Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation, Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies, Bachelor of Education
Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead is surrounded by great outdoor opportunities around every corner; hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, winter sports; you name it - you can do it just minutes from campus. I love the close-knit community at Lakehead University. I still keep in contact with many of my colleagues and professors today, due to the strong relationships that were built throughout my time at Lakehead. Each of the degrees that I obtained has helped shape my career in education. Today, I am a Vice-Principal with Lakehead Public Schools, and I am proud to be educating future generations of Lakehead University graduates!

Native Nurses Entry Program
Fort Severn

I am from Fort Severn in Northern Ontario and a proud mother of four children.  I didn’t know when I wanted to continue in nursing. When I saw that NNEP was offered, I immediately wanted to pursue my nursing further.  I wanted to be prepared for the four year BScN program. It has been a learning experience with my courses. As I’m completing my program, I would recommend NNEP because it can prepare students before the BScN. 

Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry
Thunder Bay, ON

Modern resource management challenges are complex, and Lakehead recognizes that. As a graduate of the Forestry program (now Natural Resources Management), I gained a multi-faceted knowledge base that provided the foundation necessary for my career. 

My functional roll at Strategic Natural Resource Consultants includes acquiring and managing projects, predominately in the field of arboriculture and vegetation management. My primary clients include large utility companies and land developers and occasionally forest licensees and small private landowners. I work with city planners, utility coordinators and engineers to develop solutions for tree and vegetation related issues and make recommendations that often have lasting impacts in the communities and ecosystems that I work. I have found that the demand for these services is continually increasing as the public's desire for green spaces continues to weigh in on expansion projects and infrastructure upgrades.

A secondary focus for me is the planning and implementation of various heli-logging operations that Strategic is involved with across the coast. Through hands-on field experience, I have had the opportunity to learn various tree-climbing techniques, work closely with heavy-lift helicopters and work with licensees to develop harvest areas for value-added products. 

Honours Bachelor of Science in Geology
Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay is my hometown, and that heavily influenced my choice for a University. I also knew that the geology department here has a great reputation for using practical methods of teaching with lots of hands-on learning. It made sense to study earth science here in Northern Ontario where we can easily observe the rocks and formations we study in classes. As a visual learner, the field trips available to us really helped deepen my understanding and grow my passion for geology. I love the small class sizes at Lakehead, which made getting help from professors and making friends very easy. The professors are always willing to stop and help the students in any way they can. One of my professors loves talking to students about their specific interests and what type of careers they want to specialize in. She takes the time out of her busy life to lend books, offer advice and share contacts to help motivated students reach their goals. Those types of interactions set Lakehead apart from larger universities.

In addition to my studies, I have spent the last two years competing with the Thunderwolves curling team at OUA’s, which has really enriched my Lakehead experience. The geology club, though small, helps make a community out of the students in the department. They organize activities and get-togethers, which help to grow friendships with the people you’ll be working alongside for four years. There is a lot of support from other undergraduate and graduate students in the department, and there have been several older students who helped guide me through my degree by offering encouragement, moral support as well as answers to the many questions I had. Lakehead was the perfect choice for me, and I have learned so much through all my experiences here. The small class sizes and hands-on learning have been so valuable to me and I have graduated Lakehead University with a thorough understanding of geology, a wonderful group of friends, innumerable skills, and the confidence to move forward in my career.

Bachelor of Education, Masters of Education
Thunder Bay, ON

I still remember the day when I received acceptance into the Education program at Lakehead University.  It was my lifelong goal to become a teacher and the acceptance letter was a major milestone on that journey. I chose Lakehead University because of the reputation of the program, the partnership for student teaching with the Lakehead Board of Education and the desire to come home. I had attended elementary and secondary school in Thunder Bay and looked forward to the opportunity to come full circle.

Following my BEd program, I started my career with the Lakehead Board of Education as a French teacher at Sir John A Macdonald and Vance Chapman Public Schools.  Not long thereafter, the desire to continue my own learning brought me back to Lakehead University where I completed my Masters in Educational Administration.  Many of my classmates are now my colleagues both in Thunder Bay and around the region.  It was while completing my Masters that I developed an interest in educational research.   A key component of student success is the ability to identify what makes a difference in student learning and how you know that you are having an impact.

As a Superintendent of Education at Lakehead District School Board for the past 8 years, I continue to work very closely with Lakehead University, creating partnerships that support research and innovation in education. Together, we have completed research in the areas of Large Scale Assessment, Aboriginal Education and Mathematics that has been published and/or shared within our region, our province and some it, internationally. Partnerships in the areas of Information Technology in Education, Assessment and Evaluation and Associate Teacher Education also support our joint priorities.

