I had the opportunity to do my HLTHAGE 3EE3 placement at a long-term care home, St. Joseph's Villa in Hamilton. This community-engaged placement allowed me to explore how...

What have you found most beneficial about the specific degree program you completed at McMaster?

The most beneficial part of any Social Science program at McMaster is that the first year is general. Students have the chance to explore varying courses and decide what social discipline(s) they are most interested in. By choosing to study both Gerontology and Sociology, I deepened my cultural understanding of the diversity and interconnectedness found in everyday life. There were many opportunities to discuss the research, theories and real-life complexities. Like many other Social Science majors, you become captivated by the ever changing perspectives of ourselves, people and the wider society.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Social Sciences degree?

The value of a Social Sciences education is how multi-faceted it can be. You have the freedom to apply your diverse knowledge in all aspects of your life such as your career, relationships and personal interests. Through this program, the academic skills you obtain are comprehensive, valuable, and transferrable.

What advice would you give to a current Social Sciences student who is exploring?career options?

As you discover what you want to do, it is important to maintain a supportive group of individuals that will celebrate your success and ongoing interests. Thus, my best advice is to make connections with other students, your professors, McMaster Alumni and professionals. This provides a collective network of people that can help you advance your future career.

How did completing a community-engaged placement in an academic course (i.e. HLTHAGE 3EE3/3BB3) help shape your career planning or your post-graduation journey?

I had the opportunity to do my HLTHAGE 3EE3 placement at a long-term care home, St. Joseph’s Villa in Hamilton. This community-engaged placement allowed me to explore how I could make a difference in others’ lives. I had meaningful relationships with the residents as well as the staff and I was able to hone in on my passion to help others. Not only did this course offer insight of what working with older adults would be like, but it established my desire to work with them. As an associate director of sales, I currently enjoy supporting residents and their families with their transition into senior living. It is the start to my fulfilling career in gerontology and I am thankful to have completed a community-engaged placement to this day!

Research that is done with community has benefits that can be seen, felt, and lived. It is powerful and impactful not because of a paper, report, or presentation that comes out of it...

Research that is done with community has benefits that can be seen, felt, and lived. It is powerful and impactful not because of a paper, report, or presentation that comes out of it. Nor does it become “community-engaged” because someone put that title on it. It is transformational through the honest, trusting, and accountable, relationships that are forged, solidarities that are built, and allyship that is not about any one of us, but of us together.

Partnerships with post secondary institutions are tremendously important in the development of evidence based research and best practice guidelines...

Partnerships with post secondary institutions are tremendously important in the development of evidence based research and best practice guidelines. However some partnerships go beyond that and develop a synergy and a network of ideas that become incredibly fruitful projects. Creativity is the ability to take an idea and make it tangible. The collaboration between McMaster University and YWCA Hamilton has turned several ideas into fully formed and comprehensive research grant proposals and applications. This process has helped bridge connections between passionate experts and researchers in the field with the on the ground project managers and nonprofit organizations doing the work. This has been tremendously beneficial to both stakeholders, and eventually we hope that we can then use the products and outcomes of the research projects to inform our practice so that we can benefit the most important stakeholders; the participants of our programs