MEM Insider Volume 10

MEM INSIDER

A MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, ECONOMICS, AND MATHEMATICS

M E M I N S I D E R

EDITOR’S LETTER

Dear readers,

On behalf of the MEM Insider Magazine team, we hope you enjoy this year’s edition and can gain some insight into the School of MEM at King’s. From changing landscapes in accounting and economic policy to best study practices, student research projects and testimonials, our writers have done a fantastic job at covering a wide range of events from this past academic year.

Since moving to London in 2022 to start my undergraduate degree in accounting and economics, I discovered a hidden passion for writing and journalism. This magazine prides itself on being student-run, so that students like me have a platform to share their stories and contribute to the King’s community. I encourage all students to find something they like and do the same!

-Jack Pemberton

I ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO FIND SOMETHING THEY LIKE!

JenniferJeffrey,PhD

Director’s Report

AssociateProfessorandDirectoroftheSchoolofMEM

Welcome everyone to the 2024-25 edition of the MEM Insider! This publication is a student-led initiative, which aims to highlight the many achievements of the student and faculty body within the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics (MEM). The School of MEM is the largest academic unit at King’s University, with roughly 850 students studying economics, financial economics, analytics, accounting, human resources, global commerce, and financial administration. It is also the most diverse, with students from China, India, Vietnam, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East filling our classrooms alongside their Canadian classmates. We have over 20 dedicated full-time faculty, and roughly 40 part-time faculty who work tirelessly to help students succeed. Below I will highlight some of this year’s successes.

On the academic front, this year our economics group saw significant growth in its financial economics program, led by the introduction of

a new honours stream. Students in the economics honours programs benefit from personalized, one-on-one faculty mentorship through the thesis program, and over 80% of our graduating class enrolled in the thesis class this year went on to graduate school. Congratulations and best of luck on your academic journey! The analytics program continued to grow in popularity as well, with our analytics minor seeing a near doubling in students as word spreads about the marketability of this degree. To my knowledge, no other undergraduate business school offers students the opportunity to combine hands-on technical expertise in programs like Python and R with a robust foundation in accounting, finance, and economics We anticipate that the major in analytics and data science will launch this coming fall, and I can’t wait to see it “on the books”! A warm thank you to my colleague Dr. Joseph Turnbull for his unwavering commitment to this new major. Finally, within the MOS area we launched several new courses this year, and have been particularly focused on offering more streamlined double-majors options for students looking to combine a passion

area with a practical business degree. This, to me, offers the very best of both worlds and aligns so nicely with King’s liberal arts tradition.

On the research front, our faculty continues to make important contributions in their various fields, and I have several award winners to highlight. Congratulations to Dr. Jingjing Xu, who received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insights grant for her research studying the economic burden of families with children with autism in Ontario Dr Felipe Rodrigues also received a SSHRC Insights grant, for his research exploring optimal contract policies to improve access to child and youth public services. And finally, Dr. Natalia Bezmaternykh won a King’s Research Excellence Award for her work on environmental provisions in global trade agreements. Congratulations to our faculty on their research achievements, and to all my colleagues who have collectively authored 12 research articles this past year!

And finally on the student front, our clubs have thrived over the past year, and I am so impressed with the initiatives that our clubs leaders have put forward. For example, the King’s Accounting Club welcomed speakers from Ford Keast LLP, who shared with students real-world insights and career advice. The King’s Entrepreneurship Association hosted its annual entrepreneurship panel, with some of our successful entrepreneur alumni returned to campus to share what they’ve learned through their journey with students. Finally, the King’s Economath Society hosted both a career discovery day and organized a panel highlighting trends and careers in the analytics areas. These are but a few of the many student-led initiatives that happened this year on campus, and helped to create the engaged community that we dearly value.

King’s has always been known for its innovative programs combined with a personalized student experience, enabled by our smaller class sizes and hands-on learning approach. Our faculty help to create this inclusive community by spending time getting to know their students by name, and this rapport amongst classmates and between students and professors is a highlight of studying at King’s. I’m delighted to share that this year fourteen of our School of MEM

faculty were nominated for the coveted teaching award of excellence. These nominations come from students, and recognize those faculty who have gone out of their way to create an engaged and supportive learning environment. Congratulations to the many faculty colleagues nominated!

As I look to the summer, I want to end with a word of congratulations to the class of 2025. Many of you began your academic journeys during the pandemic, facing an incredibly stressful and tumultuous first year. Your start to university life was no doubt rough and likely disappointing, and yet you put your heads down, pushed through, and came out all the more determined and resilient. I am in awe of your tenacity and perseverance, and so proud of the thoughtful and motivated young adults you have become. I cannot wait to see where you go next, and wish you all the best!

With warm regards,

Jen Jeffrey

MANAGEMENT REPORT

JeannetteEberhard,PhD Associate Director,BMOS Program

I want to dedicate my space to the graduating class of 2025! I’m sure you thought four years would take forever when you started, then couldn’t believe four years had passed when you left your last exam in April.

During that time you completed 20 credits, which likely meant close to 40 unique courses. You survived group work and presentations I hope both were easier each time we put you through them. That was our plan. You met deadline after deadline … another paper … another exam. You marveled that you survived last week, then dug deep to do it all again. And you did it while navigating the diverse demands of professors who each wanted it done ‘their way’. I trust one day, if not right now, you will appreciate the need to adjust to changing expectations as a valuable skill for your professional careers. In return for the demands we placed on you, I’m sure that I speak for my colleagues when I say how much we appreciate the contributions you made in class. Your commitment to learning, your thoughtful insights, your support for fellow students, and your well-timed sense of humour remind us why we love this job.

But wait! That’s not all you did while you were here! Thank you for all the extra-curricular work

you did in your spare time outside the classroom – as Sophs, founders and leaders of student clubs, tutors in the MEM Help Centre, and TAs for your professors. (Special shout out here to those who helped me – you know who you are!) These activities contributed to the culture here at King’s as well as your own growth and development. I hope you will continue to volunteer for causes and communities that matter to you. They will enrich your life and fill your network with interesting people.

Be sure to reflect on all these accomplishments, and the friends you made here, as you walk across the stage at convocation. And please don’t be strangers after you leave. We love it when graduates return for recruiting events and to share their stories about life after King’s.

I conclude by noting that I am also graduating at the end of June, concluding my three years as Associate Director for the King’s BMOS Program. I want to close by expressing my appreciation for the faculty, counsellors, and administrative staff whose daily work – in the class and behind the scenes – is so critical to the success of the King’s BMOS student journey. You know who you are. After three years in this job, so do I.

JEANNETTE EBERHARD

AcademicYear2024–2025

Economics Report

Hui Feng, PhD Associate Director, Economics Program

Itismypleasuretopresentthisfinalannual reportinmyroleasAssociateDirectorof EconomicsattheSchoolofManagement, Economics,andMathematics(MEM),King’s UniversityCollege.The2024–2025academic yearhasbeenaparticularlyrewardingone, markedbygrowth,innovation,andsuccess. Thisreportoutlinesouraccomplishments fromthreekeyperspectives:program development,facultyachievements,and studentsuccess.

1.ProgramAchievements

•ProgramGrowth:

EnrollmentinourEconomicsprogramsis rising,withexcitinggrowthintheHonour SpecializationinFinancialEconomicsand HonourSpecializationinEconomics.Weare especiallyproudthatover80%ofgraduates fromtheseprogramshavepursuedgraduate

studiesinEconomics,Finance,andFinancial Analyticsatprestigiousinstitutions worldwide

•CurriculumExpansion:

Ofthetennewcoursesproposedlastyear, sevenhavebeensuccessfullylaunched,with twomorescheduledforintroductioninthe 2025–2026academicyear.Enrollmentinour 2100-levelfieldcourseshasincreasedacross allthreeterms,demonstratinggrowing studentengagementandacademicinterest.

•MathFoundationInitiative:

InSeptember2024,weintroducedourfirst commonmathematicsquizforfirst-and second-yearstudents,precededbyaweekendmathbootcamp.Studentswhodid notpasswereofferedamakeup opportunity.Thisinitiativehasimproved students’quantitativereadinessand contributedtostrongeracademic

performanceincoreeconomicscourses.I extendmyspecialthankstoDr.Fengfor leadingthisinitiativeandtoourmath tutorialcoordinator,Mr.JadenDavis,forhis dedicatedsupport.

