Good Afternoon UMAE!

I’m writing to with an update around UMAE meetings and to share some exciting news about the Charge Ahead Peer Mentorship program (Charge Ahead).

I am happy to announce that Usman Rana has been hired into the Student Transitions Lead position, replacing Stephanie Young who has moved on to work with our colleagues in Admissions. Some of you may know Usman as he has been with Charge Ahead as a mentor since its inception and took on a leadership role over the recent Summer and Fall terms. Usman is a graduate of the Faculty of Science and brings with him passion, enthusiasm, and expertise around helping students achieve their best in both academics and personal endeavors. I am very excited to have Usman in this role and look forward to the exciting initiatives to come out of the Student Transitions and Success Centre.

Along the same lines, this is also a “Save the Date” for the Grand Opening of the new Charge Ahead Program space in room 107 Tier. Formerly a student lounge for President’s Scholars, we have been able to convert the room into a warm, friendly, and inviting space for students to drop in, attend individual meetings with Mentors, and to offer student success workshops. Our Grand Opening celebration will be held on January 30, 2025 from 10-2. We’ll send a more formal invitation to the opening in January.

And finally…unfortunately, we were unable to connect regularly over the Fall term, so to prevent that from happening again, you’ll see below a tentative schedule for UMAE meetings to be held in Winter term. I will send Outlook invitations with meeting agendas in the new year, but please note these dates in the meantime.

January 28, 9-11 am

February 25, 9-11 am

March 25, 9-11 am

April 22, 9-11 am

As we wrap up Fall 2024, I encourage you to reflect on the impact you’ve had on students both individually and collectively. As advisors, we have an opportunity to deeply impact students and I can say with certainty that there are thousands of students who achieved their personal best this term, whatever that means for them, because they connected with us. I am certainly proud of the work we do as advisors and I hope you all are as well.

I wish all of you a warm and cozy holiday season filled with yummy treats, lots of laughter, love, and peace.

Until 2025…

Ali

Ali Wood-Warren (she)

Director, Student Transitions and Success Centre

205 Tier Building

Tel: 431 275-0984

Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences!

I am grateful to the Anishinaabeg, Ininewuk, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene, and the Red River Metis peoples, on whose home lands I live. I am also grateful to the people of Shoal Lake 40 in Treaty 3 territory, whose water I drink.