Inclusion Advisor
Mentorship and Advising for Graduate Students
The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the College of Arts offer mentorship opportunities for Black, First Nations, Inuit, Métis and all racialized graduate students in the two colleges. Inclusion Advisor Abii Barrett provides culturally responsive academic advising to graduate students, as well as helps faculty get connected to resources in support of an anti-oppressive and inclusive campus culture.
Meet Abii Barrett
Hello graduate students! My name is Abii Barrett (she/her) and I am the Inclusion Advisor supporting graduate students and faculty in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) and the College of Arts (COA). This means that I am here as a resource and advocate for graduate students in the following departments:
- CSAHS – Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy, Family Relations & Applied Nutrition, Geography, Environment & Geomatics, Guelph Institute of Development Students, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology
- COA – English and Theatre Studies, Fine Art and Music, History, Languages and Literatures, Philosophy
I am super excited to welcome you to the University of Guelph and if you've been here before, welcome back! As a COA and CSAHS graduate myself, I understand that your journey is not always smooth sailing and for those of us with racialized identities it can be hard to find your footing in a predominantly white institution.
With my role I hope to support you in a variety of ways from navigating cultural or racial identity, addressing conflict with your advisors, finding community, getting connected to resources or even finding spaces to just be your full authentic self – I am here to listen, encourage, advise and support. I also know that as you find your grounding in your departments and on campus that your needs will change over time. I'm committed to remaining adaptable as your need for support changes. You just let me know! I want to see you thrive and I am always looking for ways to better support you and learn from you as the expert in your individual journeys. So, let's connect!
Connect with Abii
Email: abarre05@uoguelph.ca
Office: Macdonald Institute (MINS), Rooms 113B
Black, Indigenous and racialized graduate students in the College of Arts and the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences are able to book one-on-one advising time with Abii.
If you are a graduate student who identifies as First Nations (status & non-status), Inuit or Métis, Indigenous Student Advisor Ally Stoett is also available as a resource for you.
Mentorship Program
The College of Arts and the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences have launched a new Graduate Mentorship Program to support Black, Indigenous and racialized graduate students in their colleges.
The program aims to create a safe space for graduate students, faculty and staff to build community, exchange knowledge, insights, and experiences. Through mentoring relationships Black, Indigenous and racialized graduate students will develop, share and enhance the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and connections they need to successfully complete their studies and transition into the world of work.
Why Become a Mentee?
By participating in the Graduate Mentorship Program as a mentee, you get to:
- Connect with other Black, Indigenous and racialized students in casual and formal settings
- Connect with Black, Indigenous and racialized faculty and staff members in casual and formal settings
- Expand your research and career options by learning about new strategies and opportunities
- Receive a certificate of completion from the Dean's Office having attained at least 10 hours of program engagement hours per semester (meetings with mentors, in program events, reflection exercises)
Why Become a Mentor?
By participating in the Graduate Mentorship Program as a mentor, you get to:
- Share your journey and the steps you took and the progress you made to build your career
- Provide quality feedback using your expertise to guide and support mentees with their goals and career planning
- Learn how to engage students in meaningful conversations and gain exposure to diverse perspectives
- Grow your network and build relationships with colleagues from different parts of the colleges or departments
Time Commitment
The expected time commitment for the mentorship program is at least 20 hours total over the fall and winter semester. This may vary depending on the mentor/mentee pairings as we recognize that different mentors/mentees will require different levels of support throughout their journeys.
Fall Semester
- 1 orientation session
- 5 one-on-one mentorship meetings
- 1 in-program event (virtual/in person)
- 1 one-on-one meeting with Program Facilitator
Winter Semester
- 6 one-on-one mentorship meetings
- 2 in-program events (virtual/in person)
- 1 program graduation event
Mentorship Program Requirements
To participate as a mentee in this program you must:
- Identify as a Black, Indigenous or racialized individual
- Be registered as a graduate student in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences or the College of Arts
- Attend an Orientation Session in October (Date TBD) and commit at least 20 hours (10 hours in Fall Semester; 10 hours in Winter Semester)
Creating Connection: The First Year of the Grad Mentorship Program
If you'd like to become a mentee for the 2023-2024 academic year, register by September 28 at 11:59pm. The responses provided in the registration will help to guide the matching process for mentors and mentees.
If you would like to learn more about the program, please reach out to the Inclusion Advisor Abii Barrett at abarre05@uoguelph.ca.
Getting to Macdonald Institute (MINS)
University of Guelph Campus Map
The Macdonald Institute building (MINS) is located at the north end of campus. To find Abii's office:
- Cross College Avenue near Creelman Hall to reach North Campus.
- Go around the left side of Macdonald Hall (the LANG building) and follow the sidewalk to Macdonald Institute.
- Entrances:
- By Stairs: Enter through the front doors and turn left in front of the central staircase. Take the first right and follow the hallway down to Room 113B.
- By Ramp: Take the ramp to the accessible entrance on the east side of the building. Continue down the hallway, past the central staircase. Turn right and follow the main hallway down to Room 113B.
- By Elevator: Continue down the sidewalk to Macdonald Stewart Hall (MACS). Enter through the ground floor doors and continue through the foyer, turning left. Turn right down the main hallway and continue to the elevator. Take the elevator up to the second floor of MACS. Turn left out of the elevator and turn left again to return to the main hallway. Go through the two doors at the end of the hallway to return to MINS. Turn left down the main hallway and continue to Room 113B.