Spotlight 2024

Arts and Humanities

Students’ Council Publication

SPOTLIGHT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Brought to you by

Julia Piquet (Vice President of Publications)

Kelly Loubandha (Alumni Relations Commissioner)

Jessica Schagerl (Project Supervisor)

Co-edited by Alyssa Thulmann

Layout Design by Chahat Ghuman

Contributions by Alyssa Duarte

Danika Barkey

Genevieve Languille

Kate Armstrong

Katherine Barbour

Mabel Zhao

Samantha Ellis

Shayla Smith

Sonia Zhang

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Spotlight

Dean’s Message

Editors’ Messages

Diyana Noory by Alyssa Duarte

Harsh Patanker by Danika Barkey

Garry Atkinson by Genevieve Languille

Mark Campbell by Kate Armstrong

Jennifer Keesmaat by Katherine Barbour

Nandita Dutta by Mabel Zhao

Bianca Benton by Samantha Ellis

Tomson Highway by Shayla Smith

Carina Gabriele by Sonia Zhang

About Spotlight

Spotlight was founded to respond to the age-old question, “What do you do with an Arts & Humanities degree?”

Now in its seventh edition, Spotlight pairs students and Western Arts graduates for an inspiring conversation on the value of an Arts & Humanities degree, the Western experience, and the various paths each alum has taken to reach their chosen career.

More than offering a series of roadmaps to any number of career options, these interviews encourage Arts students to be open to whatever the workforce might have in store for them and to take advantage of opportunities as they come. Spotlight is about connection and those values which we share as the Arts & Humanities community.

Letter From the Dean

Welcome to Spotlight, the student-alumni interviews publication where we explore the profound impact of arts and humanities degrees on diverse career paths. As Acting Dean for 2023-2024, I am thrilled that we can continue to showcase the immense value that an arts and humanities education holds for individuals across various ages and stages of life.

All these interviews were conducted and written by students, who often come to the experience with questions about their own future path. Our alumni offer some of the best advice, and these interviews serve as a testament to the versatility and resilience of arts and humanities degrees. In a world that is constantly evolving, where adaptability and critical thinking are paramount, the skills nurtured in our programs are indispensable. The beauty of an arts and humanities education lies in its ability to cultivate not only specific technical skills but also a profound understanding of human nature, societies, and cultures. Our alumni can therefore thrive in an array of professions, from business and technology to policy and the creative arts.

One of the remarkable aspects of this publication is the representation of alumni at different stages of their lives and careers. We have contributors who embarked on their career journeys immediately after graduation, demonstrating the immediate impact of an arts and humanities education in today’s fast-paced world. We also feature stories of individuals who pursued further studies or took unconventional paths, underscoring the enduring relevance of these degrees across one’s professional career.

It is my hope that this publication serves not only as a source of inspiration for our current students but also as a celebration of the enduring impact of an education grounded in the arts and humanities. My deepest gratitude to the dedicated students who have crafted this publication and to the esteemed alumni whose stories illuminate the richness and diversity inherent in the arts and humanities.

Jan Plug, PhD Acting Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Editors’ Messages

Vice President

When I participated in Spotlight as a writer in the year 2022-23, that was the first time I had heard about the publication. Having only written one feature before this role, I was essentially walking into this project blind: what I had not expected was to connect with two amazing Western Arts graduates who would open my eyes to what an Arts & Humanities degree really meant out there in the ‘real world’. That is what Spotlight (and the real world) is about: connection. Spotlight offers a way for students to connect, not only with each other but with Arts graduates in potential work fields that have an abundant amount of life and work experience to share. Spotlight is a gateway to network, improve your resume, and, most importantly of all, have fun and get involved with Western and the Arts.

Here’s a special thanks to Jess, who has been an incredible force through planning and bringing Spotlight to life. Without her, this edition would not be in your hands, dear reader. To Kelly and to Chahat: I couldn’t have picked better people to work alongside in the seventh edition of Spotlight. You are simply awesome.

To you, reader: I hope you enjoy this edition of Spotlight. We have put a lot of work into this, just for you! Happy reading.

Managing Spotlight this year was (bear with me) an illuminating experience. The opportunity came at a pivotal point in my degree, one during which I questioned if it was not only what I wanted for myself but also if I’d made the right decision choosing it in the first place. Recruiting alums and writers to participate in the project and then playing an intimate role in refining the articles born from this was exactly what I needed. Reading about the many diverse paths an arts and humanities degree can take you on reminded me that my potential is endless and that I am perfecting the skills I need to get to where I want as we speak. I had a wonderful time managing Spotlight this year and I am eager to share it with you all. Happy reading, and feel free to take some inspiration with you when you’re done!

Kelly Loubandha Alumni Relations Commissioner

Julia Piquet

of Publications

Approaching Life with Presence & Connection

Diyana Noory

By: Alyssa Duarte

“That’s the cool thing about university,” said Diyana Noory, BA’19. “You get to choose what you want your experience to be.”

Raised in London, ON, Western University hadn’t been Noory’s initial choice. She feared that staying in her hometown meant she’d have fewer opportunities and questioned whether the sense of familiarity would be restricting. However, when obligations arose, she grudgingly accepted her offer and in doing so, made the conscious decision to remain optimistic. “I slowed down, trusted the process and trusted in myself. I honoured my limits, my skills and my talents. And, over time, I realized that we end up where we’re meant to be.”

Though at times she struggled to choose which path to take, one thing she knew for certain was that she wanted to study English. Reminiscing about her childhood, she recalls how much she enjoyed reading and how, on one occasion, when she was very young, a teacher even accused her of plagiarism. “That wasn’t the case,” Noory said. “I was just a nerd. I loved to write.”

While studying in the English Language and Literature program, Noory still felt like something wasn’t right. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do after graduation and, like many students, didn’t have a clear idea as to what the professional world had in store for her.

