Access in Academia is a three-part podcast series, hosted by Sarah Pecoskie-Schweir, interviewing university student leaders on current post-secondary education affairs. The goal of this podcast, as a part of the Green Guide: A Student Perspective project, is to create a window into the student perspective so that stakeholders at post-secondary institutions across Canada can better adapt to and support their students, academically, socially and physically.

Taylor Wetzel | Access in Academia

Listen in on a conversation about the benefits of students as partners and discover ways your institution can implement and support collaborative partnerships. Taylor Wetzel is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Education program at Nipissing University. During her undergraduate degree at Nipissing Taylor had the opportunity to participate in a travel course titled, “Into that Darkness: Memory of the Holocaust”, where she worked collaboratively with Dr. Hilary Earl during and after the course. This opportunity greatly impacted Taylor’s academic and personal development and is an experience that she is grateful for.

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Taijon Eccleston-Graham | Access in Academia

Listen in on a conversation about the promotion of diversity and inclusion through sports. Taijon Eccleston-Graham is a recent graduate of the Nipissing University Bachelor of Business Administration program and the co-founder of the Nipissing University Black Association for Student Expression. Taijon discusses how he created the idea for “Shoot for Change” an annual basketball game that serves as a fundraiser and awareness event for anti-racism and which raised over $34,000 in funds for the Warren Lindsay BIPOC Bursary.

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Aparna Mohan | Access in Academia

Listen in on a conversation about the ongoing student housing crisis where we discuss how student success truly starts a home, in a safe hospitable environment. Aparna Mohan is a graduate of the Dalhousie Bachelor of Engineering program and the past President of the Dalhousie Student Union. Aparna has worked with officials at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government to support and advocate for students in Nova Scotia who were experiencing hardships due to the housing crisis. Aparna talks about the joy and fulfillment that come from a position within the student union but also discusses the burnout that often accompanies and goes unnoticed.