One more week until reading week! Take 10 minutes out of your day to unwind at Steep into Sleep. Stop by the Student Health and Wellness table at 5 Ross St to build your own sleep kit, grab a cup of tea and our wellness tea bar, explore relaxing activities, and think about how you'd like to rest and recharge over reading week.
Academics Without Borders (AWB) chose Dr. Anna Koné from applicants across the globe to go to Kenya in 2026 and boost the research capacity of Karatina University.
"I'm always looking for ways to contribute to social justice, and I wanted to give back," says Dr. Koné—an associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences and the first Lakehead University faculty member to volunteer in Kenya with AWB.
"I'd never been to Kenya before, and it was a new place to discover for me," she adds. "It also felt a bit like going back home since I'm from Ivory Coast."
_Dr.%20Anna%20Kone%20Headshot.jpg "Dr. Anna Kone Headshot")
"My background is in statistics, and my work is centred on access to care, health disparities, and social determinants of health," Dr. Koné says. "It's crucial that policymakers have accurate information to make evidence-based decisions. This is especially true when it comes to marginalized communities, who are often overlooked. In the public health field we say: 'If you are not counted, you don't count.'"
AWB is a non-profit organization that describes its mission as helping "people in low and middle-income countries realize their dreams through higher education because education is the key to a flourishing society and a sustainable world."
When Lakehead University joined AWB in October 2024, Dr. Koné was quick to respond to a call asking for faculty members willing to offer their time and talents to AWB initiatives. She became Lakehead's second AWB volunteer, following in the footsteps of former Research and Innovation Vice-President Andy Dean who volunteered in Uganda in 2025.
For their part, Karatina University and AWB were keen to harness Dr. Koné's expertise as a statistician, epidemiologist, and public health researcher.
Before travelling to Kenya, Dr. Koné developed an online course specifically for Karatina University faculty members, which she taught during the winter 2026 term.
Then, in May 2026, she spent almost two weeks in Kenya presenting workshops to the 15 course participants, who she was delighted to meet in person.
"I worked with faculty from across Karatina University, including the health, agriculture, and languages programs, because statistics and data analysis applies to every field of study," she explains.
The Karatina University project—called "Reigniting Research Excellence at Karatina
University"—was designed to strengthen the university's research capacity, enhance data-driven decision-making, and integrate emerging technologies into academic practice.
_Anna%20Kone%20with%20Workshop%20Participants.jpg "Dr. Anna Kone with Workshop Participants")
Karatina University asked Academics Without Borders for assistance with training in data analysis, data management, and machine learning. Above, Dr. Koné (far right) presents a workshop called "Concepts and practice of data analysis and modelling" to Karatina faculty members.
"I think that everyone should have educational opportunities wherever they are," Dr. Koné says. "Education has had a massive impact on my life. I was able to immigrate to Canada in 2000, and succeed, because of my education."
Dr. Koné earned a Bachelor of Engineering from the École Nationale de Statistiques et Économie Appliquée in Ivory Coast. Later, scholarships and awards enabled her to earn a Master of Science in Community Health and a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology at the Université de Montréal.
"Thanks to my varied training and performance, I was able to start teaching and conduct research at a relatively young age," she says. "For instance, I was the only graduate student/non-faculty member involved in a training program offered by the Université de Montréal in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine in Haiti."
_Dr.%20Anna%20Kone%20%26%20Tea%20Farmer.jpg "Dr. Anna Kone & Tea Farmer")
Visiting the Horera Forest Edge Tea Factory—a tea plantation near Karatina—was one of the highlights of Dr. Koné's time in Kenya. "The gentleman who owns it is in his 80s, but he's still passionate about tea farming," she says. "He also dries and packages his teas for sale."
Her passion for learning and sharing knowledge made the prospect of working with Karatina University an exciting one. She was also intrigued by Karatina's history and geography. Located in the foothills of Mount Kenya, the university initially operated as the Karatina Tea Training Institute.
"Tea farming is a big industry in Kenya," Dr. Koné says. "Many tea varieties are grown there including purple tea—a rare tea that's low in caffeine and extremely high in beneficial antioxidants."
Karatina's agricultural programs still support the tea industry, but it has been steadily expanding to give students many more educational paths to choose from, including the health sciences.