Searching for guidance, she attended a seminar by the School for Advanced Studies in

the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) seminar, not expecting much, but hoping it would steer her in the right direction. The event was hosted by Joel Faflak, director of the program at the time, and she describes connecting with him as an ‘aha moment.’ “The first thing he said to me was, ‘not to objectify you, but I love your coat,’” she jokes. “And then we sat and we talked about the program. It was openended and fairly new. It just seemed so interesting. I didn’t know it was there and it ended up being a real highlight for me.”

At Western, Noory gained an incredible amount of experience, developing a sense of belonging within SASAH. Alongside classmates Sama Al-Zanoon and Nara Monteiro, the trio formed Iconoclast, an Arts and Culture collective. “We created it with the intent to connect campus artists and to uplift the art community. We wanted to share their voices,” says Noory. “We would come up with a vision for the theme of each publication and we would sit together, and we would create a creative letter. Then, we would go on social media and encourage people to submit their work to our magazine. We would also work alongside local venues and musicians and host a launch party that was themed around each edition.”

“Our goal was to bring together these diverse, creative talents on campus and give them a progressive platform. I learned a lot by reading other people’s writing and about the process of putting together a project,” she adds. “We built an amazing team and in the end, I made some great friends.”

Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Noory continued her education at Western in Law and obtained her Juris Doctor. She notably recounts her experience as part of the Middle Eastern, North African Law Students Association. For Noory, the platform provided an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals to highlight issues surrounding equity, diversity, and inclusion. “I

noticed that most students were only concerned about their careers and image,” she recalls. “But I think it’s important to stay aligned with your values. As a collective, we need to be concerned about each other. That’s how you build community.” Noory has gone to great lengths to find her place in the professional world. Today, she lives in Montréal, QC, and works as a Policy Analyst at Canadian Heritage, a department of the Canadian government focused on the promotion and support of Canadian identity, culture, and heritage. Though her days are not always the same, being a part of the team entails reviewing and analyzing political, economic, and social events. When asked how her experience at Western has helped shape her career, she emphasizes the importance of being present even when things are hard.

“At Western, I learned to manage my expectations. I never expected to be where I am— living here, working for the government—but it ended up being the ideal situation. At Western, I learned to work smarter, not harder. I didn’t break my back over things that didn’t make sense. I still try to do that.” Noory’s appetite for learning continues to grow.

When asked what advice she has for others in her position, she states, “The path that you think you’re supposed to take isn’t always the right one. You will end up where you need to be. You just need to follow what calls you.”

“Take care of yourself. Focus on wellness and spirituality and live life authentically. Become connected with yourself and with humanity and nature. Approach everything with presence. University students are under so much pressure, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Sometimes, all you need to do is take a step back and gain a different perspective. If you feel overwhelmed—pause, consider and reflect on your priorities. Be easy on yourself.”

AUTHOR REFLECTION

My conversation with Diyana couldn’t have come at a better time. As graduation edges closer and I start to think more about my own professional career, I understand what it’s like to get caught up in a whirlwind of emotions.

Our conversation was honest and open. We talked about the good and bad parts of the university experience—and everything in between. I admired her ability to share such intimate details with me and appreciate her for allowing me to share her story with others. Diyana’s path to success shows that when you value yourself and start trusting the process, you eventually realize all of what you’re capable of achieving.

For the third year in a row, I am honoured to be part of such a wonderful publication!

Third year in Honours Spec. in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature and a minor in MIT

Alyssa Duarte

Where Can’t The Humanities Take You?

Harsh Patanker

By: Danika Barkey

Harsh Patanker, a UI/UX designer for the Virtual Civilization Initiative, stands as proof that an Arts and Humanities degree is anything but limiting. Graduating with a Double Major in Philosophy and the School for Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities (SASAH), a career in technology is not always what Patanker saw in his future.

Although he assumed his Western studies would lead him to business when he enrolled in 2018, he decided on Philosophy and SASAH while waiting on his acceptance to Ivey, and later came to realize that he had made the right decision. Patanker described each SASAH course he took as a “universe in its own,” exposing him to new branches and pathways. They also aided him in making what he terms “horizontal connections”; that is, understanding the connections between different Arts and Humanities disciplines and how they intertwine. Diving headfirst into the humanities and all it can provide, Patanker obtained through SASAH a third-year internship at The Walrus as a digital marketer which, after spending his high school years “messing around in Photoshop,” furthered his interest in design and prompted him to start taking it seriously.

Immediately after graduation, Patanker ended up settling for the first out-of-province job available in sales. He says that, at the time, “what [he] really wanted to do was leave.” However, he quickly realized an environment that lacked

creativity was not the place for him—a relatable struggle for so many Arts and Humanities students attempting to navigate available career pathways. Fortunately, he had a free seat at a BrainStation UX course, which affirmed his passion for technology, design, and practical application of the humanities and social sciences. “People might not assume [UX design] has too much to do with SASAH or philosophy, but I believe it definitely has deep links,” says Patanker. In fact, he praises SASAH for the so-called “soft skills” it helped him to develop, and in a career focused on empathizing with user needs and applying them to digital products, communication is key.

More recently, he has been volunteering with an open collective and creating a game, which he says is testing those soft skills as they apply to UX design. He highlights that they are “just as important” as his hard skills, helping him to push peers in the right direction and communicate why those directions are best. In the sales jobs he took after graduation, Patanker often found himself “impressed by his own abilities,” realizing that spending “four years writing and reading and comprehending difficult materials” led to a permanent toolkit for effective communication and interpersonal skills.

When asked about employers’ reactions to an Arts and Humanities degree, as is feared by many, Patanker quickly assured that it was no obstacle. More “old-school employers” may have had some reservations, he says, but he immediately overcame these when he was given the chance to speak with them. Whether through emails or interviews, employers who had doubts about his degree were soon impressed by the effective communicator before them—a young, employable individual moulded by the Arts and Humanities.