•AcademicSupportServices:

ThismarksthesecondyearofMEM’s generoussupportforfreeexamreview tutorials,whichhavegreatlyenrichedthe studentlearningexperience.Thesetutorials, alongsideourMEMTutorCentre,reflectour commitmenttostudentsuccess.Iwouldlike tothankKEMS(King’sEconomicsand ManagementSociety),especiallyMs. AiqingqingLi,forco-organizingtheseevents, andMs.TaylorBighamforassistingMr.Davis indeliveringhigh-qualitytutorialsupport.

2. Faculty Achievements

• Tenure and Renewal:

Congratulations to Dr. Jingjing Xu and Dr. Jafar El Almani on the successful renewal of their probationary contracts. Both are outstanding educators and promising researchers, and we are confident in their success in upcoming tenure and promotion processes.

•ResearchExcellence:

·Dr.JingjingXumadehistorythisyearas thefirsteconomistatKing’stobe awardedaSSHRCConnectionGrant an exceptionalmilestoneforMEM.Her projectfocusesonimprovingthewelfare andtreatmentofchildrenwithautism, withthepotentialformeaningfulsocial impact.Dr.NataliaBezmaternykhwas awardedtheKing’sResearchExcellence Grantin2024 Herresearchinvestigates howtradeagreementsshapeboth globalizationandenvironmental sustainability.Congratulationstoboth Dr.XuandDr.Bezmaternykhonthese well-deservedrecognitions.

•TeachingRecognition:

Weareproudtoreportthatfourofour Economicsfacultymembers Dr.Ibbot, Dr.Tian,Ms.Denniston,andMr.Medeiros —havebeennominatedforthisyear’s King’sTeachingExcellenceAwards. Theircommitmenttoteaching excellencecontinuestoinspireboth studentsandcolleagues.

3 StudentAchievements

•GraduateOutcomes:

Someofourgraduatingstudentshave securedemploymentevenbefore convocation,whileothershavereceived graduateoffersfromtop-ranked institutionsincludingtheUniversityof Toronto,ColumbiaUniversity,NewYork University,theUniversityofMunich,and theIveyBusinessSchool.

•AlumniEngagement:

WeweredelightedtowelcomebackDr. JiajiaGu,analumnaofourprogramandnow anEconomistattheInternationalMonetary Fund Dr Gudeliveredanengagingtalkon herresearch,TheImpactofWomen’s MobilityfromtheChineseLandReform,and generouslysharedinsightsabouther academicjourneythroughKing’stoLSEand herprofessionalexperienceattheIMF.Her visithasbeenparticularlyinspiringforour femalestudentsexploringcareersin economics

Conclusion

The2024–2025academicyearhasbeenone ofsignificantprogressandaccomplishment forourEconomicsprograms.Iamthrilledto passtheroleofAssociateDirectortoDr.Tian, ahighlyrespectededucatorandresearcher withastrongvisionforourprogram’s continuedgrowth.Withnewleadershipin placeacrossMEM,Iamconfidentthatwe areenteringanexcitingnewchapterof innovationandexcellence.

Hui Feng

MATH AND ADS REPORT

Associate Director, Math and Analytics and Decision Science

It is my pleasure to share some highlights from the fall 2024-2025 academic year:

Dr. Lori Muray introduced a new 2000level course in Predictive Analytics, which is paired with Economics 2222A to replace Statistics 2035. ADS 2036B focuses on data-centric applications in marketing, accounting, and other areas. The first run went extremely well, with a 100% pass rate and great feedback from students

To replace Actuarial Science 2053, the new Actuarial Science 2052A/B (Applied Financial Mathematics, with Excel labs) ran for the first time with Dr Xing Jiang. Both sections of this course ran at full capacity, and despite the compressed schedule to cover most of the same topics as the previous full-year course, improvements in student learning outcomes were observed.

Western News featured a paper by Dr. Luisa Liboni, “Image segmentation with traveling waves in an exactly solvable recurrent neural network” published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. See the article here: https://www pnas org/doi/10 1073/pnas 23 21319121 and the Western News article here: https://news.westernu.ca/2025/01/neuralnetworks/.

In memoriam

In October 2024, our colleague Dr Sergei Kuzmin passed away

From his decade-plus of teaching first-year mathematics courses at King’s, I especially want to recognize his legendary teaching of math 1600B, where he upheld a kind of rigor and sophistication seldom experienced in firstyear courses We are hoping to commemorate his contributions in a fitting way – alumni of King’s who are interested in discussing this effort should contact Joseph Turnbull, jturnbu7@uwo ca Additional information about Dr Kuzmin is featured elsewhere in this edition of the MEM Insider

Dr Soodabeh Asadi Dezaki, who taught in ADS while a postdoc at Ivey Business School, was hired into a tenure-track role at University of PEI’s School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. Congrats Soodabeh!

For helping facilitate a work-integrated learning experience for students in ADS 4294G (Analytics Consulting), Dr Joseph Turnbull extends a huge thank you to Emily Mercy (co-founder of GoParity Canada, https://goparity.ca/), as well as Colton Sherman (Industry Project Coordinator, Careers & Experience, Western). Also special thanks to Trevor Hunter for his guest lecture on consulting

Dr. Felipe Rodrigues and collaborators have many successes to report on (1) several projects aimed at improving access to care for families with autistic children (research supported by SSHRC Insight Development Grants and a SSHRC Partnership Grant); (2) a project to assist in delivery of breast cancer care (with St. Joseph’s Healthcare and supported by a MITACS Accelerate grant); and (3) a project to improve management of ICU patient flows at London Health Sciences Center (supported by an NSERC Discovery Grant through Western as well as internal grant support from King’s). All three project areas enable ADS students to put their skills into action to help improve healthcare locally. Additional details about these projects can be found elsewhere in this edition of the MEM Insider

As part of the approval process, the Major in ADS was reviewed externally and is on track for September 2025 intake of its first cohort of students. We are planning to simultaneously begin ADS partnerships with top global universities

We are excited to see 140% growth in ADS intent-to-register numbers for the upcoming year. We anticipate further growth upon approval of the ADS Major and a corresponding change in recruitment potential

Joseph Turnbull, PhD

(ADS)

Joseph Turnbull

Western mathematics professor Lyle Muller, post-doctoral scholars Luisa Liboni and Roberto Budzinski and graduate student Alex Busch developed a novel technique, using math, to understand how neural networks work in various machine learning applications

MEM Research 2024-25

On top of being excellent teachers MEM faculty are fantastic researchers as well. Here is a list of this year’s accomplishments:

Research

Eberhard, J., Pettit, K., & Myrah, K, (2025), First-St. Andrew’s United Church: Charting a Path Through Financial Challenges, Case (W39456) and Teaching Note (W39457) Ivey Publishing

Eberhard, J., (2024), The Apartment: A Two-Part Negotiation Exercise, Experiential learning exercise (W38832 & W38834) and teaching note (W38833) Ivey Publishing

Budzinski, R C , Busch, A N , Mestern, S , Martin, E , Liboni, L. H , Pasini, F W , & Muller, L E (2024) An exact mathematical description of computation with transient spatiotemporal dynamics in a complex-valued neural network. Communications Physics, 7(1), 239.

Liboni, L. H., Budzinski, R. C., Busch, A. N., Löwe, S., Keller, T. A., Welling, M., & Muller, L. E. (2025). Image segmentation with traveling waves in an exactly solvable recurrent neural network. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(1), e2321319121.

