Hats off to our newest grads!

Get to know some of the Class of 2023 below

- May 29, 2023

Spring Convocation ceremonies run from May 29-June 7.  (Danny Abriel photo)
Spring Convocation ceremonies run from May 29-June 7. (Danny Abriel photo)

Thousands of Dal graduates will be crossing the stage at Spring Convocation ceremonies from May 29 to June 7 in Halifax and Truro. Get to know just some of them in our Dal News profiles, shared from across the university.

Firefighter grad helps save elderly man in week of staggering blazes

Conor Scott was at the centre of the battle against one of Nova Scotia's most devastating wildfires and in the middle of a frightening rescue to save a man's life in the days leading up to his Convocation ceremony.

A wish fulfilled

Marie Jones left Dal to take care of her sick teenaged son in the mid-1970s. This week, nearly a half century later, she crossed the stage to receive her parchment — one of 11 degrees her family has earned from the university.

Grad profile: A whole new world

Dentistry grad Olu Brown's connection with Dal stretches back to her teenage years and has been exciting beyond what she imagined.

Staying on track

Twenty-one years after beginning his degree — and after a few breaks along the journey to care for his daughters when they were young — Danny Englehutt is receiving his Bachelor of Arts in History degree.

An eye‑opening experience

Francesca Sivilotti explored human behaviour and the law through multiple different perspectives as part of Dal's Law, Justice and Society program — setting her up for success as she heads to law school stateside this fall.

Home away from home

Zoë Smith reflects back on the tight-knit community she discovered in Dal Engineering.

Building a more reflective system of care

Nursing grad Arielle Noseworthy helped connect with and recruit Indigenous and African Nova Scotian students into health fields during her time at Dal.

The human connection

Fountain School of Performing Arts grad Sophie Wilcott found meaning and connection in theatre studies at Dal and leaves filled with aspirations to act, write and direct professionally.

Dreaming of a cleaner future (Kangxu He, Agriculture)

Faculty of Agriculture undergrad Kangxu He's passion for environmental engineering research stems from a desire to help improve conditions in her Chinese hometown.
 

Skatepark subculture through a social lens

Honours Sociology and Social Anthropology grad Bridgette Norwood turned her personal passion for skateboarding into a critical examination of gender discrepancies in the skatepark.

Listen, learn, network and grow (Gabby Schenkels and Rachel Sheffield, Agriculture)

Attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference this past March in Alberta gave Gabby Schenkels and Rachel Sheffield new perspectives on how to navigate their journey into the agriculture industry as women.
 

 A thirst for new adventures (Hanna Wadlegger, Agriculture)

Hanna Wadlegger traded Canada's west coast for east to explore her love of animal agriculture at Dal and ended up discovering a passion for loggersports as well.
 

 Solving the mystery (Khoi Dao, Medicine)

Khoi Dao chose a career in medicine to marry his passion for advocacy, science, and wellness, drawing unlikely inspiration throughout med school from a classic literary character: Sherlock Holmes.
 

 Going for goals (Brian Lawrence, Dentistry)

Brian Lawrence found the support he needed to excel in dental hygiene at Dal and discovered a career that fulfills his love of being around people.
 

 Empowering peers and patients (Maisoon Yousif, Medicine)

Maisoon Yousif, who co-founded the Dalhousie Black Medical Student Association and has been a champion for diversity and equity on campus, seeks to create positive change in healthcare and for healthcare providers.
 

Taking action for better health outcomes

David Bowman has explored his fascination with the intersection between evidence-based physiotherapy practice and rehabilitation research at Dal.

 Opening up to medicine (Kristin Ko, Medicine)

Kristin Ko, a self-proclaimed introvert who was brought out of her shell during her medical school training, made an impact for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Providing culturally competent care

Nigerian-born Richard Popoola graduates from the College of Pharmacy this spring on a mission to provide culturally competent care to all patients he works with.

  Learning between boundaries (Rita Wang, Architecture)

Architecture grad Rita Wang's award-winning academic career has spanned a vast array of topics from landscape formation and materials research, while also touching urgent social issues such as affordable housing.
 

Shaping cities for people (Tim Jacobs, Planning)

Tim Jacobs was working in the restaurant industry and watching Calgary grow around him when he got inspired to pursue urban planning.
 

Schulich Leader feels charged up for what's next (Ethan Eastwood, Science)

Ethan Eastwood, a recipient of the coveted Schulich Leader Scholarship, graduates this spring with a combined honours in physics and mathematics and years of research experience in one of the world's most-watched battery labs.

Supporting the next generation of scientists (Suchinta Arif, Science)

Owing to a desire to make scientific fields more inclusive, Biology PhD graduate Suchinta Arif co-founded the Diversity of Nature outreach group during her doctoral studies, an initiative that will live on following her graduation.

A sense of adventure (Carmen Graves, Science)

A desire to get out of her comfort zone drove Bachelor of Science grad Carmen Graves to attend a university outside of her home province of Ontario. That sense of adventure remains as she prepares to head abroad to pursue a master’s degree in financial economics.

Tapping data‑driven health solutions

Award-winning Master of Computer Science grad Nathaniel Brown of Shelburne, Nova Scotia works at the intersection of biology and computer science — developing cutting-edge techniques to enhance the future of healthcare.

Addressing gaps in governance

Interdisciplinary PhD grad Weishan Wang's research on the governance of Arctic shipping taps into a topic critical as the planet faces a changing climate.

Finding her path as a leader

Management grad Sophika Dmytryshyn struggled in her first year, but developing better study habits and connecting with her professors and support staff helped her find her groove and thrive as a student leader.

Serving a community of newcomers

Social work grad Stephanie Barron's commitment to helping immigrants and refugees began as a young person when her parents took her to events at shelters that supported them when they first arrived in Canada.

Building her network

By accepting a place in the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq Initaitive, Leandra Bouman knew she was joining a powerful network of Canadian lawyers.

For the love of the environment

Schulich Law's Marine & Environmental Law Institute inspired B.C.-born Kieran Simpson to relocate to Canada's East Coast to continue his education.

Uncovering a powerful approach all her own

Lauren Agnew leveraged her strengths to undertake Dal's combined Juris Doctor and MBA degree, setting her up to work at the intersection of law and business.


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