As a proud graduate of Lakehead University and employee of Lakehead District School Board, it is my privilege to work to support the success of our students by providing them, through education, life opportunities and life choices. It is also an honour to work collaboratively with our trustees, staff, students, parents and stakeholders to ensure a strong public education system within our community.

Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science, Bachelor of Education
Barrie, ON

I chose Lakehead University Orillia because of the small class sizes, the unique interdisciplinary program they offer, and because it allowed me to stay close to home.

A few of my favorite things about Lakehead Orillia is the personal contact with professors, the friendly, welcoming environment, and the abundant opportunities to get involved in various aspects of student life.

My experience at Lakehead has been incredible so far. I love walking through campus, seeing so many friendly people and familiar faces always puts me in a good mood. The small class sizes as perfect, as they allow me to participate and be constantly engaged in lectures. My professors are all amazing, and since they all know me personally it's easy to see that they genuinely care about your growth and success as a student. I've also had the opportunity to be involved on the women's soccer team, participate in intramurals, be a leader at orientation, be a member of several clubs and committees, and attend many conferences on behalf of the school and the student union. Looking back I know that Lakehead was the best choice for me and I couldn't have asked for a better university experience.

Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science, Concurrent Education 
Mississauga, Ontario

"I chose Lakehead University because I felt that it would be the best school for me to earn my teaching degree. I also felt that the Honours Bascehlor of Arts and Science and Concurrent Education program offered is awesome because it allows me to get all my degrees in five years.

I was primarily attracted to Lakehead because of its small class sizes. I love coming to school and knowing everyone, being on a first name basis with my professors and not just being a number to them. Lakehead allows students to really get a great understanding of what it means to be a part of a school community – we are able to openly discuss our ideas without fear of judgement, speak with our teachers regarding a variety of issues and we are able to foster great relationships with our peers. There are many amazing professors at Lakehead University. My Anthropology professor made the biggest impact on me. He reaffirmed my love for the subject of Anthropology.

I am a Director of Lakehead Student Alumni and a Student Ambassador to Lakehead. The experiences I have had are unforgettable.  Being at Lakehead has given me great inter-personal skills, taught me excellent time management and allowed me to meet some of the kindest, most genuine people who have truly touched my life."

Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Women's Studies
Thunder Bay, ON

My name is Sofia Rizzo and I am a recent graduate from Lakehead University’s Undergraduate Sociology and Women’s Studies programs. I was born and raised in Thunder Bay Ontario, and being able to stay in my community to complete my education was always something I longed to do. I also recognize Lakehead University as having outstanding student-faculty relationships and a small atmosphere that allows for student growth and success. These are the characteristics that made me love the school.

I recall feeling frustrated and overwhelmed in my first year, as many students often are. Much of my inspiration came from departments on the second floor of the Ryan Building. Coincidently, this is also where I received some of the greatest academic advice. After much frustration about my major and academic direction, a professor said, so simply and eloquently that I can hardly do it justice:

“Do what you love, because what you love is usually also what you’re good at. If you do what you love everything else will fall into place and nothing else will matter.”

So began my education in Sociology and Women’s Studies and I never looked back. 

Truly immersing yourself in your education because you thoroughly enjoy it is rewarding in itself. My field of research, gendered bodies in sport, allows me to continue to be excited and inspired by my studies. This past year I worked with a few other peers to pioneer the Women and Gender Studies Student Association (WGSSA). This was a meaningful project for me, along with other Women’s Studies students. This exceptional program now has a group of its own that it can be proud of; one that welcomes all other students and programs, something that makes WGSSA stand separate from other groups at Lakehead University. This allows for students to easily get involved with student life. Being a part of a greater group of like-minded students really initiates friendships and other projects – it helps students find out more about themselves.

Lakehead’s innovative programs, accomplished and caring facultyand staff have helped me, along with many other students, down the road to success; now it is up to us to act on that. The small atmosphere really does allow for students to grow in their education, and professors truly care for their students. All my professors aided in my success in my undergraduate degree. Now, I cannot wait to begin my Masters in Sociology at Lakehead University in September 2015.

Bachelor of Science - Undecided
Eagle Lake First Nation, Ontario

My Lakehead experience was very interesting; I managed not only learn more of what I wanted to get into but also learned more about myself. The classroom environments were very comfortable to adjust to which made meeting new people a daily occurrence. The staff at Lakehead also helped me out as I went along which made life that much easier and enjoyable. Lakehead University was there for me when I needed it. Every day was a new learning experience that helped me grow and to set me on a career path of my choosing.