Going forward, Patanker will be taking a ten-week internship at a startup that will allow him to explore his interests, which he says are currently

focused on gaming, AR, and VR, proving there is no need for current Arts and Humanities students to fear the job market.

Patanker attests that every job is a learning process, no matter your educational background. “You have just as much right to do whatever career that you want to do,” said Patanker. The sentiment was that, as with any other graduate, everyone has gaps in their knowledge that will be filled with time and experience. As SASAH allowed him to make connections between the arts and the digital humanities, he advises stepping out of one’s comfort zone and taking advantage of the pathways made available by the arts. “Don’t be afraid to take that leap, because you built skills that society doesn’t tell you that you have.” Patanker emphasizes the unique schema of knowledge and worldly understanding that exists inside the mind of a humanities student and advises playing to the strengths that an Arts and Humanities degree has helped build. “Go that extra mile of writing a really good cover letter, because you’re good at that. Send a really good email because you’re good at that. There’s more out there than immediately accessible.”

AUTHOR REFLECTION

Interviewing Harsh was such a valuable experience, and I am very thankful to him for his time and wisdom. Though the world of tech is a foreign one to me, he had a way of speaking about that gap of knowledge as not something to fear, but something to be excited by. As an English major, it feels that we are so often funnelled into academia. Though that is the path I have chosen for myself and look forward to walking, it was helpful to view my future career not as a necessity, but as a choice. And, for so many in the humanities who choose not to spend their lives within the stone walls of a university: I hope I have effectively communicated, thanks to Harsh, that there is no need to do so. There is a wealth of experiences available to us, and it was refreshing to hear that from someone who has experienced it firsthand!

Second year in Honours Spec. in English Language and Literature

Danika Barkey

The Tools for Innovation

Garry Atkinson

By: Genevieve Langille

Garry Atkinson epitomizes how one can combine their values and career to effect positive change. During his Introduction to Women’s Studies course in his first year, he read a book called X: A Fabulous Child’s Story, by Lois Gould. The story details a scientific experiment on a child, named X, whose gender is kept secret from everyone except for their parents. The couple pledges not to impose traditional male or female gender roles on X and bring up the child with mixed toys and clothing. In being unable to guess X’s gender, X’s classmates begin to question gender roles, much to their parents’ disapproval. Atkinson had a baby at the time; thus, this story, as well as the class, deeply impacted his worldview and made him more attuned to how gender is constructed at the early stages of childhood. He became more aware of gendered toys and clothing more, encouraged his children to play with whatever they wanted, and worked on nurturing in genderneutral ways. This story played an important role in setting him on the path to complete an Honours Specialization and Master’s degree in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research (now Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies).

Coming to Western as a mature student, Atkinson wanted to learn about what was out there and take in a wide range of experiences. As his studies progressed, he found himself wanting to work in the field of Gender Studies. He learned so much through the program and attributes this to a long list

of incredible and inspiring professors. During his BA, Atkinson also minored in French Studies. He enthusiastically recommends students follow in his example and study French—or another language— during their degree, noting that “it definitely opened some doors for jobs that were available.” Furthermore, being a TA was a great experience for Atkinson because it allowed him to apply his knowledge to practical work supporting students. Warmly discussing his undergrad, he expressed that he is forever grateful for his experience at Western.

During his master’s, Atkinson’s Independent Research Project (IRP) was conducted examining narratives of the Ebola outbreak of 2014 through a feminist lens. It involved rigorous research on the history of pandemics, how they’re framed in the media, and their impacts on women and marginalized communities. Atkinson sees the M.A. degree listed as a preferred credential in numerous job postings and recommends Arts and Humanities students pursue one because of this. Beyond his degrees, Atkinson continues to educate himself about social challenges, the state of the nation, and what’s going on in the world. He encourages students to seek out and explore various certificate programs, including Western’s free Anti-Racism Foundations certificate program, as they can help with both personal and professional development.

Atkinson built up his experience working in the field with different stakeholders and organizations: he worked as a coordinator for the Stop Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee, the Huron Domestic Assault Review Team, and as a visit monitor for visits and exchanges between non-custodial parents/guardians and their children. He credits these jobs and those he worked with for helping him transition his university education knowledge into workplace intel.

Currently, Atkinson is the Research and Analytics Manager at the Women’s Executive Network (WXN), which describes itself as the #1 and

only organization in North America that helps women advance professionally in a diversity of sectors. It accomplishes this by providing them with resources, programs, networking, and support. Atkinson finds his degrees from Western to be decidedly applicable to this current position, where he researches the representation of women and marginalized communities in leadership roles across Canada. A large part of his job is investigating different trends on the topic of the representation of women and compiling statistics and resources into research reports.

WXN recently put out a report on the representation of women on boards and leadership of FP500 organizations—companies that the Financial Post has ranked as the top 500 organizations in Canada, based on revenue. After spending months looking through biographies, WXN crafted statistics for the representation of women in different roles and industries. Atkinson explains that you will see more women represented in human resources roles but far more men in financial ones. He takes great pride in this work and thinks it crucial to release these statistics and talk about the challenges that continue to impede women’s progress.

We also discussed Western’s ongoing efforts to address violence against women. Atkinson commented

Genevieve Langille

Third year in Honours Spec. in Philosophy

that there was much discussion of the history of patriarchy and how misogyny is deeply rooted in society and that this is why there is still so much progress to be made. He says that cases of sexual assault and violence against women serve as poignant reminders every single day about the work that needs to be done.

Discussing what he would recommend to students, he says that the arts and humanities teach you a lot about critical thinking and creativity, which are important tools when looking for a job, and highly sought after. Declaring he has no hesitations over recommending an Arts and Humanities degree, Atkinson believes that some of the recent workforce challenges have also created opportunities and a market for youth to find jobs in a climate that is hungry for innovation and new ideas.

If Atkinson could go back in time to his university days, he would try to take it all in more than he did. When immersed in it, you are struggling to do your best and finish all your projects, but it is important to 1. understand that sometimes the best you have to give for something may not be what you expect or demand of yourself. and 2. focus on taking in all the knowledge you can and enjoying the experience because it has a tremendous impact on how you move forward.

