Mike Robinson, anthropologist, lawyer, scholar, teacher and writer, spent the week of November 10 to 14 delivering a number of public talks and presentations at Trent University, Lakefield College School and The Canadian Canoe Museum as the inaugural Jack Matthews Fellow.

Staying in the guest suite at Alumni House in Champlain College, Mr. Robinson particularly enjoyed spending time with Trent students and faculty throughout the week.

On November 11, Mr. Robinson was a special guest at a dinner organized by the Trent Global Living Community (TGLC), a Living/Learning Community in Champlain College made up of students who share a common interest in global citizenship and diversity. In his talk, entitled “Carving a Career in Social Justice Activism”, Mr. Robinson gave students his advice for making a successful career by bringing the critical knowledge and thinking of social justice-oriented liberal arts education to work in both the private and the public sectors. His broad experience in both the corporate, the public, and not-for-profit worlds, as well as his frankly critical perspective were inspiring and motivating to students across the disciplines. In his concluding remarks, he advised students to “understand what makes humans happy, and to work for your own happiness.” He also thanked Trent students for “sharing your infectious spirit of change.”

To wrap-up his week-long fellowship, Mr. Robinson delivered a World Affairs Colloquium at Trent where he talked to a group of 40 students, faculty, staff and community members about “Stories that Won’t Leave My Mind”, his book-in-progress. During the presentation he told several stories about cross-cultural interactions. With these stories, Mr. Robinson spoke about the process of writing and storytelling, and encouraged everyone in the audience to share their unique stories. When he received a strong response to his question asking how many students write on their own, outside of the academic environment, he said with a smile, "The written tradition is alive and well at Trent!"

Mr. Robinson is an adjunct professor with the University of Calgary's Faculty of Environmental Design and past president of the Glenbow Museum, one of the country's most progressive cultural institutions. He has served as executive director of the Arctic Institute of North America, chair of the Canadian Polar Commission and he is a long-time board member of the David Suzuki Foundation and Friends of the Earth Canada. He has been awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and became a member of the Order of Canada in 2005.

In addition to his talks at Trent, Mr. Robinson also delivered the annual Kirk Wipper Lecture at The Canadian Canoe Museum on November 12, speaking on “What a Museum Should Be.” At Lakefield College School, he participated in a number of events, including the Great Matthews Fellowship Lakefield-Peterborough Outdoor Education Canoe Adventure, an experiential river seminar on the Otonabee.

Created in 2008, the Jack Matthews Fellowship honours the founding leadership contributions of the late Mr. Jack Matthews to Trent University, Lakefield College School, and The Canadian Canoe Museum. Jack Matthews founded the Trent International Program (TIP) at Trent University, and managed its development from 1982 until 1989. He was awarded an honorary degree from Trent in 1992. A visionary international educator, Mr. Mathews was a former headmaster of Lakefield College School and the founding director of Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Victoria, BC. He also played a key role in the founding of The Canadian Canoe Museum. Jack’s commitment to the development of student leadership in the interest of global citizenship is the foundation of the Trent International Program.