News
Application Period is now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.
News
Steve Cordes Announced as Guest Instructor for SASAH’s 4th-Year Capstone Seminar 2024-25
The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) is pleased to announce Steve Cordes, CEO of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, as the guest instructor for its fourth-year capstone seminar. The capstone course component, called Understanding and Addressing Youth Homelessness in London, Ontario, will provide a comprehensive exploration of youth homelessness while fostering community engagement between students, youth and housing advocates, and youth experiencing homelessness.
Each week, SASAH students will participate in dialogues, practical activities, and field work visits that may challenge their assumptions while also empowering them to contribute meaningfully to solutions in their local context. The culminating project for the course will be short, collaborative video documentaries that share stories of local youth experiencing homelessness.
Steve is known for his infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of youth. He believes in creating systems that prioritize the well-being and success of young people, rather than forcing them to fit into a predetermined framework. “I am thrilled that Steve Cordes will be working with our students this term,” states Dr. Aara Suksi, Director of SASAH and co-instructor with Steve for this seminar, adding, “I can think of no better model for leadership in building compassionate, effective, and youth-centered support services. He has the experience and expertise to offer our students truly community-engaged learning.”
Click here to read more about Steve and the 4th-year Capstone course.
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 award winners!
Recipients of the SASAH Leadership Award: Fatima Ekladri, Sammy Golger, Tiana Terblanche, Sydney Wambua, Rachel Weisberg
David Cruickshank 1947-2024
The SASAH community is saddened to learn of the passing of David Cruickshank, who was a valued member of our Advisory Council. David was generous with his support, guidance, and mentoring of our students. His presence on the Advisory Council was marked by his characteristic warmth and astuteness. We will miss him dearly and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.
For more about David's accomplishments, qualities, and passions, see the tribute from his colleagues at Edge International: https://www.edge.ai/people/david-cruickshank/
New addition to the SASAH team
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ruth Skinner will take up the position of Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for SASAH on August 5.
Many of you will know Ruth, who recently completed her PhD in Western's Department of Visual Arts. She has been teaching SASAH's Digital Literacies Course to rave reviews since 2020. Ruth is known in many arts and care organizations for her expertise in activating the power of the arts to create communities and bring together diverse partners for a common good. In her most recent role as Executive Director of the Forest City Gallery she has revitalized engagement with programming that is inclusive, impactful, and generative.
In her role with SASAH, Ruth will be responsible for creating and carrying out pedagogically meaningful programming that engages our students and faculty with communities on campus, across London, and beyond.Celebrating the Class of 2024
Congratulations to the SASAH class of 2024! Your hard work and determination have paid off, and now you will walk across the stage into a bright new future. We are so proud of everything you have achieved. Best wishes from everyone in the SASAH program.
And a special congratulation goes out to this year’s Gold Medal recipients. Gray Brogden, Gold Medal for the Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature; Ann Lei, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in SASAH and the Honours Major in Economics; and Naomi So, Gold Medal for the Honours Major in Kinesiology.
Carol Off returns to Western to teach SASAH 4th-year capstone course
Carol Off, BA'81, returns to Western to teach SASAH's 4th-year capstone course as a guest lecturer. Carol is an award-winning writer, journalist, and broadcaster who hosted CBC Radio One's As It Happens for 16 years. She will be teaching a course called Endangered Words, where students are encouraged to reflect on a new word each week.
To read more about Carol Off and Endangered Words, click here. To hear more about Carol's plans for the course and her new book, click here.
SASAH Class of 2024 - CIRCADIA
Ann Lei
Anjali Singh, Emma Ammodio
Anjali Singh
Gray Brogden
Holly Barrans
Isabella Isabage
Lauren Cowell
Louisa He
Naomi So
Rachel Tersch
Student highlight
First-year SASAH students to showcase work in Kaleidoscope of Creativity: Tornadoes, Oceans and Climate
On March 1st, the Don Wright Faculty of Music will host a multidisciplinary gallery inspired by Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project and other weather and nature-inspired research. Several first-year SASAH students are contributing projects that will be on display during the event.
To learn more about Kaleidoscope of Creativity, click here.
Gray Brogden, SASAH '24, named as recipient of McCall MacBain Scholarship
Gray Brogden (SASAH and English & Creative Writing) was recently named as a regional recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship. Every year, McCall MacBain Scholarships are offered to promising candidates who distinguished themselves at regional interviews. Gray is also Western's current Student Writer-in-Residence.
To learn more about the McCall MacBain Scholarship program, click here.
To learn more about SASAH's students, click here.
recent events
For past SASAH events, click here.