AUTHOR REFLECTION

It was really uplifting to converse with Garry. His continual commitment to advocating for women’s rights and his record of work in the field were very impressive off the bat; however, he was also very genial to interview. His sentiments were very reassuring as we discussed employability coming out of the arts and humanities. He definitely made me more hopeful that I can find work that reflects my values and principles. Upon finishing my university education, I aspire to work a job similar to his—enacting and effecting positive change. I hope his story inspires current and prospective students to continue with the arts and humanities, as it did for me. I am very thankful to him for his time talking to me—he was a delight to interview!

At The Heart of Content

Mark Campbell

By: Kate Armstrong

The starving artist trope is out, and the confident creative is in. Just take it from Mark Campbell, founder & CEO of VMG Cinematic and 2006 Film Studies and Economics graduate. “You’ve got to be super clear about what you do and be confident in it,” Campbell says. “The product is yourself.” Campbell encourages Arts and Humanities students to discover their passion and to focus on that. Luckily, this grounded mindset, coupled with his lifelong passion for film, allowed him to flourish at Western, graduating with a firstof-its-kind degree and a group of collaborators with whom he works to this day, 18 years later.

The Oakville native knew Western would be a great place for him to develop his talents while also receiving a world-class education. In addition to learning how best to market his filmmaking skills, flexibility in courses and clubs was extremely important for Campbell—he’d made over 100 shorts by the time he’d graduated high school and wanted to keep the momentum going. In choosing to study Economics in tandem with Film Studies, Campbell achieved “the freedom of creativity, but still [made] sure [film] was not just a side project.” Campbell was highly involved in student life while studying at Western. He participated in the Ski and Snowboard Club, in Engineering’s Formula SAE Race Car Team, and made sure to keep creating throughout his tenure. In his fourth year, Campbell and a group of fellow film students raised $1,600

to shoot an 8-minute short on 12 minutes of film— talk about efficient filmmaking! The short, Coin Laundry, went on to win awards at the WUFS Film Festival and was purchased by Air Canada. After graduation, Campbell, his classmates Evan Aagaard, Nick Haffie-Emslie, Jeremy Houghton, Brent O’Hagan, and his brother Reid Campbell, decided it was time to start their own company, and VMG Cinematic was born.

The VMG creators sought to foster a “real, relaxed, fun” environment for the dozens of crew members, clients, and talent they work with in creating the company. “It’s very much a collaborative process,” Campbell explains. VMG works with companies from inception to completion, developing ideas, shooting content, and marketing. From Roots to MLSE, the team has 30 to 50 projects on the go at a time. An operation like this requires both humble leadership and flexibility. When VMG first hit the scene, YouTube provided a new niche for Campbell and his crew, who decided to specialize in short-form media content. Over the nearly two decades of its existence, VMG has weathered the challenges of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (resulting in the loss of 30% of their clients in less than a month), the COVID-19 pandemic, changing technology, and new platforms rising in popularity.

“It felt kind of weird that we were going into boardrooms when we are in our mid-20s, educating senior leaders on how to use video content to help promote their brands,” reminisces Campbell. With platforms like TikTok becoming prime real estate for promotions and sharing information, it‘s necessary to adapt our skills to fit the changing economic needs. “You’re not going to lose your job to AI,” he reassures students, “you’re going to lose your job to someone who knows how to really use it.” Adapting to challenges and problemsolving is the name of the game for filmmakers and entrepreneurs alike.

There seems to be an itch among film students to pick up a camera, shoot a few frames, and instantly become the next Coppola or Wachowski. Campbell says the best way to achieve such lofty goals is to get your name in the ears of industry professionals by focusing “on one thing that you really love, and it will get you noticed as being a little different out there.” A reliable audio recordist is easier to market than a Swiss army knife who can’t identify what their exact strengths are.

For Campbell, there was “equal value” in his degree and in the connections he formed while at Western. Success in your career—specifically in film—often depends on who you know. Having classes that are discussion and collaboration-based–the way Arts classes are – allows those connections to form organically and provides space for them to grow. Campbell encourages aspiring filmmakers and artists to lean into this: “A lot of people think that the odds are stacked against us being in film,” he says, “But if we can band together… it’ll help make things happen much easier.” So, connect, connect, connect! From a fellow graduate to an alum 20 years senior, the camaraderie Western Arts and Humanities students share often leads to great

Kate Armstrong

Third year in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) and Sociology

things.

“And still at the heart of it,” Campbell says, film is “about great content and less about the tools to tell these stories.” That great content comes from you: the storyteller, the student, the observer, the artist. As the camera captures the moments of life, the job of a student is to capture as many opportunities as possible. Try new things, and innovate towards your passions.

Don’t be afraid to advocate for your own skills, or to complement a classmate’s work after a workshop. You never know, they might just be the person you’ll work with 18 years later.

AUTHOR REFLECTION

As an A&H and Social Science student, as well as someone interested in film and filmmaking, talking to Mark was a necessary breath of fresh air among the claims that a BA doesn’t go far. Talented and driven people like Mark can teach us all more about the power of passion, dedication, and the desire to succeed. I’ve been given inspiration for my work and am thrilled to have been able to sit with Mark and his words as I head towards the end of my time at Western. Thank you to Mark and the Spotlight team for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow!

Building More Than Buildings

Jennifer Keesmaat

By: Katherine Barbour

“The alarm goes off and I jump out of bed. I am so excited to get to work because I know my work matters. My work has always mattered, and if it doesn’t matter I won’t do it.”

As I sat down with Jennifer Keesmaat and got a glimpse of her life, it is no wonder why she is so eager to start her day. In two words, Keesmaat can be described as an urban planner, but she wields many more titles as the CEO of The Keesmaat Group; a Distinguished Visitor in Residence Emeritus at the University of Toronto; a member of several boards and panels such as May Mobility and the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority; and she was the Chief City Planner of Toronto for five years—to name a few.