Dr. Koné familiarized herself with each faculty member's project so that she could help them carry out their research more effectively.
Their projects, while diverse in nature, are aimed at making the lives of everyday Kenyans better.
"There was a PhD student trying to improve infant well-being by offering new mothers nutrition and food education training to keep their babies as healthy as possible.
Another faculty member was investigating factors that affect food production and supply in urban areas, while a third participant wanted to apply statistics to help tea farmers more effectively manage their crops."
_Elephants%20Near%20Mount%20Kenya%20(Unsplash_Leon%20Pauleikhoff).jpg "Elephants Near Mount Kenya")
Dr. Koné had been hoping to go on one of Kenya's famous safaris, but her jam-packed schedule didn't give her much time for sightseeing. Above, elephants gather at a river near Mount Kenya, which is only a few kilometres from Karatina University. (Photo Credit: Unsplash/Leon Pauleikhoff)
Dr. Koné's collaboration with Karatina University helped further Academics Without Borders' fundamental purpose—sharing expertise where it's needed and doing so in a way that allows this expertise to be sustained once AWB volunteers leave.
"I didn't go to Kenya as a saviour," she says.
"I helped Karatina, and they helped me. I was able to challenge myself and develop my skills as a statistician, and the faculty were incredibly open to learning and wonderful to work with.
I even picked up a few words of Swahili, Kenya's national language."
The AWB Network is a consortium of Canadian post-secondary institutions that support AWB's mission to work with higher education institutions in low and middle-income countries on capacity building initiatives to drive development and improve the quality of life in communities around the world. AWB coordinates volunteer expertise to work with colleagues at institutes of higher education on priority initiatives in academic disciplines, teaching and learning, research support, and administrative functions. Lakehead University joined the AWB Network in 2024.
Dr. Kone's work addresses the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
If you’re considering an exchange during your undergraduate degree but you want more information, this is the place for you. Come join our in-person or virtual drop-in Q&A sessions if you have questions that need answers! We can help you with any questions you have about our eligibility requirements, study abroad destinations, different exchange options (dual degree, semester exchange, or summer mobility), funding opportunities, preparing for an exchange, the Global ME application process, and much more!
Making life better for others and supporting your community are essential traits of a good leader. Just ask Faiz Mahmud.
For the past three years, he's been a friendly face that students can rely on during an exciting, and sometimes nerve-wracking, moment in their lives.
_Faiz%20Mahmud.jpeg "Faiz Mahmud")
After graduating from Lakehead, Faiz says that "my goal is to become either an embryologist or a biologist who develops infertility treatments."
He takes pride in welcoming students to campus by helping them move into residence, leading campus tours, and hosting student activity booths.
"Orientation lets you meet your fellow students and make them feel comfortable in their new community," says Faiz, a fourth-year applied life sciences student from Bangladesh with a concentration in biomedical science.
One reason that he excels as an orientation leader is because he's a graduate of Lakehead's LVLup Leadership program. It's designed to give students on the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses the core leadership skills they need to thrive—both in life and in their chosen careers.
"I really appreciated being able to meet new people and have new experiences through LVLup, it was fantastic!" he says.
Why should you become a LVLup leader?
"Unless you have a cohesive action plan, it's difficult to broaden your skills in a meaningful manner when you're a full-time student," Faiz says.
LVLup provides free workshops, which are open to any Lakehead student, and volunteer opportunities that foster leadership, communication, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
And LVLup makes it easy to develop these competencies. You just need to attend three workshops of your choice and complete 10 hours of volunteering.
_Faiz%20Mahmud%20%26%20Wolfie.jpeg "Faiz Mahmud and Wolfie")
Although LVLup students must complete 10 volunteer hours, they often end up volunteering many more hours than required and participate in the full series of workshops. Above, Faiz and Wolfie show some Thunderwolves spirit.
Once you finish the program, you'll receive an official LVLup Certificate indicating your competencies at the Lakehead Leader Awards Ceremony held every March. Your certification will appear on your co-curricular record and can be downloaded from the mySuccess webpage.
"The program can be done in one or two semesters," he says. "And if you have a time-pressure issue, LVLup leaders are flexible on how long you have to fulfil your volunteer requirements."
