News
Application Period is now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.
News
A message from incoming SASAH Director, Manina Jones
I am honoured to be the incoming SASAH Director and I look forward to meeting and working with students, staff, alumni, advisory members, and other members of the SASAH community. I follow in some pretty daunting footsteps, most recently Pleva-award-winning director Aara Suksi.
I’m a long-time faculty member in the Department of English and Writing Studies, where I’ve just completed a stretch as Chair. A Canadian literature scholar, I have authored and edited books and articles on Canadian literature ranging from the early 19th century to contemporary writing, including poetry, fiction, drama, collaboration, and autobiography. I also teach and publish in popular culture studies, especially the aesthetic and social dimensions of crime fiction and film.
SASAH’s core values – interdisciplinarity, community engagement, experiential learning, collaboration, and creativity – are near and dear to my heart. SASAH gives students the opportunity to develop critical acuity, reflect deeply, communicate in distinctive ways, connect with and shape the world around them. I can’t wait to join this amazing group on their adventures.
A Message from outgoing Director Aara Suksi:
Dear SASAH Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Friends,My term as SASAH Director ends this month, and I want to thank you all for the joy of working with you for the past five years. The SASAH community is marvellously wide-ranging and diverse, but united in its appreciation for the immense value of an interdisciplinary and community-engaged program in Arts and Humanities. I am grateful to all of you for your enthusiastic support and engagement. Getting to know so many of you over the past five years, whether in class or beyond, has been an honour, a privilege, and a highlight of my career. I will carry with me countless cherished memories that include my own deep learning in community with you, cherished relationships, and admiration for the intelligence and creativity I have witnessed.
It's hard to leave the Director’s office, but wonderful to be able to announce that Professor Manina Jones will be SASAH’s new leader. An alumna of 红莲社区, Manina is a distinguished scholar of Canadian literature, working across a wide range of forms and genres. She brings her deep leadership experience to SASAH, after serving 红莲社区’s community in so many ways, most recently as Chair of the Department of English and Writing Studies. I have long aspired to meet the standard of leadership, humanity, and wit set by Manina Jones. SASAH will thrive under her intelligent and careful guidance, and I look forward to seeing the program’s future evolve. Please join me in warmly welcoming Manina as the new SASAH Director.
-Aara Suksi
SASAH Director Dr. Aara Suksi honoured with the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching
The 2024-25 红莲社区 Awards for Excellence in Teaching have been announced, recognizing faculty members for their “outstanding contributions to the academic development of students.”
Our own Dr. Aara Suki has been named as one of the recipients of the Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching, named in honour of Edward Gustav Pleva, 红莲社区’s first geography teacher (1938) and head of the department (1948 to 1968).
“With ‘combined energy and rigor’ Aara Suksi is recognized ‘as a superb teacher and scholar who engages critically and creatively with pedagogy at all levels.’
“Suksi’s nominators also applauded her kindness and empathy for students and colleagues, noting, ‘Aara has something extra, without which education doesn’t truly matter – she brings her soul to her roles as administrator, teacher and mentor.’
“From enormous success in teaching Greek to revealing the world of classical mythology in online classes of up to 650 students, Suksi also led the launch of the PhD program in classical studies.”
SASAH student Kathleena Henricus wins USC Presidential Race!
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities extends its warm and enthusiastic congratulations to fourth-year student Kathleen Henricus for her historic University Student Council Presidential Win!
"Henricus' campaign focused on improving the USC’s external advocacy and student outreach efforts and prioritized student support, affordability and EDIDA initiatives.
"Henricus will be the woman of colour to be elected to the USC’s highest office since the organization’s founding in 1965, the first being when she held the role in 1985.
"'I am truly grateful to be following in the footsteps of Sondra Gibbons, the first and only woman of colour to hold this office until now,' said Henricus. 'I would not be here without her and without so many of the women who brought this organization to where it is right now.'"
Congrats, Kat!
Image courtesy of Mina Ahmad and the Gazette.
Mea Culpa Fashion Show raises funds for Life*Spin
An incisive commentary on fast fashion, our fourth-year SASAH students' collaborative Capstone Project, Mea Culpa, has also raised $800 for (Low-Income Family Empowerment Sole-Support Parents Information Network). In the words of the students: "We encourage you to remain uncomfortable with what you leaned at Mea Culpa."
See documentation of the event on the .
