I travelled from Luther College to Renison University College now seems incidental when compared to the distance we have travelled as a College since my arrival. In addition to the practical demands of unpacking boxes, finding a local parish, and updating license plates, I had a college and community to get to know.
By Cort Egan, Director, External Relations and Communications
Longtime readers of Renison Reports will know that we typically identify a theme that will weave its way through many of the articles found in the publication. This year’s theme is together in hope and possibility and it came, quite organically, from a comment that our new president, Dr. Marc Jerry, made while discussing how we will overcome what, at times, appear to be insurmountable financial pressures. “We will get there,” Marc said. “And we will do so together, in hope and possibility.”.
Dr. Marc Jerry, Renison’s President and Vice-Chancellor, joined our community in July 2024. Now, having finished two full academic terms and nearly a year on the job, we wanted to know more about what his first year has been like. Sibaal, a Renison student and Student Experience and Housing co-op during the Winter 2025 term, helped us get to the bottom of things in a special interview.
Lewis Carroll is credited with having said, “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” Renison’s new president, Marc Jerry, knew precisely where we needed to go as a College when he was installed almost a year ago – creating a roadmap became a top priority.
Renison, like so many Ontario colleges and universities, is contending with the long-term impacts of COVID, chronic government under-funding, tuition freezes and changes in federal policies related to international students. Looking to the future, Renison needs to get back on the road to financial sustainability. To get there, we need to determine what we can afford to stop doing so that we can meet our core mission.
Manager of Food Services and Special Projects Tim Farley, also known as Chef Tim, and the star of the popular social media series “Tim Talk,” is a well-loved member of the Renison community. In fact, he recently won the Renison Staff Award from students at this year’s Wind Out; Renison’s end of term gala dinner event. Tim can be seen around Renison going to and from meetings, helping out with facilities concerns, and planning menus from his office in the kitchen. In each edition of Renison Reports we like to highlight a member of staff, and it seemed a perfect time to introduce, or re-introduce you to Tim!
Alum Ajirioghene Evi is a familiar face to some members of the Renison community, having completed her Social Development Studies (SDS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degrees on our small campus. Most recently, she took on the role of CEO at the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW), and she has been the recipient of the Renison Distinguished Alumni Award (2024) and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) for her work in the community. It’s not a stretch to say that Ajirioghene is amazing – her achievements speak for themselves.
Politics. It’s It’s something that has been of particular interest to Canadians in the past few months due to a change in the Canada-US trading partnership, and the recent federal election in April 2025. What is it that draws someone into politics? For Renison alum Martin Reid (’98), it was a deep connection to his community and a desire to enact positive change. Reid is currently the Councillor for Mississauga’s Ward 9, and his style of politics is linked to his time as a Renison student, where people are the focus.
When asked how he would describe Renison in one word, third-year Psychology and Social Development Studies student Zayyan Ali was quick to answer “community.” In fact, it was that unique sense of community that drew Zayyan to Renison in the first place when he began his undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo back in the fall of 2023. For Zayyan, Renison offered something beyond just a dorm room and a meal plan.
“A lot of residences can feel isolating,“ he explained. “The people there don’t really know each other. Renison is different, with small class sizes, a strong residence community, and staff that really want to help you succeed.”
It may go without saying but as an institution of learning, Renison is constantly looking for new ways to help students reach their goals through the development of new programs. Increasingly, visiting international students are interested in programs that extend beyond English language learning, including opportunities to develop specific skills and explore disciplinary and professional interests. As the learning goals of students are changing, programming in the English Language Institute (ELI) is also evolving to focus on learning through language rather than simply learning English.
The Go Abroad Learning for Sustainability (GOALS) program exemplifies the ELI’s commitment to educational innovation and responsiveness to student needs. By integrating 21st century learning skills with sustainability education and engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the program prepares students to effectively engage in academic and professional contexts across cultures and contribute meaningfully to discussions of some of the most pressing challenges of our time.