They also make it simple to work volunteering into your schedule. It can be done at SSC and Lakehead departmental activities throughout the year—like Fall Orientation and student experience events—or with community organizations.
_Orientation%20Booth%20at%20Marina.jpeg "Orientation Booth at Marina")
Faiz says that giving orientation tours allowed him to strengthen his public speaking skills. "I talk to students and parents about their concerns and familiarize them with buildings and resources on campus," he says. Above, Faiz (front centre) and his fellow orientation leaders host activities at Thunder Bay's Marina Park during the Downtown Adventure Day, which introduces students to Thunder Bay.
These volunteer placements offer the additional bonus of providing helpful networking opportunities that can give students a headstart on their careers.
"The program offers a great spectrum of volunteering options, too," Faiz says.
"I volunteered as support staff at Thunder Bay's Wake the Giant Music Festival, and it was the most fun LVLup placement I've had. After I did my shift, I was able to go to the concert, listen to great songs, and meet the bands."
"LVLup supplements your resume," he says. "It shows that you did more at university than just studying."
"I feel lucky to have met Faiz from just about the moment he stepped on campus!" says Student Success Advisor Hartley Mendelsohn.
"It has been a pleasure watching him grow both personally and professionally, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see how he has taken the opportunities available to him and turned them into meaningful accomplishments.
He has also consistently gone above and beyond, bringing a high level of enthusiasm, reliability, and commitment to events both on and off campus."
_Faiz%20Mahmud%20at%20Paleo%20DNA%20Lab.jpeg "Faiz Mahmud at Paleo DNA Lab")
Faiz has had some exceptional research opportunities. Last summer, in support of the Manomin Project—an initiative between the University of Guelph and Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation (NAN) aimed at restoring manomin (wild rice) and revitalizing Anishinaabe culture and food security—he collected wild rice DNA from pottery shards dating from 650-1600 AD. Above, Faiz (far right) at Lakehead's Paleo DNA Laboratory where he analyzed the DNA samples.
In fact, it was Faiz's LVLup skills that led to him being hired as a student engagement lead last year.
This demanding role required him to assist students confronting a multitude of challenges—ranging from liaising with SSC partners and assisting with program development to responding to the needs of new students and helping lead volunteer teams.
"Being a student engagement lead taught me how to listen to students' problems, reassure them that their concerns are valid, and let them know that their voices are being heard," Faiz says.
He encourages every Lakehead student to check out the wealth of resources available at the Student Success Centre.
Besides LVLup, the SSC runs a comprehensive orientation and transition program for new students, helps all students navigate core academic and co-curricular experiences, and offers academic success coaching, peer mentorship, and writing workshops.
Faiz also has some advice for first-year students just beginning their Lakehead journey.
"Don't feel overwhelmed or afraid to ask questions. Everyone—from your professors to your residence advisors—are here to help."
Click here to find out about 2026 Orientation events happening at Lakehead Orillia and Lakehead Thunder Bay this fall.
To learn more about the Orillia campus LVLup program, email Student Success Specialist Emily Stewart at orillia.ssc@lakeheadu.ca. To learn more about the Thunder Bay campus LVLup program, contact Student Success Advisor Hartley Mendelsohn at orientation@lakeheadu.ca.
As the term draws towards the end, general term fatigue can be a cause for student disengagement. It becomes difficult at this stage for instructors to distinguish between burnout and academic difficulty. This session will help instructors identify ways to support and motivate students through term end. It is intended help align to the University policy around tests, exams, and assignments and also help your students better prepared for the final weeks.
Content:
The First Four Weeks (FFWs) are considered crucial for students’ academic successes. This is a window where academic difficulties for students usually emerge. The first grades are back and attendance patterns emerge. This is a good time for some early interventions with your struggling students. This session will cover strategies to identify early warning signs and strategies to support your students to reach a higher academic potential.
Content:
The cutest kind of stress relief is back on campus! Join Student Health & Wellness and the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs for some snuggles!
Civil engineering alum Danny Carlos (BEng'11) has just helped Lakehead University take a giant leap forward.
He led the construction of the newly opened Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub in the City of Barrie's bustling waterfront district.