Macklem L. (2025) Public Interest, Human Rights, and Copyright: The Road Less Travelled? In G J Reynolds, A Mogyoros and T Dagne (Ed) Intellectual Property Futures: Exploring the Global Landscape of IP Law and Policy Edited by, University of Ottawa Press

Mahmood, M , Murray, L., Zitikis, R , & Mahmood, I (2024) Alternative ways to initiate students’ intuition, and hence internalization, of why zero factorial is equal to one Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(3), 735–750 https://doi org/10 22342/jme v15i3 pp735-750

Rowe, W G , & Nevmerzhytskyi, S. (n d ) Demonstrating the Importance of the Strategy Implementation Process to an Entire Organization Organizational Dynamics https://doi org/10 1016/j orgdyn 2025 101153

Begen, M A , Rodrigues, F. F., Rice, T , & Zaric, G S (2024) A forecasting tool for a hospital to plan inbound transfers of COVID-19 patients from other regions BMC Public Health, 24(1), 505–505 https://doi org/10 1186/s12889-024-18038-3

Xian, C , de Souza, C P E , He, W , Rodrigues, F. F., & Tian, R (2024) Variational Bayesian analysis of survival data using a log-logistic accelerated failure time model. Statistics and Computing, 34(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11222-023-10365

Hunter, T. (2024). How leader character can help non-profit boards protect organization missions. Amplify, 37(1). 46-51. https://www.cutter.com/journal/embedding-character-leadership-organizational-dna

Arutkeerthi, N , Li, X , & Valluri, S. (2024) Machine Learning based Glitch Veto for inspiral binary merger signals using Linear Chirp Transform https://doi org/10 48550/arxiv 2410 20269

Upadhyaya, V , Li, X , Zhang, X , Abbassi, S , & Valluri, S. R. (2023) The Role of $r$-Modes in Pulsar Spindown, Pulsar Timing and Gravitational Waves https://doi org/10 48550/arxiv 2307 11270

Natalia Bezmaternykh

2024 (Nov 22-25) Southern Economic Association, Washington, DC, US Paper: “North-South Agreements: Incentives, Stability, and Outcomes”

2024 (July 01-04) European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, Leuven, Belgium: Paper: “North-South Agreements: Incentives, Stability, and Outcomes”

2024 (May 30-June 01) Canadian Economics Association, Toronto, Canada Paper: “Carbon pricing, border adjustment taxes and international trade agreements”

Trevor Hunter

“Best Practices for Student Council Boards: Addressing Their Unique Challenges” The Association of Managers in Canadian College, University and Student Centres Annual Conference London, Ontario May, 2024

King’s Research Excellence Scholar Grants, as part of the King’s Research Excellence Fund – Awarded to:

Dr Natalia Bezmaternykh, Assistant Professor of Economics, the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics(MEM)

Project Title: “Environmental Provisions in Trade Agreements and Globalization: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation”

Dr Bezmaternykh, in collaboration with Dr Paul Missios (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Dr Renfang Tian (Assistant Professor of King’s School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics), investigates how trade agreements impact both globalization and environmental sustainability. This research explores the contrasting implications of shallow vs. deep trade agreements, to offer new insights into the relationship between global trade, environmental norms, and world welfare.

Conferences Awards Grants

Optimal Contract Policies for Improving Access to Child and Youth Public Services: The Case of the Ontario Autism Program

Dr Felipe Rodrigues from the ADS and MOS departments has secured an SSHRC IDG research grant that is already yielding promising results. Along with his post-doctoral associate, Dr. Saha Malaki, and collaborators

Dr Salar Ghamat (Wilfrid Laurier University), Dr Camila de Souza (DSAS/Western University), and Dr Greg Zaric (Ivey/Western University), they will present their findings at the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS 2025) Conference, taking place in Edmonton, AB, from June 9-11, 2025, as well as at the EURO Working Group on Operational Research Applied to Health Services (ORAHS 2025) Conference in Trondheim, Norway, from July 6-11, 2025 These presentations will strengthen their research and provide valuable insights into the future steps of the project. This research utilizes various Analytics and Decision Sciences methods, including queuing theory, game theory, and optimization, with the goal of improving access to public funds for families with autistic children. The SSHRC Insight Development Grant funds this research, which initiated the Canadian Autism Analytics Research Group founded by Dr. Rodrigues. This group also includes King's professors Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, Dr. Daniela Bendo, and Dr. Nicole Neil, the Associate Dean (Research) of Western University's Faculty of Education.

Economic Burden of Families with Autistic Children Project

Professors Dr Jingjing Xu, Dr Renfang Tian, Dr Felipe Rodrigues from ADS and MEM, along with their research assistant, PhD candidate Gemma Graziosi, have successfully concluded their pilot survey for the project "Economic Burden of Families with Autistic Children " In the coming weeks, they will launch the full survey and aim to publish the results for the autism and neurodiversity community in the Fall This research team also includes King's professors Dr Rachel Birnbaum, Dr Daniela Bendo, and Dr Nicole Neil, the Associate Dean (Research) of Western University's Faculty of Education. They employ analytical techniques such as regressions, clustering, and other machine learning methods to identify the key drivers of economic impact for these families. This project is also funded by an SSHRC Insight Development Grant, with Dr. Xu as the Principal Investigator.

Mapping Autism Care Pathways in Ontario

Professors Dr. Felipe Rodrigues, Dr. Jingjing Xu, Dr. Renfang Tian, and Dr. Luisa Liboni have been awarded the SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant for "Mapping Autism Care Pathways in Ontario," in collaboration with the parent advocacy group Autism Ontario This is the first community partnership grant of the Canadian Autism Analytics Research Group, which will map the care pathways for autism in Ontario and develop demand prediction and capacity optimization algorithms to enhance access to care for children with autism The principal investigator for this grant is Dr Nicole Neil, Associate Dean (Research) of Western University's Faculty of Education, and it includes contributions from Dr Camila de Souza (DSAS/Western) and Dr Lara Liboni (Ivey/Western) Dr Rodrigues, Dr de Souza, and Dr Neil have also selected a Master's student from DSAS/Western to begin developing prevalence and demand predictions for autism in Ontario, working closely with Autism Ontario This study will also represent a good opportunity for students from the ADS program to engage in a community-driven Analytics research project

Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) Operational Expansion

Professors Dr Felipe Rodrigues and Dr Luisa Liboni from ADS and MEM have successfully selected a post-doctoral associate for the MITACS Accelerate grant in partnership with Saint Joseph’s Healthcare (London) PhD candidate Qixuan Zhao from Dalhousie University's School of Engineering will work with SJHC under the supervision of Dr Rodrigues and Dr Liboni to develop demand prediction and capacity optimization algorithms tailored to the increasing needs of breast cancer care pathways The team also includes Dr Mehmet Begen and Dr Greg Zaric (both from Ivey/Western University)

King’s/Western ICU Patient Flow Analytics Lab

Professor Dr. Felipe Rodrigues and his collaborators, Dr. Camila de Souza (DSAS/Western) and Dr. David Stanford (DSAS/Western), have selected one Master's student and one PhD student to continue their collaboration with London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) in the research program titled "ICU Patient Flow Analytics Lab " Their research is funded by NSERC Discovery grants and King's internal grant "Prediction Models and Data Envelopment Analysis as a Tool for Continuous Improvement of Critical Care " The graduate students will develop Analytics and Decision Sciences methods to predict health outcomes in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), benchmarking measurements and optimization models to improve acute and intensive care pathways at LHSC This project will require complex data analysis, creating excellent opportunities for ADS program students to engage in real-life healthcare analytics projects

FRIENDLY CITY E

A

VISITING SCHOLAR'S EXPERIENCE AT KING'S AND LONDON

BY XIAOQIONG (JOANNA) YANG VISITING PROFESSOR FROM CTBU, CHINA

I’m Joanna Yang from Chongqing, China, and I’m lucky to be sponsored by the China Scholarship Council to come to King’s as a visiting scholar to experience, to explore, and to discover During my stay here, I’ve been deeply impressed by Londoners’ friendliness, conscientiousness, and selfdiscipline, as well as, of course, the tranquility and safety of London.

People are friendly and considerate to you The librarians help you renew books, the neighbors help you shovel the snow, and the drivers stop for you to pass Neighbors, strangers, or just passersby, no matter who they are, smile and say hello to you when they meet you. I still remember the elderly but energetic driver of Bus No. 19 who says “Have a nice day!” loudly when each passenger gets off, which, indeed, makes me encouraged and have a good mood the whole day

Teachers are extremely conscientious. To be more exposed to the teaching, I’m privileged to have been allowed to observe the classes of several teachers from the English, French, and Writing (EFW) department. From the informative material the teachers have provided for the students, it’s no doubt that they are not only knowledgeable but also quite devoted and

enthusiastic about their teaching. They must have spent significant amounts of time to seek the related resources and make the presentations in different modes, such as audios, videos, texts, slides, and so on because for each presentation, there are over 20-30 slides besides the required and additional reading online materials. The teachers must also have spent lots of time to familiarize themselves with their presentations for they present them quite fluently without even looking at the slides

The classroom is a place fulfilling different tasks It’s a place for students from different parts of the world to learn from and about each other and different cultures. It’s a place for them to become more selfassured by expressing their ideas freely. It’s a place for them to become learned with the teachers’ presentations not only about their courses but also related humanistic and scientific knowledge It’s also a place for teachers to pass on positive energy to the students through their experiences.