Keesmaat’s numerous contributions are all built off her value of community, which can be traced back to her time at Western. As an undergrad, Keesmaat was heavily involved in student life; she stayed in residence at Delaware Hall for three years, two as a Residence Don. In this position, she got a front-row seat to how buildings, systems, and social groups all work in tandem to influence students’ quality of life. “I think that experience in being a Residence Don laid the foundation for me in wanting to explore this bigger question of how do you create places where people live and thrive?” says Keesmaat.

Upon needing to decide on a major, Keesmaat was not sure which path to choose. So, she sought advice from where many receive their

wisdom—her mother. Her mother prompted her to not focus on a specific career path but instead to consider what skills she wanted to learn. From this conversation, Keesmaat pursued a Combined Honours in English and Philosophy, saying, “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and I thought the skills that I would develop in both of those disciplines would be relevant to the type of work that I could imagine myself doing. Although I did not know at that time what I wanted to do. I had absolutely no idea.” When she graduated in 1993, her future was a blank slate. While this uncertainty may be worrying for some, Keesmaat relished that freedom, claiming: “I still felt like the world was my oyster.”

It was a simple, offhand comment that kickstarted her career. While volunteering in Vancouver on community housing issues, someone told her that she talked like an urban planner—to which Keesmaat responded: “I don’t even know what that is.” As she discovered the goals and possibilities of a career in urban planning, Keesmaat became hooked and eventually completed a master’s in Environmental Studies, Politics, and Planning at York University.

As an urban planner, Keesmaat has dedicated her work to building livable communities. She approaches city design through a humanistic viewpoint, predicated on a philosophical interest in how we as a society live and move and how the structures around us can help us thrive. In a well-built community with a focus on density, Keesmaat believes that one can and should be able to walk or cycle to work. Keesmaat has published articles in The Globe and Mail, The Guardian, and other media about how we must approach city planning as building communities rather than constructing buildings. This means we must push back against car-focused urban landscapes that can become dangerous to pedestrians, cyclists, and the environment.

Looking back on the pandemic, Keesmaat notes how she fell back onto writing, using it as a tool to contemplate, understand, and make plans in response to unprecedented challenges. She was the chief architect of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities, which many areas and countries used as a framework for how they would exit the pandemic and make important adjustments to their cities, like emphasizing the benefits of walkable communities. She wrote a piece for Foreign Affairs Magazine, championing the value of city density, and another for Macleans about how the pandemic opened our eyes to how we can live and prosper within our neighbourhoods. The projects she undertook all involved what she describes as “thought leadership,” or, in other words, the exact skills she traces back to her undergraduate degree.

As we spoke on the value of an arts degree, Keesmaat firmly stated, “There is a mythical narrative that if you want to succeed in the world or earn real money, that you somehow need to have a business degree or develop a very specific skill— and I don’t think that’s true.” Keesmaat is one of the foremost names in urban planning, owning one

Katherine Barbour

Fourth year in Honours Spec. in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature

of the largest companies and, therefore, has likely hired the most urban planners in the country. She claims that she is always looking for those who have a humanities background, for they make the best urban planners. They are more prepared to come into leadership roles and can best deal with conceptual challenges.

With plans to continue targeting affordable housing, increasing city density to shorten commutes, and implementing sustainable tactics to all projects, Keesmaat continues to be excited by her work. She is also excited about the new generation coming into the professional world, who enter the workforce to be part of the solution. She upholds this final sentiment resolutely— that as long as one lives, works, and contributes to be part of the solution, they will have a meaningful professional life.

AUTHOR REFLECTION

As a fourth-year student, I am constantly questioning and worrying about what my future will hold. However, as I listened to Jennifer explain her journey and how she welcomed the uncertainty of her future with open arms, it felt like a comforting hand on my shoulder, letting me know everything would work out. Jennifer helped me realize the value of an unfixed path. It is not about being able to say: I am going to do ___ with my degree; instead, it is about saying: What can’t I do with my degree? Furthermore: What can I do with my degree that matters? As my undergraduate studies come to a close, I continue to appreciate more and more the skills that I have fine-tuned: writing, articulation, conceptualization, critical thinking, and the ability to obtain a deep understanding of the complexities of both the past and present.

A Film-Worthy Journey

Nandita Dutta

By: Mabel Zhao

It’s safe to say that Nandita Dutta loves movies: the marketing manager at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Western Ph.D. grad admits that she “grew up pretty film crazy.” From an outsider’s perspective, Dutta’s career journey appears to have more twists and turns than a thriller film.

Dutta fell into the arts and humanities by accident. While waiting to begin her studies in biotechnology, she joined a Hispanic studies program at Delhi University. She soon fell in love with her courses—not just the subject matter but the way it was taught. “It was very involved,” Dutta recalled about her classes, “it was very collaborative and very communicative, and I think that really spoke to me.” Dutta soon realized that academia was something she wanted to pursue. “I would love to teach, I’d love to write” said Dutta, and so she went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees and was on the path to becoming a professor in India.

Again, a plot twist presented itself in Dutta’s educational career. She met a Western University professor when he came to present at a seminar that she had organized. This professor, who became Dutta’s future PhD supervisor, encouraged her to move to Ontario and come be a part of his lab.

Seizing the opportunity, Dutta moved halfway around the world and ended up at Western, where she would earn her doctorate in Hispanic Studies. Looking back at her time at Western, Dutta

reflects on the unconventionality of her graduate program. The CulturePlex, a cultural studies and digital humanities lab unique to Canada, featured heavily in Dutta’s doctoral studies. The goal of the CulturePlex was to solve the humanities’ problems with an interdisciplinary approach using data and technology. With half of the lab team being tech programmers and the other half, like Dutta, being from a humanities background, this lab felt like a marriage between the arts and technology.

