Meet the Academic Advising Team

• Catharine Parr Traill College 
• Champlain College
• Lady Eaton College
• West Bank Colleges
• Gzowski College 
• Otonabee College 
• East Bank Colleges
• Academic Transitions Advisor - Transfer Students
• Durham-GTA Campus
• Trent International Advising

Catharine Parr Traill College 

Zachary Brault, he/him

Academic Advisor, Traill College

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science Honours with a major in Mathematics and minor in Psychology (Trent University) and Master of Education (Trent University)

Passions and Interests: Throughout his Master of Education, Zachary found his true passion in student success and equality. He loves working with students to problem solve, proactively plan, and paint a picture for academic success.  Outside of education, Zachary loves spending time with his dogs and is an active member of the dog show/breeding community. 

The thing that Zachary loves most about working in advising is hands down working one on one with students. Understanding that each student is completely different and has a history that makes them the person they are today. Zachary wants to get to know each student he works with personally so that he can best help them on their academic journey.

 

Ashley Maschke, she/her

Academic Advisor, Traill College

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science Honours in Forensic Science (Ontario Tech University); Certificate in Office Administration (Fleming College); Master of Education – in progress (Trent University).

Passions and Interests: Ashley is passionate about spending times outdoors – whether it be camping, hiking, or swimming, exploring nature is a daily requirement. Ashley also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and watching true crime documentaries.

One thing Ashley recognizes about academic advising is that every student is on a different educational path and will have unique needs and aspirations that they are looking to achieve. My favourite part about academic advising is building a connection with students to individualize strategies for academic planning and to empower students to make informed decisions about where their academic journey may lead.

Champlain College

Beth Needham, she/her

Academic Advisor, Champlain College

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts Honours Classical Studies, (Trent University), Bachelor of Education in the primary/junior division (Trent University); and a Master of Education (Trent University).

Passions and Interests: Beth is proud to be a non-Indigenous ally and Water Walker with Nibi Emosaawdamajig (Those Who Walk for the Water) and has a deep love for the land and waters of Peterborough and the Kawartha Highlands. Her areas of interest include decolonizing organizational behaviour, expressive art, leadership, and learning from the land. In her spare time, she has been known to create paintings, poems, music, colossal messes, and two handsome and very intelligent sons. 

Beth finds deep joy in helping students discover, develop, and connect with their own stories as they journey through their time at Trent. Her philosophy of care is rooted in having a trauma-informed perspective that allows students to feel safe and empowered to take the lead. She seeks to help students feel more connected to themselves (mind, body, heart, and spirit), as well as their living and learning communities. Beth is happiest helping students reach their goals and discover their purpose and she feels privileged to have found a home in advising at Trent nestled so close to her oldest and wisest teacher: the Odenabe (Otonabee River).   

Lady Eaton College

Melanie Sedge, she/her 

Academic Advisor, Lady Eaton College (on leave)

Educational Background: BA Honours Psychology, (University of Guelph), Post Graduate Diploma in Ecotourism Management (Fleming College), Diploma in Canadian Studies (Trent University) and Graduate Certificate in Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies (University of Ottawa)

Passions and Interests: Melanie is passionate about outdoor pursuits, adventure travel and lifelong learning. When she is not advising you may spot her paddling her canoe, hiking with her dogs, riding her bike or cross-country skiing. She also spends a lot of time driving her kids to their sports.

According to Melanie, the best part about being an academic advisor is the privilege of supporting students as they work towards achieving their goals. It is fulfilling to assist students with building an academic plan which incorporates their unique interests and sets them on a path in the direction of their passions. I love that all students are different and try to meet each one wherever they are in their journey.  

West Bank Colleges

Ryan Palaro, he/him

Academic Advisor, Champlain College 

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science Honours with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry and Specialization in Health Science (Trent University), Master of Education (University of Ottawa), and Certificate in Career Development and Academic Advising - in progress (University of Calgary).