.jpg "Danny Carlos by Barrie STEM Hub Exterior")
"Lakehead's civil engineering program offered an excellent balance of practical and theoretical knowledge that allowed me to succeed in the construction industry," Danny says. "The university produces top talent, and our grads easily compete with anyone." (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)
Danny is the Vice President of Operations of Rutherford Contracting Ltd.—the company chosen to undertake this transformative project.
"We completely overhauled more than 26,000 square feet of space on time and on budget," he says.
This week, the STEM Hub began offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, mechatronics, and computer science in a location that's easily accessible to students from the GTA.
It's also allowing Barrie residents to earn a university degree and be career ready without leaving home.
Deciding what he wanted to be when he grew up was easy for Danny.
"I knew I was a problem solver, and I knew that was what civil engineers did," he says.
"They also create the infrastructure that keeps communities running smoothly—whether it's utility networks, housing, schools, or skyscrapers."
The STEM Hub opened its doors this week to students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. They will graduate with in-demand skills valued by employers. Above, an April 2026 tour of the STEM Hub's 24 Maple Avenue site during the construction phase. (Photo Credit: Juicebox Studios)
This led Danny to complete a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma at Seneca College's Newnham campus in North York before transferring to Lakehead's civil engineering program in Thunder Bay.
"I thought that having both a college and a university background would give me the comprehensive knowledge to excel in the construction sector," he says.
Danny traces his professional aspirations to his father.
"As a new immigrant to Canada from Portugal, my dad worked as a carpenter. I loved watching him build the city of Toronto."
Danny launched his career with the Dufferin Construction Company based in Oakville, Ontario. He spent 13 years with them building roads and bridges across southern Ontario, rising to the position of District Manager.
Then, in 2019, he accepted the role of Vice President of Operations with Rutherford Contracting Ltd. in Toronto, which specializes in the field of Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (I.C.I) construction.
At the 5 Ross Street site, above, students will immerse themselves in an exciting learning and research environment. (Photo Credit: Juicebox Studios)
He was attracted by Rutherford's reputation for executing complex projects—including sports facilities, public parks, and office buildings—and by the prospect of pushing his engineering skills in a new direction.
"It's been great helping clients fulfil their vision and being able to mentor new talent," Danny says.
He's known as a very hands-on VP who regularly visits the company's construction sites to check on progress and to see if crews are having any issues.
"Having face-to-face interaction with our workers is one of the most important things that I do. They have to be out there in the cold of winter and the blistering heat of summer, so I can't ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself."
For the past year, Danny's construction-site visits have been reconnecting him with his alma mater. He was responsible for ensuring that the Barrie STEM Hub's two locations were built to the highest standards possible.
"It was a pleasure to work with Barrie and Lakehead, especially as a Lakehead alum and someone trained in the STEM field," he says.
.jpg "Danny Carlos in STEM Hub Instrumentation Lab")
"Building Lakehead's Barrie STEM Hub was a great opportunity," Danny says. "My project manager told me that if the STEM HUB had been around when he was going to school, he would have gone to Lakehead." Above, a view of the Instrumentation Lab at the STEM Hub's 24 Maple Avenue site. (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)
He oversaw the building of the Electronic Motors and Robotics Lab, Mechatronics Lab, Machine Lab, and Instrumentation Lab at 24 Maple Avenue.
At the 5 Ross Street site, he guided the construction of classrooms and active learning spaces as well as collaborative research spaces for interdisciplinary projects.
Danny was able to celebrate this achievement as one of the guests at the official opening of the STEM Hub on August 20, 2026.
"I had opportunities my parents never had, and I wanted to make sure that I lived up to their sacrifices," Danny says of his career in civil engineering. Above, a view of the STEM Hub Instrumentation Lab. (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)
"I'm really happy to see that the university is building new education spaces, and I hope it keeps growing," Danny says.
"My parents were extremely proud that I graduated from Lakehead in the engineering field," he adds.
He urges anyone who wants to be challenged and who likes being on collaborative teams to consider civil engineering at Lakehead University. "It's a profession that will never be replaced."
A $600,000 gift from TD Bank Group to Gichi Kendaasiwin Constellation will expand Indigenous learning, cultural connection, and belonging at Lakehead University.
Grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, Gichi Kendaasiwin, meaning Higher Knowledge, is envisioned as a living centre that brings together learning, research, ceremony, student support, and community connection. Its constellation of spaces, services, and relationships will complement existing Indigenous supports and embed this work in the everyday life of the university.
“Gichi Kendaasiwin represents an important part of Lakehead’s continuing work toward Truth and Reconciliation and the kind of university we are working to become,” said Dr. Gillian Siddall, Lakehead’s president and vice-chancellor. “It will create new opportunities for Indigenous-led teaching, learning, ceremony, and community connection, while enriching the life of the university as a whole. We are deeply grateful to TD for helping us move this vision forward.”
As Lakehead continues its commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, this gift arrives at a pivotal moment. It provides the immediate capital and programming support necessary to move Gichi Kendaasiwin from a conceptual constellation of services into a tangible, physical presence on campus. Central to that vision is a planned four-season, Indigenous-led Gathering Place on the Thunder Bay campus — a dedicated space for teaching, ceremony, and land-based learning. By fostering relationships between students, faculty, and Knowledge Keepers, the Constellation aims to support increasing Indigenous student attraction, retention and graduation rates while ensuring that Indigenous heritage is not just supported but celebrated as a core pillar of the university's identity.
"University is a formative time in a student's journey, marked by learning, personal growth, relationship building and self-discovery. That's why TD is proud to support Gichi Kendaasiwin Constellation, which will provide Indigenous learners with spaces, resources and programs that celebrate their identities and help ensure Indigenous cultures and knowledge are reflected in campus life," said Nicole Beaton, Vice President and Region Head for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario, TD. "At TD, we believe that when people feel included and empowered to participate in their communities, good things happen. We are honoured to support Lakehead University in fostering a stronger sense of belonging and creating opportunities for Indigenous students to thrive.”
Gichi Kendaasiwin builds on long-standing Indigenous leadership and advocacy at Lakehead University. Indigenous leaders and engagement with Indigenous communities will continue to inform its governance, design, and implementation as it develops.
"At the heart of Gichi Kendaasiwin are the relationships that make learning and belonging possible," said Denise Baxter, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, at Lakehead University. "For students, that can mean connecting with an Elder, taking part in ceremony, or finding a community where their knowledge and experiences are valued. TD’s generosity will help us carry this work forward under Indigenous leadership."
TD’s donation will directly advance three key areas of this work.
The Gathering Place project has advanced significantly through guidance from Elders, architectural planning, and the selection of a site near existing land-based learning spaces. Preliminary designs and construction timelines are in place, and this gift provides critical resources to advance that vision.
The Niijii Indigenous Mentorship Program, which facilitates 7,500 interactions with Indigenous youth each year, will leverage this support to reach more communities, strengthen relationships with existing partners, and broaden access for more Indigenous youth to explore and pursue postsecondary education.
Indigenous-led cultural programming will also expand, and investment in honouraria that respect the roles of Indigenous Scholars and Elders. This work is foundational to cultural revitalization and to shaping Lakehead into an institution where Indigenous-led teaching and knowledge-sharing are not peripheral but integral to university life.
“Lakehead University is grateful for TD's philanthropic investment. This is an important step forward for Gichi Kendaasiwin and builds meaningful momentum for the campaign,” said Michael den Haan, vice-president, University Advancement at Lakehead University. “We are deeply grateful to TD for sharing in this Indigenous-led vision and helping create greater opportunity, connection and belonging for Indigenous learners.”
Lakehead University marked the gift during a September 9, 2026 ceremony at its Thunder Bay campus, bringing together TD representatives, university leaders, Elders, students, and community partners. The gathering included remarks from a student perspective and a cheque presentation. To learn more about Gichi Kendaasiwin and how to support this work, please visit lakeheadu.ca/about/gichi-kendaasiwin-constellation
This position is posted until filled
Under direct supervision, performs work of moderate complexity related to departmental teaching, research, and/or administrative activities. Work is directly related to teaching and/or research. The Technologist performs routine laboratory work or laboratory duties in accordance with direction and guidelines.
AI may or may not be used for the screening purposes of this role.
Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.
Lakehead University has a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of underrepresented groups among applicants, candidates, and hires. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups, is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
We appreciate your interest; Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343-8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.