Through her work in the digital humanities lab, Dutta learned how to code; she encourages other humanities students to become more technologically literate as well. “A kind of focus our professor inculcated in us was that in this day and age, you need to be able to understand technology,” Dutta recalls, “It does set you up well for anything you might want to do later on.”

Dutta’s experiences in the CulturePlex lab and throughout her PhD program helped facilitate a smooth transition from academia to industry work. The subject area of Dutta’s dissertation was film and television, which led to a job at a local film festival. At the time Dutta began working there, this film festival was only one year old, which provided her with an opportunity to help develop its brand presence. “A lot of my marketing training came on the job,” Dutta reflected, “it was really interesting to understand how to elevate their brand recognition, build their social media, work on the website— those kinds of things.”

Even though this was technically an entrylevel job, Dutta brought a wealth of knowledge and skills she had acquired through her academic career to the position. Building a website and data analytics were both skills she picked up through her digital humanities studies and her experience leading a program within the Hispanic studies program gave her important project management skills—all of which she was able to bring to her new job. Still, she reflected that her lack of familiarity

with the film industry presented a learning curve. Her education at Western helped with the transition. “We have always been encouraged to be a bit more interdisciplinary and open-minded about everything, always exploring new ideas and new topics.” Dutta added that this helped with learning the day-to-day tasks of the new job.

Dutta also credits her professors for helping her transition from academia to industry work. Many of her courses were designed to learn about the different aspects of academia, from emerging trends in the field, to how to market yourself as an academic. “There was a huge focus on understanding not just academia, but also industry,” Dutta added, “And I brought a lot of these skills into my work now.”

In her role as TIFF’s marketing manager, Dutta’s work involves content management and email marketing to promote the events hosted by TIFF. Dutta’s work has given her the opportunity to push for more South Asian representation in film and television. Dutta, who is from India, is working within TIFF to build connections with South Asian film and television distributors so that more South Asian media can be featured.

“It’s been a fun journey,” said Dutta on her unconventional career trajectory. “In hindsight, it’s easy for me to say that ‘oh this happened by accident’, but it was me trying to reach out for opportunities when I heard about them. I’ve always been flexible enough to pursue whatever opportunities came,” she adds. This flexibility is a key takeaway from her journey.

When asked about what advice she would give other arts and humanities students, Dutta encourages exploration. “As students, we’re no strangers to learning a bit more,” she said, “Try anything you find interesting and keep yourself updated. If you see a trend in the industry, get a sense of that field by doing a couple of courses, and then exploring those options.”

AUTHOR REFLECTION

Interviewing Nandita has been such an eye-opening experience for me. To be honest, I’ve asked myself more than a couple of times what I’m “going to do” with my Arts and Humanities education. Hearing Nandita’s story has helped me appreciate the flexibility of an arts degree and realize that it can be incredibly exciting to pursue opportunities as they come and see where they will lead you. Nandita’s work in the digital humanities is also a point of interest to me. As someone who is fascinated with how our increasingly technological world can be integrated into the study of the humanities, hearing Nandita’s insights has convinced me to take a digital humanities course at Western. Overall, Nandita was such a candid and friendly person to interview and her advice has definitely given me a lot to think about. Thank you, Nandita!

First year in English Language and Literature

Mabel Zhao

The Right Path for You

Bianca Benton

By: Samantha Ellis

As Creative Associate in HarperCollins Canada’s marketing department, Brianna Benton and their team handled 721 projects in-house throughout 2023. From designing landing pages, social graphics, animated book covers, and managing HarperCollins’ corporate website, Benton doesn’t “have a lot of time to not be creative.” Aside from designing for all HarperCollins Canada books, Benton also handles Harlequin novels and books arriving from outside Canada. Despite such a busy day-to-day schedule, Benton’s enthusiasm for their position never wavers. When asked about the most rewarding aspect of their position, Benton cannot cite only one. “That’s a tough one,” they insist. Although the status quo of a full-time job can make it difficult to feel one has grown, Benton often looks back on previous projects and feels that their skills have developed dramatically: “It’s really rewarding to look back on the things I did even last year and know that I can put out better work now, because I’ve grown so much.” It’s not only their personal development that matters but the connections they form with clients. Making authors happy, Benton states, is likely the most rewarding part of working at HarperCollins. “It’s such a good feeling to know that your hard work is impacting somebody’s career in a really positive way,” they say. For Benton, fulfilling an author’s vision, even when they may not believe that vision is possible, brings them joy like no other aspect of the job.

At Western University, Benton initially

set out to complete an Honours Specialization in English Language and Literature and Creative Writing, but after two years decided to pivot to a Double Minor in English and Creative Writing. Benton cites former Western professor Kathryn Mockler as integral to their positive memories of Western; Mockler inspired them to enter the publishing industry and ultimately wrote them a reference letter as they were beginning to apply to post-graduate programs. “The reason I was struggling was because I wasn’t in the right courses for me.” Through this struggle to find the “right” path, Benton ultimately chose passion, happiness, and creativity as priorities: “Let’s just do something that I’m going to enjoy, that I’m going to be passionate about, and that I’m going to be able to put my full self into.” Western’s graphic design, digital humanities, and creative writing courses became part of Benton’s every day, which amalgamated into the skill set they now possess as a remarkable visual designer.

As for extracurricular activities, Benton obtained a work-study job for a year at Western for the Canadian Poetry Press, which involved transcribing and posting poetry on the Press’ website. This position, says Benton, helped spur their interest in the publishing industry and bolstered many collaborative experiences with likeminded people. Once Benton knew for a fact that they wanted to go into book publishing, they began applying to publishing programs in their final year at Western. Benton attended Centennial College’s one-year publishing program, which focuses on all aspects of the publishing industry. They also spent time at Centennial as creative director for the institution’s student-run magazine.

