Reasons to be Optimistic Today
In times when the world feels challenging, and often dark, the stories of Trent's Luminaries shine a light on meaningful progress.
![Safiya Khaki](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/safiya.webp)
Business ideas are just solutions to a problem
Safiya Khaki Business Student
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/Zhaawnong.webp)
Future of Indigenous identity in virtual and physical spaces
Zhaawanong Webb Reclaiming Indigenous Identity
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/nisbet.png)
stepping away from your desk and into nature
Lisa Nisbet Spending time in nature
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/marina.webp)
People are joining us to build the future
Marina Morgenshtern Immigrant Employment Integration
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/power.webp)
the dual roles of mining and EV in creating a climate-friendly future
Ian Power Mining and Electric Vehicles
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/erskine.webp)
Inspiring women in business; empowering women
Anita Erskine Business
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/vandenbroek.webp)
Power of ambition and balancing athletic and academic success
Grace VandenBroek Rowing
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/nichols.webp)
tackling systemic barriers facing marginalized people
Naomi Nichols Community led Solutions for Social Justice and Addressing Homelessness
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/luminaries/hartwick.webp)
Power of education... mentorship
Ken Hartwick OPG Business Leadership
More Trent Luminaries
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/stephen-stohn.jpg)
Dr. Stephen Stohn
Trent Chancellor, entertainment lawyer, and television producer
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Gillespie Siblings
Trent Aumni & Flying Colours Corp. Executives
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/erin-bennett-rilling.jpg)
Erin Bennett-Rilling
Student, joint major in History and Sociology
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/hickson.png)
Dr. Michael Hickson
Department Chair and Associate Professor, Philosophy
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/roberta-bondar.jpg)
Dr. Roberta Bondar
Trent's ninth chancellor and first female Canadian astronaut to launch into space
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/feyzibaban.jpg)
Dr. Feyzi Baban
Associate Professor, International Development Studies & Political Studies
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/melanie-buddle.jpg)
Dr. Melanie Buddle
Historian and Principal of Peter Gzowski College
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/barclay.jpg)
Linwood Barclay
Trent alumnus and New York Times bestselling author
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/mary-simon.jpg)
Dr. Mary May Simon
Former Trent chancellor and governor general
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Dr. Ainsely Lewis
Post-doctoral fellow in Trent’s Emery Lab
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/lucie-edwards.jpg)
Dr. Lucie Edwards
Trent alumna, governor emeritus, and former Canadian high commissioner
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/chetwynd-osborne.jpg)
Chetwynd Osborne
Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/howes.webp)
Dr. Moira Howes
Associate Professor, Philosophy
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/yann-martel.jpg)
Yann Martel
Trent Philosophy alumnus & award-winning author
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/Emily-Whetung.webp)
Emily Whetung
Trent alumna & Chief, Curve Lake First Nation
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/tapscott.jpg)
Dr. Don Tapscott
Trent’s first alumni chancellor, business executive, author, consultant, and speaker
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/anne-pasek.jpg)
Dr. Anne Pasek
Canada Research Chair in Media, Culture and the Environment; professor within the School of the Environment and the Department of Cultural Studies
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Dr. Marguerite Xenopoulos
Canada Research Chair of Global Change of Freshwater Ecosystems and Professor of Biology
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/suresh-narine.jpg)
Dr. Suresh Narine
Chair of the Sustainable Guyana Program, director of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research; professor, Physics and Astronomy and Chemistry; director of Guyana's Institute of Applied Science and Technology
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/elizabeth-russell.jpg)
Dr. Elizabeth Russell
Trent Centre for Aging & Society director and associate professor, Psychology
![](/luminaries/sites/trentu.ca.luminaries/files/documents/2023/thumbnails/scott-henderson.jpg)
Dr. Scott Henderson
Dean and head of Trent University Durham GTA
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Audrey Wilson
Trent Alumna and Research Assistant