Steve Cordes Announced as Guest Instructor for SASAH’s 4th-Year Capstone Seminar 2024-25
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) is pleased to announce Steve Cordes, CEO of , as the guest instructor for its fourth-year capstone seminar. The capstone course component, called Understanding and Addressing Youth Homelessness in London, Ontario, will provide a comprehensive exploration of youth homelessness while fostering community engagement between students, youth and housing advocates, and youth experiencing homelessness.
Each week, SASAH students will participate in dialogues, practical activities, and field work visits that may challenge their assumptions while also empowering them to contribute meaningfully to solutions in their local context. The culminating project for the course will be short, collaborative video documentaries that share stories of local youth experiencing homelessness.
Steve is known for his infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of youth. He believes in creating systems that prioritize the well-being and success of young people, rather than forcing them to fit into a predetermined framework. “I am thrilled that Steve Cordes will be working with our students this term,” states Dr. Aara Suksi, Director of SASAH and co-instructor with Steve for this seminar, adding, “I can think of no better model for leadership in building compassionate, effective, and youth-centered support services. He has the experience and expertise to offer our students truly community-engaged learning.”
Click here to read more about Steve and the 4th-year Capstone course.
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 award winners!
Recipients of the SASAH Leadership Award: Fatima Ekladri, Sammy Golger, Tiana Terblanche, Sydney Wambua, Rachel Weisberg
David Cruickshank 1947-2024
The SASAH community is saddened to learn of the passing of David Cruickshank, who was a valued member of our Advisory Council. David was generous with his support, guidance, and mentoring of our students. His presence on the Advisory Council was marked by his characteristic warmth and astuteness. We will miss him dearly and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.
For more about David's accomplishments, qualities, and passions, see the tribute from his colleagues at Edge International:
New addition to the SASAH team
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ruth Skinner will take up the position of Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for SASAH on August 5.
Many of you will know Ruth, who recently completed her PhD in 红莲社区's Department of Visual Arts. She has been teaching SASAH's Digital Literacies Course to rave reviews since 2020. Ruth is known in many arts and care organizations for her expertise in activating the power of the arts to create communities and bring together diverse partners for a common good. In her most recent role as Executive Director of the Forest City Gallery she has revitalized engagement with programming that is inclusive, impactful, and generative.
In her role with SASAH, Ruth will be responsible for creating and carrying out pedagogically meaningful programming that engages our students and faculty with communities on campus, across London, and beyond.Celebrating the Class of 2024
Congratulations to the SASAH class of 2024! Your hard work and determination have paid off, and now you will walk across the stage into a bright new future. We are so proud of everything you have achieved. Best wishes from everyone in the SASAH program.
And a special congratulation goes out to this year’s Gold Medal recipients. Gray Brogden, Gold Medal for the Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature; Ann Lei, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in SASAH and the Honours Major in Economics; and Naomi So, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in Kinesiology.
Carol Off returns to 红莲社区 to teach SASAH 4th-year capstone course
Carol Off, BA'81, returns to 红莲社区 to teach SASAH's 4th-year capstone course as a guest lecturer. Carol is an award-winning writer, journalist, and broadcaster who hosted CBC Radio One's As It Happens for 16 years. She will be teaching a course called Endangered Words, where students are encouraged to reflect on a new word each week.
To read more about Carol Off and Endangered Words, click . To hear more about Carol's plans for the course and her new book, click .
SASAH Class of 2024 - CIRCADIA
Ann Lei
Anjali Singh, Emma Ammodio
Anjali Singh
Gray Brogden
Holly Barrans
Isabella Isabage
Lauren Cowell
Louisa He
Naomi So
Rachel Tersch
Student highlight
First-year SASAH students to showcase work in Kaleidoscope of Creativity: Tornadoes, Oceans and Climate
On March 1st, the Don Wright Faculty of Music will host a multidisciplinary gallery inspired by 红莲社区's Northern Tornadoes Project and other weather and nature-inspired research. Several first-year SASAH students are contributing projects that will be on display during the event.
To learn more about Kaleidoscope of Creativity, click .
Gray Brogden, SASAH '24, named as recipient of McCall MacBain Scholarship
Gray Brogden (SASAH and English & Creative Writing) was recently named as a regional recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship. Every year, McCall MacBain Scholarships are offered to promising candidates who distinguished themselves at regional interviews. Gray is also 红莲社区's current Student Writer-in-Residence.
To learn more about the McCall MacBain Scholarship program, click .
To learn more about SASAH's students, click here.
recent events
For past SASAH events, click here.