Despite thinking they were destined for a job as an editor, Benton realized through the program at Centennial that they truly wanted to be a designer: “I was kind of avoiding it my whole life because I didn’t really have the confidence in myself; I didn’t

really believe in myself. The publishing program showed me that… I really do have the skills. I can do this.” Looking back on their accomplishments, struggles, and community involvement, Benton has no regrets: “Every choice I made at Western was exactly the choice I needed to make to get here, and I would do it all over again.”

When tasks become difficult or motivation ebbs, taking themselves away from the creative process and focusing instead on more mundane (and often tedious) admin tasks “helps my brain open up again.” Benton also mentions a strong support network: consulting fellow designers, a manager, or even a client can help reignite the creative process. When it comes to those who may not have a career path in mind, Benton has two strong pieces of advice: “Go for it, and take risks.” As someone who feels they were afraid to take risks, Benton encourages others to try new things to discover what they like and dislike. There is no linear path to success; “the job I’m in now is not the job I thought I was going to get when I graduated high school.”

When Benton arrived at Western, they did not expect to become a designer, but through coming into their own passions, confidence, and skill set, “I can’t imagine doing anything else but designing.”

AUTHOR REFLECTION

I was a bundle of nerves heading into this interview with Brianna. I was in such awe of their accomplishments in the publishing industry and how their career at Western was so integral to their evolution as a designer. It was through my experience at Western that I knew I wanted to try my hand at editing and publishing, so the opportunity to meet with Brianna gave me an insight into not only the nature of the industry but also how the path one takes toward a career is not always linear. Brianna’s excitement about their own career was palpable. I sincerely hope my conversation with Brianna proves fruitful for readers, and I will always look to their advice when I feel lost: take risks, and you may discover a new passion you never once had. Thank you, Brianna!

Fourth year in Honours Spec. in English Language and Literature

Samantha Ellis

A Story of Love

Tomson Highway

By: Shayla Smith

There is one irrefutable truth that I came to know after interviewing Tomson Highway: he is, himself, the embodiment of storytelling. He revealed worlds within worlds to me as he painted out his life—each story had another within it. Listening to the stories he told, I was astounded by how much love and optimism he expressed not only in his words but his tone.

Highway is an award-winning playwright, musician, and author of literature for children and adults alike. He is a man of many talents and accomplishments—and yet, by far one of the most humble human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with. When asked why he had chosen Western University after his time at the University of Manitoba, Highway replied excitedly that this story was “a story of love.”

Highway is from the extreme north of Manitoba: a cold isolated place with no human settlement at the time. I was shocked to learn that Highway was born in a tent in a snowbank. This was, however, the norm in this environment and, despite the harsh conditions, was Highway’s “paradise.” He describes his childhood as having been filled with love from his family, educators, and friends. His father, Joe Highway, decided to send Tomson to Guy Hill Residential School. In his words, this was the “only way to get an education,” as there were no schools anywhere near him. He had to travel there by bush plane, which was six

hundred kilometres away. Given my knowledge of residential schools and the horrors that took place, I expected Highway to refrain from discussing his time at Guy Hill. To my surprise, he had nothing negative to say. As a marginalized individual, Highway’s explanation of why served as a hopeful reminder to me: “The trauma I endured was temporary [...] and I became who I am after that.”

Out of respect for all the Indigenous communities on Turtle Island, I urge readers to understand that my telling of Highway’s perspective of residential schools is not representative of the common experience. I do not wish to invalidate those who endured trauma within those institutions, nor do I intend to discredit the inherited trauma within Indigenous communities. This is one man’s story and outlook, one I am recounting after our shared conversation.

Highway further stated that he continued his education and attended high school in Winnipeg. During his time there, Highway passionately recounted that he was well taken care of, and that being loved and falling in love was “a major part in [his] life.” Following high school, Highway attended the University of Manitoba where he majored in music; little did he know that he would meet a man that would change the course of his life. Glenn Gould, renowned Canadian classical pianist, took on Highway as one of his protégés. This is no surprise, as Highway was one of “the best pianists” in a school of “twelve thousand white kids.” When Gould was transferred to Western University, Highway said that Gould choose “two of his best students” to come with him: Highway was one of them. I wanted to know, given the environment he was used to, if moving to London, Ontario was a hard adjustment.

Highway didn’t give any notion that it was too difficult. As all change tends to be, it was foreign and unknown—but he wasn’t enduring it alone. With his brother, Rene Highway, moving to

Toronto for ballet at the same time, Highway still had family close by. “We were like little northern aristocrats,” he said, with a joyful chuckle, “two sons of this amazing man called Joe Highway.” He spoke of his brother’s accomplishments in his career, as well as the support he and his brother received from their father.

After graduating from Western, Highway moved to Toronto to live with his brother. It was in Toronto, Highway exclaimed, where his career “exploded.” His debut play, The Rez Sisters, was the first Canadian play at that time to go from smalltheatre testing to then being performed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

It was evident from the beginning of our interview that “family” and “community” were at the core of Highway’s values and his selfproclaimed source of success. As someone who has struggled to be optimistic in the wake of personal trauma, as well as traumas inflicted by systemic hatred, I wanted to know his secret. How does one find bliss amidst the chaos; happiness, in spite of pain? Highway swiftly replied that he owes his outlook to the fundamental lessons his father taught him: “the value of hard work.” Assertively, but

Shayla Smith

Third year in Honours Spec. in English Language and Literature and a minor in Philosophy

kindly, Highway told me that “fame is a false god–you fall eventually [...] I enjoy working hard, that’s all there is to it, and all the good things come with it.”

It was Highway’s following ‘reason for happiness’ that truly caught me by surprise. He told me that the key to happiness is “to put others ahead of yourself.” At first, my initial thought was that this could lead to being taken advantage of, but Highway’s wisdom superseded my critique. Putting others ahead of yourself, in his view, is to remove the “I” from one’s success. It is in giving credit to the ones who love and care for you, that you will find true fulfillment.