Students are engaged, industrious, and self-disciplined. They actively participate in classroom reading, discussion, and presentations, and they also take notes They are occupied with lots of assignments of reading and writing and various kinds of tests such as monthly, mid-term, or final tests

They are so conscious of what to do that they come to the classroom in advance, never use mobile phones in class, and complete tasks ahead of time

London is a place where you can take a city walk without worrying about your safety at any time, no matter whether it is morning or evening. It’s a place where you can have lots of fun, with public skating indoors and outdoors, trail walking in the woods, chess playing in the library and so on London is a city in the garden and a garden in the city and it is worth visiting

King’s has Become a Second Home to Me

By Yuxin Wang, DUFE Third-year student with an honours specialization in Economics

For me, coming to King’s University College is a special and exciting experience Back home, my school was very big with a lot of people everywhere There were big buildings and lots of students, and it was always busy In contrast, King’s is small and quiet, which makes it feel peaceful The campus is very beautiful, with charming buildings and green spaces, and it feels like a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. I really like walking around and enjoying the calm atmosphere here I study economics, which I find interesting, but the first semester in Fall 2024 was harder than I thought it would be The classes were challenging, and sometimes I felt confused with all the assignments. The way of teaching here was also different, so I had to work more on my own. At first, it was a little overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure if I could keep up But the professors are very nice Professor Tian, in particular, helped me a lot She was very patient and took the time to explain things to me when I didn’t understand Thanks to her and the other professors, I’ve started to feel more confident and have gotten used to the classes.

Outside of my studies, I joined two open house events, which were a lot of fun I met many new people from different backgrounds, and I was excited to talk to them and learn about their thoughts and experiences I felt like I was really becoming part of the King’s community. These events helped me make some new friends, and we often study together or hang out In response to the support I’ve received from others, I decided to apply to be a peer guide for the 2025-2026 year I want to help new students, like others helped me when I first arrived I know it can be hard to adjust to a new place, but I want to be there to help make the transition easier for someone else.

Life in Canada has been full of surprises, too. People here are very friendly and polite I noticed that they always say “How are you?” when they meet, even though they don’t expect a long answer At first, I didn’t know what to say, but I soon learned that it’s just a way to be nice I also noticed that Canadians hold doors open for others, even if the person is far away. People holding

doors was something new for me, but I like how kind everyone is One thing that was a bit strange for me was how much people here enjoy small talk Back home, people don’t usually talk about the weather or what they did over the weekend with strangers, but here, it’s very common to chat about those things At first, I felt a little awkward, but now I enjoy small talk. It’s a great way to connect with people and make new friends.

One of the best experiences at King’s was celebrating Chinese Chunjie The school organized a dinner with traditional Chinese food, and it felt like a piece of home I got to explain to my friends why we eat jiaozi for good luck and fish for abundance I liked sharing my culture with them, and I was happy to see them enjoy the food and ask questions about the traditions.

I also got to experience Canadian sports King’s International organized trips to watch hockey and basketball games I had never seen a hockey game before, and it was amazing! The crowd was so excited, and the game was very fast I learned how important hockey is to Canadians, and, by the end of the game, I was cheering along with everyone else.

As I look back, I’m really proud of how much I’ve grown. At first, everything felt new and different, but now I feel more confident and comfortable I’ve made new friends, learned a lot about Canadian culture, and become better at managing my studies King’s has become a second home to me, and I’m excited to see what the future holds I know the memories I’ve made here will stay with me forever.

THE KING’S ECONOMATH SOCIETY (KEMS): “A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN CONNECT, LEARN, AND PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURES”

PATRICIA QIAN, SECOND-YEAR STUDENT WITH AN HONOURS SPECIALIZATION IN ECONOMICS

The King’s EconoMath Society (KEMS) is one of the largest and longest-running clubs on campus with a substantial reputation for its various events The 2024-2025 VP's were stellar, using their experience and insights to bring us another success-filled year

KEMS provides students with a well-rounded university experience that offers academic support, career development opportunities, and a strong sense of community. The club hosts a variety of events, including test preparation sessions for courses like Econ 1021, 1022, and Math 1229, where students can review material with upper-year peers or professors. Beyond academics, KEMS helps students enhance their professional skills through LinkedIn and resume workshops, career discovery nights, and networking sessions with industry leaders. The club also organizes engaging events like guest speaker panels, case competitions, and data analysis workshops, helping students explore potential career paths in economics, finance, and data analytics Additionally, KEMS fosters personal and professional growth through social events such as trivia nights, movie nights, and RBC’s financial literacy event, to create a welcoming environment where students can connect, learn, and prepare for their futures

THE CLUB CONTINUES TO FOSTER AN ENGAGED AND SUPPORTIVE STUDENT COMMUNITY.

Many students first learn about KEMS through word-of-mouth from upper-year peers who have experienced its benefits firsthand. Attendance at club fairs on campus also plays a key role in introducing new students to the club’s offerings. For students who become more involved at King’s, opportunities to engage with KEMS naturally arise, whether through academic events, networking opportunities, or even the chance to join the executive team. Members who get involved early often find themselves taking on leadership roles, as the club continues to foster an engaged and supportive student community

What sets KEMS apart from other clubs at King’s is its unique blend of economics, math, and business, a blend which creates an inclusive space for students with diverse interests Unlike other

organizations that focus on specific career paths, KEMS provides a broad foundation in analytical and financial problem-solving and ensures a balance between education and fun The club hosts mock exams for math and economics courses, career and networking events, and case competitions that challenge students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. KEMS has built a strong community, offering both academic support and social opportunities through events like the MEM Insider and inclusive socials.

The introduction of the Analytic Data Science (ADS) minor has brought a wave of new interest to KEMS, attracting students with diverse analytical skills and expanding the club’s focus As data analytics becomes an increasingly valuable tool across industries, KEMS has embraced this shift through incorporation of more ADSrelated initiatives into events and discussions With the ADS major on the horizon, the club is looking forward to hosting even more datadriven activities that bridge the gap between economics, finance, and analytical problem-solving. This growing integration of data science

has added a new dimension to KEMS, enriched its events, and provided students with opportunities to apply data-driven insights in real-world economic and financial contexts.

KEMS has hosted a range of impactful events, but some of them stand out as particularly memorable for their success and student engagement The data analytics event in the fall and the RBC financial literacy event in the winter were both well-received, highlighting the club’s dedication to providing valuable learning experiences Club members organizing a panel event with record participation was another

proud achievement, as students were highly engaged in learning from industry experts about career pathways Other major milestone events that the club has hosted include the ADS event and Career Discovery Night in collaboration with the King’s Accounting Club These events brought together

THE GOAL IS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE ATMOSPHERE

professors, Ivey MSc students, and industry professionals to discuss careers in data analytics and finance, to help students gain real-world insights. Career Discovery Night was especially meaningful, as it broke the misconception that careers follow a straightforward path, and instead showcased the challenges and unique journeys of successful professionals. The strong turnout and positive feedback from students made all the hard work worthwhile, reinforcing KEMS’ role in fostering career exploration and personal growth.

KEMS is focused on expanding its reach and impact through collaboration with other student groups to increase participation in events and offer more hands-on workshops These workshops will focus on developing practical skills in areas like data analysis, investment strategies, and economic forecasting, to provide students with tools they can use both academically and professionally With the ADS program becoming an official major, there’s a plan to host an event that introduces students to the new major and showcases the exciting opportunities it offers The goal is not only to make these events educational but also to ensure they are fun and engaging, to create an inclusive atmosphere where all students can learn and enjoy themselves. The vision for next year is to continually grow KEMS’ influence and foster a vibrant, dynamic environment for students to thrive.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVERFISHING ON NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR’S FISHING COMMUNITIES: A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY

By Kate Pedisic, Thrid-Year student with an honours specialization in Economics

This research paper was originally written for 2170: Environmental Economics, taught by Natalia Bezmaternykh. The paper explores the intersection of environmental policy and economic decision making, particularly in the context of resource management. One of the most pressing challenges in this field is the overexploitation of natural resources, especially in industries that rely on common goods. Overfishing serves as an example of this issue, where economic incentives drive unsustainable harvesting practices, leading to long-term negative consequences for ecosystems and local economies.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing has been a cornerstone of economic and cultural life; however, the depletion of cod stocks has had severe financial repercussions To understand the economic impact of overfishing and explore sustainable solutions is essential for the long-term viability of coastal communities.

