Student Stories

A header photo for "The Looking Glass: A Student Perspective" featuring Olivia Dobson. The left side shows a university building with autumn trees and sunset. On the right, Olivia Dobson is smiling in a professional headshot. A red banner at the bottom highlights "Drawing Attention to Accessible Needle Procedures for Autistic Youth."

The Looking Glass: Drawing Attention to Accessible Needle Procedures for Autistic Youth

Olivia Dobson is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Psychology’s Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (CCAP) program.

Under the supervision of Dr. Meghan McMurtry in the Pediatric Pain, Health and Communication (PPHC) Lab, Olivia’s research focuses on making needle procedure more comfortable for autistic youth and their caregivers.

The Looking Glass: The Power of Research – Advocating for Equity and Creating Meaningful Change

Hillary Lo is a fifth-year student in the Applied Human Nutrition (AHN) program at the University of Guelph. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she has been actively involved in research, working with the Guelph Family Health Study to investigate dairy intake among children and its associations with health outcomes. Her passion for advancing maternal and infant health has led her to pursue a PhD in Nutrition after graduation, specializing in breastfeeding support and health equity.

Julia smiling in her graduation photo.

“Uncertainty: A Powerful Teacher” – Julia Moraes, CJPP Student and Award Recipient

For Julia Moraes, life has been anything but ordinary. Born and raised in Brazil, she arrived in Canada eight years ago with dreams of higher education and the hope of building a brighter future. Fast forward to 2024, Julia not only graduated from the University of Guelph’s Criminal Justice and Public Policy (CJPP) program but also became the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Dr. William (Bill) O’Grady Prize for Excellence in CJPP.

The Looking Glass: Overcoming Adversity through Community

Hunter Rusk recently completed his BA Hons. (2024) in Geography with a minor in Applied Geomatics at the University of Guelph. He is now beginning his MSc in Geography, focused on passive microwave soil moisture monitoring from a UAV. Highlights include his adventures during his time with the Madagascar field school and his independent study leveraging high-tech remote sensing technology.

King Sam Spotlight: Looking at Conservation beyond Geopolitical Barriers


What motivated you to pursue the Master of Conservation Leadership program, and what specific areas of conservation are you focusing on? How does your current work/career fit into this? 

Pursuing a master's degree has always been a personal and professional goal.  As a site manager for a large scale marine protected area, I work with many experts and scientists at the national and international levels.  Obtaining a master's degree in Conservation Leadership provides me with additional tools and knowledge to advance the work that I do.  

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