Talia Ritondo 

MA, Recreation and Leisure Studies

Talia completed her MA thesis in 2021 in the Department of Recreation and Leisure at Brock University. Her research focused on postnatal women's experiences of physically active leisure and how gendered expectations of motherhood impact their participation in community team sport after the birth of a child. Talia is a research assistant on the "Youth Sport and Role Identity" SSHRC and Sport Canada funded project. After graduation, Talia accepted a full-time position with Brock University’s Human Rights and Equity Office.

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Teshawn Smikle

MA, Social Justice and Equity Studies

Teshawn was a co-op MA student in the Social Justice and Equity Studies program at Brock University. As a former black football player at a Canadian University he experienced his share of racism both on and off the field. Ultimately, his major research paper aimed to find ways to dismantle racial and structural barriers that negatively impact athletes of colour as well as the transformative potential of sport for fostering equality, justice, and peace in communities. After graduation, Teshawn began his career helping young people reach their full potential and he accepted a full-time position with Brock University's, Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre as a Student Services Coordinator.

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Dr. Lisa Petty

PhD, Social and Cultural Health Studies

Lisa completed her PhD in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. Her dissertation focused on a narrative exploration of self-care and well-being for generation X women at midlife. Lisa was a research assistant on the ‘Playing with Motherhood: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Politics of Leisure in the Transition to Motherhood’ SSHRC funded project. Together, Lisa and I published in: Annals of Leisure Research; Leisure Sciences; Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. After graduation, Lisa continued her career in consulting in the area of women's health and wellbeing.

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Laura Kovac

MA, Social Justice and Equity Studies

Undergraduate Thesis, Recreation and Leisure Studies

Laura completed her MA thesis in 2017 as well as an undergraduate thesis in 2013 with me. Her MA thesis was a critical examination of girls’ experiences of aesthetic sports within a post-feminist masquerade. Her undergraduate thesis explored women’s experiences of nightclubs and the performance of gender and sexuality and was published in Leisure Sciences. Laura was a Research Assistant on the ‘Team Family Pride’ SSHRC funded project and we co-authored a book chapter on digital methodologies as well as published in Sport Management Review. After graduation, Laura began a career in Talent Acquisition with a focus on diversity.

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Katherine Gatt

MA, Leisure Studies

Katherine completed her MA thesis in 2018 in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. Her research focused on a critical examination of women with acquired physical (dis)abilities and reclaiming a sense of community belonging through physically active leisure. After graduation, Katherine continued a career in healthcare.

 

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Tashana Francis Cain

Undergraduate Thesis, Recreation and Leisure Studies

Tashana completed an undergraduate thesis study in 2019. Her research focused on the role of sport and recreation in the lives of young refugees. Together, Tashana and I published a research note from her thesis in World Leisure. After graduation Tashana went to Teacher’s College.

 

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Kristi Wismer

Undergraduate Thesis, Recreation and Leisure Studies

Kristi completed an undergraduate thesis study in 2016. Her research topic focused on organized youth sport and mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. Specifically, she examined young women who do not have a disability and their perceptions of young women who have a physical disability in youth sport. Kristi was a Research Assistant working on a project that focused on youth sport engagement through diverse social contexts (e.g., rural settings).

 

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Lacie-Dawn Dearsley

Undergraduate Thesis, Recreation and Leisure Studies
Lacie-Dawn completed an undergraduate thesis study in 2014. Her research topic explored how young women’s leisure experiences and meanings were impacted as a result of having a sibling that is diagnosed with an intellectual disability. After graduation, Lacie began her career advocating for the rights of adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities through her role as Leisure Support Staff and Residential Counsellor at non-profits located within the Hamilton Region.