Overfishing is frequently cited as a classic example of the tragedy of the commons, where the depletion of common goods leads to long-term economic and environmental consequences (Field & Field, 2024) This issue is pressing for coastal communities, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador, where fishing is essential for the local economy

The unsustainable harvesting of fish can lead to a decline in fish stocks which, in turn, causes economic instability, job losses, and reduced community resilience (Foley & Mather, 2015) To Understand how communities adapt to these changes, particularly through economic policy, is crucial to ensure long-term sustainability This research seeks to answer the question: What are the economic consequences of overfishing on fishing communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, and how can sustainable practices improve their economic resilience?

The economic and environmental impacts on Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing communities have proven to be significant, especially since the collapse of the cod fishery in 1992

The Northern Cod Adjustment and Recovery Program provided temporary relief; however, cod stocks have not recovered to their original state This collapse has left coastal communities to face long-term economic instability,

underscoring the vital role of fishing within these regions Overfishing has led to depleted fish stocks, reduced income for fishers, and increased operational costs Market access has become more competitive due to the growing demand for sustainably sourced seafood (Haedrich & Hamilton, 2015) As a result, there has been a loss of job opportunities, out-migration, and a weakening of local economies which has caused youth to seek employment opportunities elsewhere (Power, Norman, & Dupré, 2014)

Sustainable fishing practices are

“Long-term sustainability will require a balance of economic prosperity, environmental integrity, and social well-being to secure a stable future for generations to come.”

essential for coastal communities Ecosystem-based management (EBM) can help support fish stock regeneration and reduce the long-term economic consequences of overfishing (Asante, Blankson, & Sabau, 2021) Communitybased resource management demonstrates how integration of local knowledge into decision-making can improve sustainability and strengthen community resilience (Frost, 2021) Additionally, EBM will shift the dependence on traditional fisheries to more sustainable economic alternatives for communities in Newfoundland and Labrador (Foley & Mather, 2015)

The negative economic consequences of overfishing were evident during the cod moratorium in 1992. Thousands of workers lost employment, and coastal communities faced long-term economic

instability due to the depleted fish stocks and the decline of related industries(Haedrich & Hamilton, 2015) The professionalization of the industry and the challenges youth face in entering the fishing sector have worsened these issues. As the industry shifted away from sustainability and became dominated by larger businesses, younger fishers faced challenges in their search to find employment This lack of jobs led to mass youth migration, where young people seeking employment left fishing communities in search of employment elsewhere This youth migration weakened local economies and diminished fishing as a central identity, further highlighting the significance of sustainable fishing practices (Power, Norman, & Dupré, 2014) Sustainable fishing practices, such as EBM, offer solutions through promotion of fish stock regeneration and support for long-term economic stability (Asante, Blankson, & Sabau, 2021).

Beyond the immediate economic and social impacts, overfishing in Newfoundland and Labrador has also affected the region’s ecological balance, further hindering economic recovery The cod moratorium has altered the marine food web, which causes species such as shrimp and crab to dominate and temporarily replace cod as the main commercial catch However, these other fisheries have also been hindered due to the changing conditions of the ocean

References

and consumer preferences, which pose a risk to their sustainability (Haedrich &Hamilton, 2015) At the same time, some regulatory imperfections and quota distributions work to the benefit of larger businesses at the expense of small fisheries, and limit the local population’s access to the remaining marine resources (Foley & Mather, 2015) These policies sustain structural inequalities that could be addressed through reforms, such as introduction of community-managed fisheries with egalitarian resource allocation Longterm sustainability will require a balance of economic prosperity, environmental integrity, and social well-being to secure a stable future for generations to come

In conclusion, this research emphasizes the profound consequences of overfishing on Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing communities, where the collapse of the cod fishery led to job losses, economic decline, and youth outmigration Sustainable practices, such as EBM, present solutions to rebuild fish stocks, through prioritization of environmental concerns over profit maximization Coastal communities can incorporate local knowledge into fisheries management, to reduce dependence on overfishing and foster a more sustainable economy. This research demonstrates the need for policies that balance ecological, economic, and social sustainability to ensure the future vitality of these communities

Asante, E O , Blankson, G K , & Sabau, G (2021) Building back sustainably: COVID-19 impact and adaptation in Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries Sustainability, 13(3), 2219 https://doi org/10 3390/su13042219

Field B C & Field M K (2024) Environmental economics: An introduction (9th ed ) McGraw-Hill Education

Foley P & Mather C (2015) Making Space for Community Use Rights: Insights From “Community Economies” in Newfoundland and Labrador Society & Natural Resources 29(8) 965–980 https://doi org/10 1080/08941920 2015 1089611

Frost, R (2021) Normative beliefs and economic life: A case study of the fishing industry in two communities in rural Newfoundland Marine Policy, 127, 104423 https://doi org/10 1016/j marpol 2021 104423

Richard L Haedrich Lawrence C Hamilton (2000) The Fall and Future of Newfoundland’s Cod Fishery Society & Natural Resources 13(4) 359–372 https://doi org/10 1080/089419200279018

Power, N G , Norman, M E , & Dupré, K (2014) “The fishery went away ” : The impacts of long-term fishery closures on young people s experience and perception of fisheries employment in Newfoundland coastal communities Ecology and Society, 19(3) http://www jstor org/stable/26269596

Ritchie H Roser M & Rosado P (2023) Fish and overfishing Our World in Data https://ourworldindata org/fish-andoverfishing

One of the most important changes in financial reporting is the introduction of IFRS 18: Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements, which replaces the older standard, IAS 1 The purpose of this new rule, which will take effect in 2027, is to make financial statements clearer, easier to compare, and more structured across all industries In the past, companies had a lot of freedom in how they classified income and expenses. As a result, financial reports from different companies even within the same industry often looked very different, making it difficult for investors, regulators, and analysts to accurately assess financial performance IFRS 18 changes this structure by creating three distinct categories for income and expenses: operating, investing, and financing. This change means that businesses must now classify all revenue and costs under specific sections, reducing the chances of misinterpretation Additionally, the standard requires more detailed breakdowns of financial performance, so businesses can no longer group expenses in vague categories. This change increases transparency and comparability, making it easier for stakeholders to understand a company’s true financial health However, businesses will need to adjust their accounting systems, train employees on the new classifications, and update internal reporting structures to comply with IFRS 18 This adjustment will require time and effort, but, in the long run, will lead to more reliable and consistent financial reporting worldwide

Another significant regulatory shift involves stricter anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud prevention measures under the supervision of Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) The Canadian government has become more aggressive in detecting and preventing financial crimes because money laundering, fraud, and terrorist financing have become major concerns in the global financial system As a result, new laws now require financial institutions, accounting firms, law firms, and businesses that handle large transactions to strengthen their fraud detection processes One of the biggest changes is the Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirement, which means that businesses must carefully verify the identity of their clients, especially for high-risk transactions Companies are also now required to report suspicious transactions much more quickly than before, to ensure that potential financial crimes can be investigated without delay. In addition, FINTRAC has expanded the list of businesses that must follow these rules, meaning that even non-traditional financial businesses such as cryptocurrency exchanges and real estate agencies must now keep detailed records of transactions and report anything unusual The impact of these changes is significant: businesses must invest in new fraud detection systems, train employees on how to identify risky transactions, and follow strict documentation procedures. Companies that fail to comply could face heavy financial penalties or even legal action. While these rules add an extra layer of responsibility for businesses, they are designed to protect Canada’s financial system from abuse and ensure that companies are operating in a legal and ethical manner

Another critical development in regulatory compliance is the introduction of Bill C-27: The Digital Charter Implementation Act, which focuses on data privacy and cybersecurity This new law responds to the growing risk of data breaches, cyberattacks, and the misuse of personal information by corporations In recent years, many companies have faced legal consequences if they mishandle customer data, leading to stricter government oversight Bill C-27 replaces Canada’s outdated privacy laws with a modernized framework that gives individuals more control over their personal information but places greater responsibility on businesses to protect sensitive data One of the biggest changes is that companies must now obtain clear and explicit consent before they collect personal data, and they must also explain exactly how this data will be used Additionally, businesses are required to delete customer information upon request unless they have a valid legal reason to retain it The law also includes a stronger enforcement mechanism, meaning that companies violating these rules could face fines of up to 5% of their global revenue or $25 million, whichever is greater a significant financial risk To comply with Bill C-27, businesses must review and update their privacy policies, ensure their websites and applications are designed with data protection in mind, and implement advanced cybersecurity measures to prevent hacking or unauthorized data access Organizations that fail to follow these rules risk not only fines but also damage to their reputations, loss of customer trust, and potential legal disputes With data privacy becoming a global concern, Bill C-27 pushes Canadian businesses to adopt stronger digital security measures and ethical data handling practices, aligning with international standards B I

FACULTY INTERVIEW

By Jack Pemberton, Year-four student in MOS honours specialization Accounting

Dr. Peter Ibbott is an Associate Professor in the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics He teaches the principles of economics, public finance, and game theory His research focuses on public economics, living standards, demography, and migration

I interviewed Dr Peter Ibbott, who answered the questions below

What inspired you to pursue a career in economics?