AUTHOR REFLECTION

I thoroughly enjoyed my time interviewing Tomson Highway. There was so much that was said, so much I wanted to convey, but I was restricted by the word count. There is much to learn from someone who can remain so loving and optimistic despite their trauma. The overall process was very out of my comfort zone. I’m used to expressing my own sentiments in my poetry; it’s a whole other ballgame when you have to do justice to someone else’s words. However, I really enjoyed the opportunity to take on a new writing style. Thankfully, Highway was very expressive and descriptive, which made it rather simple to ensure that the article was a pleasurable read. I definitely would take the time to outline ideas before writing a rough copy, as I think it would’ve made the overall revision process less tedious. I’d love to have this experience again to better my skills as a journalist, and to meet new people.

Passion Isn’t Prescriptive

Carina Gabriele

By: Sonia Zhang

Carina Gabriele graduated from Western in 2018 with an Honors Specialization in Women’s Studies and a Major in English Language and Literature. Initially starting her undergraduate journey at Western with a roster of Biology, French, and English courses, she arrived at university wanting to try different things to figure out her passion. Her aspirations would quickly manifest after taking an elective in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies with Professor Bipasha Baruah. Gabriele loved English and would continue studying it for the next four years; in conjunction, Women’s Studies would ignite an evermore love affair – one that gifted her wonderful courses and professors and opportunities to think critically and challenge her worldviews. In retrospect, she deeply appreciates the transferable skills that students learn and practice in Arts and Humanities programs. Whether it was writing, critical thinking, or the ability to communicate clearly and synthesize information, they all taught her different ways to analyze and approach various topics. “Anytime I talk to a prospective student who’s like, ‘I don’t know what to do in school,’ I tell them to consider Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, consider English... because the transferable skills are not only lifechanging, but they’re also super marketable in the workforce. This is what employers are looking for,” Gabriele says.

Furthermore, Gabriele’s involvement in

student politics and extracurriculars allowed her to gain the experience needed that lead to her future career. In her third year, she served as the Arts and Humanities Student Council president. During this transformative period of her life, she was not only learning more academically and socially but also gaining insight into the intricacies of policy change and advocacy, all while fostering her leadership skills. In fact, Spotlight was launched by her graduating class! In her fourth year, Gabriele was hired as a Residence Advisor, as the USC Gender Equality Network Coordinator, and at the end of the year, she was elected to be the next Student Programs Officer (SPO) on the University Students’ Council (USC) Executive Team. Promptly after graduating, Gabriele started working full-time as the SPO for a oneyear term. When asked about her time there, she expresses that her advocacy for the provision of free menstrual products on campus remains her proudest contribution to the USC. Living with endometriosis, a chronic pain reproductive disease, Gabriele possesses a personal connection to the issue of menstrual equity and fearlessly voices her opinions. At first, Gabriele’s proposals in meetings with university administrators were met with hesitation and rejection. “At the time, there wasn’t a lot for them to build an understanding of what this could look like,” Gabriele affirms, “So I said, fine. I went back to the USC, and we ran a month-long pilot project where the USC offered free menstrual products in [UCC] washrooms. We got feedback from students, had social media awareness, tracked the usage and the cost.” When Gabriele finished her tenure, the student leaders after her continued fighting for the issue, this time, with a detailed report that university administrators couldn’t ignore. It took a community to make it happen, but now, the UCC provides free menstrual products in their washrooms in addition to some other buildings on campus.

After her one-year term at the USC, Gabriele moved to Toronto to pursue a Master’s in Education Policy at the University of Toronto. While completing her master’s, she was working for now MPP, then Councillor, Kristyn Wong-Tam, and Gender Justice Educator and Advocate Farrah Khan. Wong-Tam was a Toronto City Councilor and Gabriele assisted them with constituency, policy, and communications work. Simultaneously, Khan was developing a federally-funded campus gender-based violence project called Courage to Act. Gabriele worked as the Community of Practice Coordinator; she supported in running nine of the ten communities of practice filled with students, frontline workers, academics, all working together to address gender-based violence with their expertise.

Afterwards, Gabriele moved full-time into federal politics. Currently, she works as the Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Canada’s Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities. As a member of Minister Kamal Khera’s policy team, Gabriele supports the Minister with her mandate commitments on the diversity and inclusion side of her portfolios. For example, some of the current mandate commitments being

Sonia Zhang 25

developed are a new anti-racism strategy and delivering Canada’s 200 million endowment to the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. On the policy side, Gabriele does a lot of reading, writing, advising, and recommending to the Minister on how to move forward – all of which require multiple policy documents, submissions for financing, requests going to cabinet for approval and authority, etc. A typical day at work for her looks like talking with communities, organizations, and stakeholders, collecting feedback, and in general, supporting Minister Khera’s goals.

Carina Gabriele carries an unwavering passion for the advocacy that she did at Western and that which she continues to do. When she talks, it is like a moth to a blazing flame—you find yourself enchanted by her words and expressions. Thus, to all the undergraduate students in the Arts and Humanities, wondering about the path that lies ahead, in the words of Carina Gabriele, “[Nothing] is prescriptive. You get to decide where you want to go based off what you care about, your passions, what you’re good at, and you can write that for yourself... I think that’s beautiful, especially in a world like today where so much is changing.”

AUTHOR REFLECTION

The opportunity to interview Carina Gabriele was an absolute highlight and ‘pinch me’ moment of my second year! I am extremely grateful to have engaged in such an insightful and motivating conversation with her. In my attempts to understand her as I was developing this article, the one thing I can say without any hesitation is that she never once credited herself without acknowledging the people who supported her along the way. That, to me, above all the impressive achievements and awards, is what’s most inspiring about her. I truly believe that Carina Gabriele is one of the most deserving role models because of her passionate dedication to uplifting women everywhere, fostering communities, and her work in Canadian federal politics. I know that her words and thoughts will continue to follow me throughout my own undergraduate journey at Western. Thank you so much, Carina!

Second year in English Language and Literature