Susan Manning ’09, Bachelor of Arts, Honours, Gender and Women’s Studies & International Development Studies Epworth, NL

“Coming to Trent is probably the best decision I have ever made.”

Newfoundland native, Susan Manning is the recipient of the Symons Medal.  This medal is awarded to students in the Honours program who achieve high overall standing on graduation.

Susan came to Trent University to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Women’s Studies and International Development Studies.   Her Trent academic career also took her all the way to Ghana where she gained new perspective on the world around her and her role within it.  Susan who is an honours student has received many accolades for her volunteer work and academic achievement.
Armed with the knowledge to make a difference in the community on social and environmental justice issues, Ms. Manning will be pursuing a Master of Arts in Woman and Gender Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University.

On Winning the Trent University Symons Medal:
“Winning the Symons Medal is a tremendous honour. I am quite grateful to be chosen as one of the recipients and to have my academic achievements recognized at Convocation.”

How will you make a difference with your Trent degree? 
My studies at Trent have provided me with the tools to engage in a critical analysis, but at the same time, have encouraged me to maintain my optimism and dream big about the possibilities that emerge when we follow the questions that drive us.

What are your future goals?
 I am moving to Halifax for graduate school in the fall. I pursuing a Master of Arts in Woman and Gender Studies in a joint program hosted between Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University. I am very excited to continue my studies on the East Coast and be a little closer to home.
I hope to become a professor one day.

What did you get out of your Trent degree? 
In my upper year courses I have been able to build on the base provided by the core required courses and focus my studies on the parts of both disciplines that are most interesting to me such as: critical race theory, different analyses of poverty, interactions between feminism and environmental justice movements, queer and trans theory, community development and gender and the welfare state in Canada.

The influence and passion of several wonderful professors has pushed me in new directions that I would never have imagined myself going when I first came to Trent. My studies have given me the knowledge required to translate my work as an academic into involvement in my community on social and environmental justice issues.

Why did you choose Trent?
Trent originally attracted me because of its small size and clear sense of community. I came to Trent not really knowing specifically what I wanted to study, but very interested in several different options in the arts and social sciences. After first year I decided to do a joint major in Gender and Women’s Studies and International Development Studies.  Both majors provide a solid base in theory and method for studying injustice and oppression.

What is the best thing about studying at Trent?
Moving from a tiny outport in rural Newfoundland and Labrador to Trent and Peterborough was quite a huge transition but one that I am delighted to have experienced.  Coming to Trent is probably the best decision I have ever made.
 At Trent, I have found a supportive family of friends and a niche of academia where I feel I belong. I have become more confident in my abilities, solidified my values and discovered what is truly important to me, and gained an invaluable awareness of the position of privilege I occupy in society.

The best thing about studying at Trent has been being part of such a vibrant community of academics and activists, where you are valued as a whole person. I have felt incredibly welcome here and have made many wonderful friendships. I really appreciate Trent’s small size and the college system, which have enabled the formation of this type of community.

Trent’s students and faculty are incredibly engaged and passionate about what they do, which always makes for interesting conversations both inside and outside of class. The small class sizes have greatly facilitated my success in the classroom as well as allowing me to get to know my professors and fellow students on a personal level. And of course, with such beautiful natural surroundings, I could not help but feel at home.

Can you give an example of how Trent professors had a special impact?
I have had the great pleasure to have wonderful professors throughout my time at Trent and have gotten to know many of them quite well. The four professors that have had the most impact on my learning are Sharon Sbrocchi, Margaret Hobbs, Paula Butler and Jacqueline Solway. These women are wonderfully warm, incredibly passionate about the subjects they teach and genuinely care about their students’ well-being. Each, in her own way, has inspired me to continue my studies at the graduate level in the hopes of one day becoming a professor myself.

Interests and passions:
Areas of academic interest include: intersections between place and identity; arts-informed qualitative research; dynamics of privilege and oppression.

Extracurricular activities:
One of my favourite experiences at Trent was the opportunity to spend the 2011-2012 academic year in Ghana as part of the International Development Studies Year Abroad Program.  Ghana was a life-changing experience for me.  The year in Ghana gave me new understandings of my identity and broadened the lens through which I see and make sense of the world.

Volunteer work:
On the Peterborough campus, the organization I have become the most involved with is the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC). I started volunteering with KWIC in my first year at Trent and continued throughout my last 3 years as well, serving on the Board of Directors.

Awards and Scholarships received at Trent University:

• Terry Fox Humanitarian Award (2009-2012)
• Shad Valley Alumni Entrance Scholarship (2009-2012)
• IDST 100 Prize (2010) William B. Common Memorial Prize (2011)
• Berna Theobalds Prize (2011)
• Lady Eaton College Fellow’s Prize (2013)
• Dean’s Honour Roll (2010-2013)