I started out in chemistry I had a dream to be a scientist, and my dream was to cure cancer

To this day, I maintain an extremely high interest in cellular biology, oncology, everything to do with cancer But I was terrible at it Chemistry requires a huge amount of memory, and I have a very poor memory I thought chemistry wouldn’t be very mathematical, but I was wrong, chemistry is very mathematical I was good at the math, but bad at the chemistry So as one

dream died, I had a visiting professor from England, who was wonderful I was there in a class full of engineers who were much smarter than me, but in economics, I was better than them I thought oh, this is something I’m good at And so, I discovered that as I went along, I liked my classmates in economics, more so than chemistry, and I was fascinated by trying to understand how the world worked. So yeah, that’s how I ended up in economics.

Are there any major misconceptions you think people have about economics?

Enormous misconceptions Most people think that economics has very little practical use, that it’s all abstract theory. But it turns out that almost everything in the world that we have around us was constructed by economists and economic ideas. It’s not by

accident that the IMF and the World Bank and the finance departments, the central banks, and most of the deputy ministers that run the big programs have backgrounds in economics. It’s because it provides practical tools for dealing with problems for which there are no readymade solutions.

What are some of the most pressing challenges economists are facing today?

The biggest problem right now is that a consensus had emerged in the developed world about what kind of world order we needed, and that consensus was based on the UN. This idea of nations cooperating, through the UN, and that system was based on instructing international law and commerce based on a common set of values and laws Now those laws were never imposed by the UN, they were essentially national laws that were stitched together using treaties So, the UN is a treaty organization All the organizations that exist through the UN are treaty organizations It was a way of taking national law and turning it into international law by having everyone agree to certain principles that would be enshrined within national law

And that led to eighty-five years of peace and prosperity. Certainly in the developed world, we saw unprecedented economic growth, but the real beneficiaries of this world order was the developing world. So unprecedented growth in South-East Asia, Southern Asia, and now in Africa, the spread of democracy, all those things happened right up until about 2014-15. The 2008 recession and then the arrival of a lot of populists in the 2010s really threw things off balance Right now, we’re returning to a world in which political parties are adopting 18 and 19 century strategies of mercantilism, imperialism, people are trying to redraw borders even though it makes no sense in a global, market-based world I mean, your borders don’t matter if cities like Singapore can become the richest place on earth with no natural resources, sitting in the middle of the tropics well, why are they rich? Because all the stuff that in an agrarian society, you know, population, territory, power, th th

they no longer matter in the modern world

Well people are forgetting that. So it’s going to be very hard to go back to a system that is based on peace, prosperity, and rules, and the spread of democracy. All of that is reversing, and trying to get us back on track towards a sustainable development is looking harder. Even things like decarbonizing, which we had all agreed to, is now unravelling very, very quickly.

“To make a meaningful contribution, in economics, means making research.”

How do you see the field of economics developing over the next decade?

The areas that are exciting right now are around strategy The idea that behaviours are interdependent, and game theory can help us understand those interdependencies and some of the peculiarities that occur because of those strategic interdependencies, that’s really important. That married with behavioural economics and a growing understanding that we do make systematic errors that can lead to bubbles and all sorts of peculiarities. That’s important.

So strategy, behaviour, information One of the key things in most markets is that people who are buying and selling are buying and selling goods that they don’t completely understand, or the quality of the goods they’re buying, and that creates asymmetric information which can create moral hazard and adverse selection or other sorts of market failures So that is a big issue How we deal with that using contract design and mechanism design to deal with that is critical Risk, insurance With global warming, risk is rising everywhere Private insurance markets are struggling The government doesn’t have the will or wherewithal to introduce public insurance, very often, and so we have this growing problem with risk, particularly in

societies like the United States and China So individuals are living their lives with rising levels of personal risk, and insurance is not available either through the government or through the private sector, and that’s going to have a profound impact on China and the United States, and peace and security

And finally, capitalism It grew because of the development of law and financial markets Law allowed us to define property in such a way as to create contracts over promises. So a labour contract is essentially a promise, it’s an incomplete contract in the sense that it doesn’t define exactly what labour services are going to be provided. It does provide terms but without a termination date. Capital market contracts are similar. If you buy a stock, it’s an incomplete contract and it’s a promise The whole system only works if people believe that promises have value If you go work for a company and you don’t believe they are going to pay you, would you show up? Would you lend money to somebody who’s not going to honour their promise? Our whole system is based on promises having value and the commodification of promises in such a way that we can compare different choices, and create different choices, that is going to increasingly become a problem, because people are not keeping their promises Governments in particular are breaking promises left and right, and nobody believes anybody’s word anymore, and markets can collapse very, very quickly. It almost happened in 2008.

So there are the traditional risks of war and territorial expansion and imperialism that is new in the sense that we haven’t seen it in eighty-five years But on top of all of that, there seems to be a declining awareness of how our system works, particularly by the leaders, and they seem to be oblivious to the damage that they are doing by behaving the way in which they behave

What advice would you give to students who want to make a meaningful contribution to the field of economics?

To make a meaningful contribution, in economics, means making research It’s really not that hard to do The best way to do it, we have a bunch of courses and programs that support it If you do an honours degree in economics, you’re going to be doing research in your third and fourth year That prepares you for a graduate degree There are two types of graduate programs: there are professional programs that prepare you for profession; law school, MBA, medicine. Then there are graduate programs that are designed to teach you to be a researcher. Lots of our students go into those areas. We prepare them by providing them with the foundational theory, but more importantly, we provide them with the opportunity to do their own research, and we support it as best we can We’re one of the few programs anywhere in Canada that still has an undergraduate thesis The ones we’re doing right now are really interesting

What is some of the research the department has been involved in?

One of our fourth-year students, Sam Officer, is working with his supervisors on in-game betting, where people are betting not on the outcome of a game but on what happens within the game, for example if a quarterback makes so many passes He has tons of data And what he’s interested in is looking for behavioural anomalies, in other words where people make decisions that aren’t necessarily rational It’s one of the best ways of testing behavioural economics hypotheses, is do we actually have these biases, he’s going to see it

Another is in cooperative game theory, which is very unusual. It’s about coalition formation. So is there a coalition that could make you better off. In that case you would voluntarily join or leave a coalition. It’s a different kind of equilibrium. That’s called cooperative game theory.

Several other students plan to do graduate studies in mathematics, not only economics, so we have some really smart kids

BMOS STUDENT TO REPRESENT CANADA IN ROWING

By John M Milner, King's Marketing, Communications & Media Relations

“Many mornings in the summer, you get to see the sunrise, and it is by far the best way to start your day”

Kyland Mels-Williams is heading to Paraguay as part of Canada’s rowing team to participate in the Junior Pan Ams Qualification Regatta, applying the teamwork and tme management skills he learned in BMOS.

On March 12, 2025, Kyland Mels-Williams, a second-year Business Management and Organizational Studies (BMOS) student, will head to Paraguay to compete as a member of Canada’s rowing team at the Junior Pan Ams Qualification Regatta This will mark his debut at an international rowing competition and for Team Canada, a milestone he considers "a big step forward" in his athletic career

Mels-Williams is very excited about heading to South America “This event has also motivated me to work harder during our winter training to best support my teammates in Paraguay,” he says.

