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A moment at Dal that I’ll never forget would have to be Recreation Orientation (Rec O). I still remember it like it was yesterday. I got to meet my professors and faculty members in a not so formal environment where they fostered a welcoming and inclusive environment that gave me the sense of belonging I had been looking for after my first year at Dal.

In the online world where radical ideologies flourish in the shadows, Dr. Luc Cousineau is shining a bright, necessary light. As Co-Director of Research at the Canadian Institute for Far-Right Studies (CIFRS) and a Recreation Management Instructor in the School of Health and Human Performance, he studies how online communities—particularly those focused on anti-equity and masculinist ideologies—form, evolve and exert influence.

My personal experiences with mental health challenges in my youth sparked an interest in pursuing psychology. After completing my master’s degree in clinical psychology in 2018, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant on a project exploring resilience and mental health among young Indian adults who had overcome childhood adversities, at IIT Hyderabad in India.

I’ve always known that I wanted to work in healthcare, but it wasn’t until I began volunteering with long-term care homes and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association of NL that I discovered my passion for audiology.

Each of my clinical placements had a meaningful impact on my learning. Outside of gaining hands-on clinical experience, they showed me the unique circumstances that each client and their family encounter and how significant our role is in facilitating their wellbeing.

I’ve always known that I wanted to work in healthcare. There’s something incredibly meaningful about being able to support others when they’re at their most vulnerable. While I initially had a different career path in mind, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, and that path just wasn’t the right one for me.

I have been a student-athlete my entire life. I love learning about wellness and health, human performance, sport psychology, sport management and how to operate at your best to live life to the fullest. Rec management was a mix of wellness, management, health science, and leisure, which fit my interests.

For Andrea Paul-McCoy, an Indigenous nurse and Nurse Practitioner (NP) from Natoaganeg First Nation in New Brunswick, nursing was born out of a desire to address the health-care disparities in her community. Growing up in a First Nation, she saw the challenges Indigenous people face including lack of access, disparities, and cultural barriers.

In this Convocation Q&A, learn about Becky Foster of Mount Hanley, N.S., this year's recipient of the University Medal in Health Sciences with a specialization in diagnostic medical ultrasound. The medal is awarded to the student with the highest academic standing in a department, school, or faculty, among graduates of diploma and baccalaureate programs.

Congratulations to all of our Spring 2025 Dal Health graduates! We're so proud of you and we can't wait to see what you do next!