College Office
Within our College Office you will find support or a starting point to any question. We have student staff who are trained to assist you with scheduling your classes, an Academic Advisor who can help you navigate your degree and an Academic Skills Instructor who can offer support with your assignments and study skills. We also have a sunny patio for studying and College swag so you can show off your Champlain pride.
Working closely with the Champlain College Cabinet, and the Residence Life Coordinator, the College Office is the place to bring any question or concern during your time at Trent University.
Meet our College Staff
Tina Fridgen
Principal
Directing my academic research focus to the fields of toxicology and pathology I have gained a wide range of experience within academia as a course instructor for the Trent biology department (12 years), Academic Advisor (5 years), and a College Principal (1 year). During this time I have enjoyed combining my enthusiasm for learning and scientific investigation with my training in student support services to help students navigate University life and to find their place in this world.
Through my education, research, and teaching experience I have gained a general knowledge of a wide variety of topics within the fields of Biology and Environmental Science, with specific attention to topics related to herpetology, conservation genetics, histology, pathology, physiology, endocrine disruption, immunology, and wildlife disease. Working in Champlain College and the greater academic community at Trent, I have become fluent with the functions of a university and the policies and resources within.
I enjoy teaching and always look forward to continue learning through my students. My office is always open and feel free to drop by and let me know what interests you!
Shivaan Burke
College Assistant
I joined the Champlain College Office as the College Assistant in October 2018. In this role I provide administrative support to all members of the College Office team in the day-to-day operations of the Champlain College office.
As a current administrative staff member, proud Trent and Champlain College Alum and graduate of the Sociology undergraduate program, I hold a strong, first-hand knowledge of the campus environment including its governance, organization, and the academic and non-academic resources available to students, faculty and staff. Previous employment at Trent includes Risk Management and Financial Services.
In my spare time I enjoy our country living with friends and family.
Lindy Garneau
Academic Advisor
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. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation (Bear Clan).
My learning journey began at Trent in 2000, when I began my undergraduate degree studying Indigenous Studies and History. Shortly after convocating with a BA(Honours) I began working at Trent as the Educational Access Assistant with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). In time I moved on to new roles such as Learning Strategist and Special Projects Coordinator at SAS, as well as Aboriginal Counsellor with the First Peoples House of Learning and the role of Head of Peter Gzowski College from 2014-18. I have been both a Teaching Assistant and an Instructor for INDG 1010Y as well as an Instructor for INDG-ADMN 3040H in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.
I earned my M.Ed in Post-Secondary Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland. My research focused on the transformational learning experiences of Indigenous women in the university classroom. I am also an Adler Trained Coach (ATC) from Adler International Inc. in Toronto. As a life-long learner and professional coach, my ongoing areas of interest include transformation learning, women in leadership, Indigenous pedagogy in higher education, coaching and storytelling.
Ashley Gerrits
Academic Advising Projects and Support Coordinator
As the Academic Advising Projects and Support Coordinator, I work closely with Academic Advisors in the Colleges to support advising functions, projects, and initiatives across all the Colleges. I will be responsible for monitoring and responding to the advising email to provide support to students and staff from across the university. In this role I will provide support and coordinate planning and logistics for advising projects and initiatives related to student recruitment, engagement, development, support, retention, and success.
My academic journey began in 2004 when I started my undergraduate studies in History and English at Trent University. In 2008 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History, and completed a certificate in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph. After working in Residence Life & Housing roles at Algonquin College and the University of Guelph, I returned to my alma matter, Trent University, in 2014 to work in the role of College Head of Otonabee College, and most recently in the role as Residence Education Coordinator for Trent Housing Services. My passion for supporting the development of students' in their co-curricular journey in post-secondary studies has provided me with the experience I am grateful to have gained and bring to this role in the Colleges.
Susan Thompson
Academic Skills
I am the College Academic Skills Instructor. In this role, I work with students to help them refine and improve the academic skills required to achieve success at university. These academic skills range from learning how to use the dreaded comma correctly to developing critical thinking and analysis abilities. I have a keen interest in understanding how students learn and in providing students with the resources and information they need to succeed. I find the role of Academic Skills Instructor to be extremely rewarding, especially when a student’s new skill is applied and results in improved confidence and satisfaction.
Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, I am privileged to have completed both my undergraduate and graduate education at Trent University. Before joining the Champlain College team, I enjoyed working as a Teaching Assistant and Course Instructor for the Trent School of Business. In my spare time I enjoy reading Canadian fiction, knitting socks, walking in the woods, and paddling on the water.
Your Champlain College Ambassadors
Cassandra Watters
College Ambassador
I am a fourth year Business Administration and International Development Studies transfer student at Trent. Being a transfer student has allowed me to gain first-hand knowledge of the many resources that Trent offers, which I am looking forward to sharing! By working as a College Ambassador, I am hoping to create connections with students and offer help, anyway I can. Being at Trent has given me the opportunity to be apart of a community that understands, accepts, and supports all their students and staff.
I am grateful to be in a position where I am able to help fellow students in the success of their undergraduate degrees!
Adrianna Browne-Richards
College Ambassador
I am a fourth year Forensic Science student at Trent. Over the past three years at Trent I have been able to take advantage of the many resources available to students and look forward to sharing those resources with you! Working as a College Ambassador, I hope to form strong relationships with students while also providing a safe environment for them to ensure that they can be successful while studying at Trent.
I am very excited to be in a position where I can help my peers and allow them to have the best Trent experience!
Roohina Ismail
College Ambassador
I am a third year Kin student at Trent. Over the past two years at Trent, I have had numerous opportunities to work in student support positions. This has equipped with knowledge about the resources available at Trent, and how I could assist students to make the best use of them. I hope to share my experience with the Chamily while also creating a safe space to form meaningful relationships with each other.
Mridul Harbhajunka
College Ambassador
Hello everyone, I am a third year international student majoring in Cultural Studies and Philosophy at Trent. Over the past year, I have been a member of Champlain Cabinet which has allowed me to learn a lot about our community and the various opportunities that Trent has to offer. I am so excited to work as a College Ambassador, and be able to share my experience at Trent and learn from yours. I believe community is such an important part of university life, and every Champlain student should feel like they belong! I am hoping to connect with my fellow students, and make sure we can all come together to celebrate our time at Trent University and make it an unforgettable experience.
Shishir Suresh
College Ambassador
Hey Everyone, I am third international student majoring in biology at Trent. Over the past two years at Trent I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of amazing groups on campus such as SAAT and TVAN. This has allowed me to learn and experience various resources at Trent and I would love to share these resources with everyone else. I am very excited to a part of Champlain College office as a student Ambassador. With a view of helping the students on their journey to Trent, it is my goal to develop strong and meaningful relationships with students.