Mels-Williams will be competing in the quad and the four categories While both involve four rowers, a quad in rowing (assigned the symbol 4x) is a sculling boat where each rower holds one oar in each hand, while a four (assigned the symbol 4) is a sweep rowing boat where each of the rowers holds one oar with both hands

Having rowed for four years prior to his time at King’s, Mels-Williams watched the Western Men’s Rowing team practice which inspired him

to work hard and make the team during his first year at King’s He came to King’s because it had the program he wanted (Mels-Williams is majoring in Global Commerce) and as a King’s student, he is able to participate in Western sports teams

When asked what he enjoys most about rowing, Mels-Williams says it is “the peaceful mornings on the water and being outside in nature surrounded by wildlife and water Many mornings in the summer, you get to see the sunrise, and it is by far the best way to start your day ”

He also enjoys being part of a crew “Through our racing season you get to know everyone well and create a strong bond between each member of the boat,” he says

But as part of Team Canada, Mels-Williams will be rowing with athletes he has never raced with before He will utilize skills he learned as part of a project in his Organizational Behaviour class. As part of the class, he had to do a presentation with random students he had never worked with before He learned how to be adaptable and create an environment that best supports those around him, while working on his leadership, teamwork and time-management skills All of this will come in handy in Paraguay

Mels-Williams is thankful for the support that King’s provides for our student-athletes Being accommodated for his class schedule, examinations and tests has allowed him to race without additional stress

“Being able to pick my classes first is a huge help for my busy training schedule with rowing. Our team practices Monday to Saturday and early in the mornings and afternoons, so having the option to pick the classes that match up best with my training schedule allows me to excel both in my academics and athletics,” Mels-Williams explains

Best of luck, Kyland!

By Mackenzie Yang

Introduction

My name is Mackenzie Yang. I grew up as a professional table tennis player, and I received rigorous training with the Shaanxi Provincial Table Tennis Team during my youth. In 2019, I founded Tiantian Sports Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to providing professional table tennis training to both youth and adults. My focus extended beyond technique and strategy, as I was also committed to nurturing talent for higher-level professional teams.

Current Pursuits and Interests

After I’ve worked for many years, I am now returning to campus as a freshman at King's University College, to pursue a dual degree in business, management, and organizational studies (BMOS) and Kinesiology. While I dedicate myself to academic excellence, I continue to hone

Professional Sports Background Gives First-year Student

“The resilience and discipline needed to excel”

my table tennis skills as an athlete for Western University's Table Tennis Team. Representing my school in international university tournaments, I contributed to our team achieving first and second place in the Canadian University Women’s Team Championships Each semester, I strive to elevate my athletic performance, driven by passion and commitment.

How My Sports Background Shaped Me

My sports background has instilled in me the resilience and discipline needed to excel both academically and athletically. The persistence I developed through rigorous sports training helps me maintain focus on my academic goals and delve deeply into challenging subjects. With varsity training sessions three times a week, I have found a perfect balance between my love for table tennis and my academic responsibilities.

Effective time management and consistency play crucial roles in my routine. I prioritize my studies while I dedicate ample time to training and competitions. My experiences as a player and coach have also sharpened my analytical skills. For example, during competitions, I often serve as a sideline coach: I analyze the psychological state of my teammates and devise strategies based on their strengths. These experiences have significantly enhanced my communication skills and my ability to handle challenges effectively.

Favorite Subject

My favorite subject is Psychology of Human Movement. This course explores both the physiological aspects of sports and the psychological changes individuals experience during physical activities. I find it fascinating to understand how emotions

Career Aspirations

Upon completion of my degrees, I aspire to contribute to the sports industry or humanitarian aid organizations I might leverage my business skills in sports marketing or apply my Kinesiology expertise in coaching, training, or the health and wellness field.

Ultimately, my goal is to bridge my academic achievements with my passion for sports, to forge a career path that promotes growth, wellness, and a positive impact on individuals and communities. whether positive or negative influence performance and well-being. This knowledge not only enhances my athletic performance but also equips me to make meaningful contributions to the sports industry.

CongratulationstoIsaiahJohns’20,whohasbeennamedasa coachingassistantfortheCanadianFootballLeague’s(CFL)Ottawa Redblacks

“Honestly,itfeelslikeadreamcometrue!”saysJohns “Thishasfelt surrealtothispointandnowtherealworkstarts”

Johnswillbeprimarilyassistingtheteam’soffensivestaffandthe specialteamscoordinatorwiththeirday-to-dayoperations In addition,hewillworkcloselywithBobDyce,theteam’sheadcoach,to helppreparethecoachingstaffforpracticesandrefinetheteam's strategy

In2024,JohnsworkedwiththeRedblacksasacoachinginternduring theirtrainingcamp,wherehefocusedontheteam’sdefensivebacks Thisrolefurthersolidifiedhispassionforcoachingandhisdrivetohelp athletesreachtheirfullpotential

Tohelphimreachhisownfullpotential,Johnschosetopursuehis undergraduatedegreeatKing’sforitsproximitytohome,butalsofor itssmallclasssizes,whichhelpedhimdevelopmeaningful relationshipswithprofessorsandpeers Johnsmadeacomfortable transitionfromhighschooltouniversityandneverfeltlikeanumber

By John M. Milner, King's Marketing, Communications & Media Relations

“Withsomanyofmyfriendsgoingthroughthesamelifeexperiencesatthesametime,itallowedmetocontinuetobuild strongconnections,”saysJohns

HistimeatKing’staughtJohnsalotabouthimself,bothasanathleteandasaperson.Hetookthedisciplinehelearned throughouthisundergraduateprograminManagementandOrganizationalStudiesandincorporateditduringhisplay withtheLondonBeefeatersandtheWesternMustangs

Aspartofthe2017VanierCup-winningWesternMustangsteam,wherehelearnedthepowerofnetworkingand relationship-building,JohnsplayedundertheguidanceofCoachesJean-PaulCircelliandJoeCircelli In2022,his connectiontoJoeCircellihelpedstartJohns’coachingcareerwithaninvitetotheUniversityofWindsorLancers’spring camp.

JohnsworkedattheUniversityofWindsorasadefensivesecondaryassistantandrecruitingcoordinator Hehasalsoserved aslinebackerscoachandco-specialteamscoordinatorforTeamOntario’sU16program.InNovember2023,hewas recognizedbyOntarioUniversityAthleticsastheconference’ssecond-everrecipientoftheChampionofEquity,Diversity, andInclusionaward

“Iwanttocontinuetogrowasacoach Seeinghowquicklythingsmoveintheworldofsports,Iwanttocontinuetoreach newheights,learnasmuchaspossible,andenjoythisjourney,”saysJohns

A n O n g o i n g J o u r

n ey o f

Wri t i n g :

Writing is like looking into a mirror that reflects more than just words It captures the unique contours of one’s identity, shaped by the brushstrokes of personal experiences, cultural identity, and educational influences For me, writing in English feels like a journey, a path carved between the need for accuracy and the yearning for creativity As I navigate between two languages and cultural contexts, I find my writing process and style are deeply rooted in who I am as a learner and a member of the culture

My writing style in English is closely tied to my identity and educational background where I prioritize precision and structure as well as imitate examples very well I am usually cautious when writing in English After writing the draft I return reviewing every word Does this sentence sound right? Does this word fully capture the idea I want to convey? I often carefully revise my sentences, and adjust words or phrases to ensure they are correct and clear Besides, my study and writing habits are methodical and organized I prefer to organize my thoughts systematically and rely on efficient routines and methods when I write Apart from that, I have an excellent command of memorizing and applying learned knowledge I would collect well-written sentences and jot them down in a notebook I remember sitting by notebooks filled with insights that inspired me and imitating great examples provided by my teachers I strive for clarity and precision, aiming to express my ideas most accurately and effectively However, I sometimes struggle with more creative writing styles, as my focus on precision may limit the depth of my expression

My pursuit of accuracy and reliance on structure often make it difficult for me to write more creatively When I am overly focused on getting things right, memorize phrases, and make sure my sentences are flawless, I feel my expression is limited

and new ideas can be locked because I am constantly guessing whether I am saying things correctly This dilemma I usually experience as a second-language learner, where the desire to communicate accurately sometimes conflicts with the desire to express more freely

My cultural background values collectivism and acceptance, gradually encouraging critical thinking and guiding me toward comprehensive understanding I come from a background that values collectivism, where the group often takes precedence over the individual This value has implicitly affected my writing as I realize I usually consider the themes of shared responsibility and mutual support rather than focus solely on my viewpoint For instance when writing about environmental issues I tend to emphasize collective responsibility like, "Only through our joint efforts can we promote the advancement of the environment " Critical thinking is necessary for addressing difficult or unique questions It has been increasingly encouraged in my culture in recent years but wasnt something that came naturally to me Over time, I have embraced the value of critical thinking and started to ask more questions, to dig deeper into ideas rather than simply accept things at surface meaning This shift has not only broadened my comprehensive understanding of the world but also introduced a spark of creativity into my writing

I can see myself through the mirror of writing; it is a blend of personal, educational, and cultural influences My writing is a balance between structured custom and creative ideas I strive for precision and organization, but I also try to leave space for creative expression, allowing new ideas to emerge This is the ongoing journey of my writing, a blend of tradition, learning, and self-discovery

ThePathtoYourDegree

To strive for excellence is part of the university experience The push to succeed, make the most of every opportunity, and maintain high grades can feel all-consuming But what happens when excellence turns into exhaustion? If you ’ ve ever caughtyourselfsaying,“Ijustneedtogetthrough this week” over and over, only to blink and suddenly it’s March and yesterday was January, you ’renotalone

The cycle of overachievement can be glorified, but research consistently shows that rest, routine, and self-care aren't just "nice to have", they're essential for success. Students who find balance in life and their work perform better, both academicallyandmentally.