Passions and Interests: Ryan appreciates that each student is on their own journey with both academic and personal growth. He loves to promote life-long learning and therefore, he chooses to be a constant learner himself, both academically and within
Advising itself. When he is not working with students, he enjoys running, fishing (currently trying to catch a Muskie in the Otonabee), and being active outdoors! 

Ryan recognizes the importance of getting to know students, their goals, their interests,
and their personal strengths and areas of need, so that he and students can work as a team to help ensure their academic success. He is most passionate about the unique atmosphere that Advising facilitates, allowing for the development of meaningful
working connections.

Otonabee College 

Lucy Conolly (she/her)

Academic Advisor, Otonabee College 

Educational Background: BA (Hons) Ancient History & Archaeology (University of Manchester) and MA (Distinction) Scientific Methods in Archaeology (University of Bradford)

Passions and Interests: Lucy is at her happiest with a good book and a cup of tea, but she also enjoys swimming, cycling, gardening and playing the piano.

Lucy worked at universities in Australia and the UK before moving to Canada; she has been working at Trent since November 2019, when she joined the Admissions Office. Lucy loves working with students to help them achieve their academic goals and she feels hugely privileged to be able to support students through their journey at Trent. 

Gzowski College 

Jennifer (Jen) Walsh-Hopkins, she/her

Academic Advisor, Gzowski College

Educational Background: Bachelor of Business Administration, Spec. Human Resources (Trent University), Master of Industrial Relations (Queen’s University), Master of Education, Student Development & Student Services in Higher Education (OISE, University of Toronto).

Passions and Interests: Jen is keenly interested student development and how post-secondary experiences play a pivotal role in our development as people and members of the communities we belong to and society at large. Outside of Trent, Jen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling around Canada and the world, and watching far too much reality TV.

Working with students to solve immediate issues and plan for the future are some of Jen’s favourite parts of her meetings with students. From recruiting student to Trent university to handing them their degrees after they have convocated, Jen has worked with through all stages of their Trent University journey and enjoys having the opportunity meet with student one on one, learn about their goals for the future, and help them develop a pathway to meet those goals.

East Bank Colleges

Lindy Garneau, she/her

Academic Advisor, East Bank Colleges

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts Honours in Native Studies and History (Trent University), Master of Education: Post-Secondary Studies (Memorial University), and Adler Trained Coach (Adler Learning Inc.)

Passions and Interests: I am a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation (Bear Clan). As a life-long learner my ongoing areas of interest include transformation learning, women in leadership, Indigenous pedagogy in higher education, coaching and storytelling.

As your Academic Advisor I support your academic planning process, including course registration, degree checks and petitions. I also provide coaching related to your academic goals.

Academic Transitions Advisor - Transfer Students

Sylvia Dick, she/her 

Academic Transitions Advisor, Transfer Students 

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in History (Trent University); Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communications (Seneca College); TEFL Certificate (University of Toronto). 

Passions and Interests: I love spending time outside, biking, camping, swimming, and meeting friends and family for picnics. As a lifelong learner I devour podcasts on a wide range of topics and also enjoy reading and taking classes when I can.  

My role was created specifically for transfer students. I work with campus partners to understand the strengths and challenges transfer students are experiencing in order to provide appointments, resources and programming to support them. I understand transfer students come with hard-earned credits and a focus on what they want to achieve while at Trent. My aim is to support students with their transition to Trent – from course registration and planning to adjusting to new systems and places. 

New transfer students are welcome to book an appointment with me via my booking page. 

Durham-GTA Campus

Are you a student on the Trent Durham GTA campus? Craig Cameron and Jamie Matin provide academic and career advising on the Durham GTA campus https://www.trentu.ca/durham/academics/academicadvising

Trent International Advising

Trent International offers advising for International Students with Barbara Castillo-Snook and Jessica Evans https://www.trentu.ca/currentstudents/international/advising-international-students