BalanceIsn'taBuzzword–It’saStrategy

At King’s University College, the importance of studentwell-beingisdeeplyrootedintheschool’s culture The support here goes beyond academics; it’s holistic Grace periods on assignments, personal counseling services, free tutoring, and even late-night breakfasts and ice cream bars are just a few of the ways that King’s showsupforitsstudents

Nevertheless, as much as the school offers, the way you take care of yourself determines how you’llthriveinuniversity

Ainsley Roberts, a fourth-year business, management,andorganizationalstudies(BMOS) Honors Specialization Human Resources student, says it simply: “Find a good group of friends in your program to study with and get good quality sleep!” Part of this reflects the sage advice that whoeveryousurroundyourselfwithwillruboffon you,somakesuretheyaregoodinfluences

Eg. Hanging out with studious people will encourage you to be more studious. Life as a student is about balance, but we are here to learn, so the emphasis should be placed on how tomakeyourlifeasastudenteasier.

HowIStayBalanced

I’m currently in my fourth year of the BMOS program with a Specialization in Human Resources I’m also VP Communications of the King’s Entrepreneurship Association, VP HR for the King’s Economics & Math Society, and involved in otherextracurriculars

What keeps me organized mentally and physically? Two things: My Google Calendar, and a worn down, blue, Snoopy-covered planner The secondIhearaboutanassignmentorevent,Ijot it down in my planner, then later input the details intoGoogleCalendar Thisdual-systemhelpsme stayaccountableandorganized

I make to-do lists daily, starting with the smallest tasks and working up to the biggest While my approach goes against the method of tackling the hardest task first, for me, completing a few small tasks helps build momentum With each box checked off, I feel more energized to take on thebiggerchallenges

4th year Honors Specialization in Human Resources, Minor in Data Analytics and Decision SciencesstudentDuncanWorkmansaysthat“the secret weapon is to time block” Especially during exam season, time blocking becomes nonnegotiable Here’s an example of how he scheduleshisstudytime:

● 10:00AM–12:30PM:Reviewpastexams

● 1:00PM–3:00PM:WriteOrganizational Behaviourpaper

● 3:30PM–6:00PM:Groupproject

Theseblocksareananti-procrastinationtoolthat keepshimmovingandfocused

RealBreaks,RealResults

One crucial thing I’ve learned: breaks should be actual breaks Don’t just scroll on short form media; step outside Feel the sun on your face Breathedeeply Takeamomenttorecognizehow far you ’ ve come These are the days we once lookedforwardto!

Aswintercreepsin,tostaywellcanbecomeeven more of a challenge. Many students use sun lamps to battle seasonal affective disorder and simulatesunlightongreydays.It’sonesimpletool thatcanmakeabigdifferenceinyourmoodand productivity

Fourth year student Chris Parsons outlines how to succeed academically while managing ADHD “WithADHD,itcanbereallydifficulttogetyourlife organized so don’t be afraid to ask for help Whether it’s from friends, family, or the King’s community, getting organized and developing a schedule and building a routine for yourself is crucial”

DaniellaMiguelDeAvila,a4thyearBMOSHonours Accounting program student, notes: “When it comes to studying theories and concepts, my favourite study method is active recall I read aloudandrepeatthestudymaterial,whichallows me to actively engage with the material” Regardingherprogram,sheremarksthat,“In

accounting, there are always problems to solve Therefore, it is essential to practice Instead of tryingtocramalltheproblemsatoncebeforethe exam, I complete them on a weekly basis which helpsenhanceunderstandingandlearning”

The lesson here? Consistency over cramming Staying on top of weekly work prevents stress from snowballing, helps you retain knowledge long-term,andreducesstressbeforeexams

University isn’t just about grades; it’s about growingintothebestversionofyourself,andthat versionthriveswithbalance

Final Checklist for Academic &MentalSuccess:

➢ UseaGoogleCalendaror physicalagenda

➢ Makeadailyto-dolist

➢ Prioritizegood-qualitysleep (aimforbedtimebeforemidnight!)

➢ Startwithsmalltasksandbuild momentum

➢ Blockyourtimefordifferent subjects

➢ Takefrequent,intentionalbreaks (walk,cooksomething,callafriend)

➢ Don’tbeafraidtoaskforhelpor accountability

➢ Dohomeworkincrementally, notallatonce

➢ Lookforstudentdiscountsat grocerystoresandshops

➢ Getsunshineandfreshair wheneveryoucan

act thoughtfully, and develop an unwavering commitment to life-long improvement

The Role of Professors: Dedication and Commitment

Our professors are not merely educators; they are mentors, guides, and lifelong learners Their commitment to their students goes far beyond the classroom Professors are invested in fostering environments where curiosity thrives, where critical thinking is encouraged, and where personal development is prioritized They dedicate themselves to delivering course content but also ensure that students develop the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in their chosen fields

This dedication is an invaluable asset It speaks volumes about the professors' own journeys and passion for their disciplines, and it is this passion that becomes contagious to students As students, you are surrounded by individuals who are committed to helping you discover your strengths, overcome challenges, and push beyond what you thought was possible

Your professors are dedicated to helping you develop the skills necessary for success It is up to you to embrace that commitment, to focus on the journey of growth, and to continually develop yourselves, both personally and professionally

EMBRACE THE JOURNEY OF GROWTH:

A CALL TO STUDENTS: INVEST IN YOURSELF

Lydia Li, MPA, Program Manager

As an academic program manager, I have the privilege to work alongside a passionate community of students and professors who are deeply committed to the pursuit of knowledge Education, at its core, is more than just the transmission of information: education is a journey of growth, a commitment to improvement, and a continual evolution of skills and mindset The true value of education lies in the unwavering dedication and focus of our professors, whose efforts go beyond lectures and assignments to inspire long-term personal and professional development

As students, now is the time to invest in yourselves Seize the opportunity to learn from those who have walked the path before you, who are committed to your growth, and who challenge you to think critically,

The Importance of Continuous Improvement

Education is not static; it is a dynamic, evolving process Professors instill in their students the importance of continuous improvement, to learn not only from successes but also from setbacks This approach encourages resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset, essential traits for both personal and professional advancement.

The process of continuous improvement requires a mindset shift It dares students to see every challenge as an opportunity for growth, every mistake as a learning moment, and every success as a stepping stone to greater achievement This mindset is key to develop skills that will serve you well throughout your entire careers

The Power of Focus: Harnessing the Learning Experience

In a world that is constantly changing, focus on the right skills and areas of growth is crucial Professors encourage students to remain focused on their personal and professional development, and push them to take ownership of their learning experiences Focused effort during academic years creates the foundation for success, not only in the classroom but in the workplace and life at large

Discipline in your studies, time management, and the ability to stay on course are all skills that will serve you far beyond graduation The ability to set goals, prioritize, and remain focused on the bigger picture is not only a valuable academic skill; it is the foundation for achieving long-term professional success

As you continue your education, remember that you are not just learning for the sake of grades or degrees You are developing the foundation for a lifetime of growth, success, and personal fulfillment Embrace this opportunity with passion, dedication, and a commitment to lifelong learning The future is yours to shape, and it begins now

Developing Skills for Long-Term Success

Skills learned during your academic journeys whether technical expertise, communication skills, or critical thinking are foundational for your careers However, the true value of education lies in the longterm development of soft skills such as resilience, collaboration, leadership, and emotional intelligence

Professors understand that the ability to adapt and grow in a professional setting is as important as academic achievement They equip students with the tools to not only succeed in their first jobs but to evolve in their careers as leaders, innovators, and problem solvers This blend of technical and interpersonal skills fosters long-term success in an ever-evolving world

The journey of learning is not always easy, but the rewards personal growth, professional success, and a deeper understanding of the world around you are invaluable If you stay focused, committed, and driven to improve, you can set the stage for a future filled with opportunities

An Economist’s Journey:

Dr. Jiajia Gu Returns to King’s

Hui Feng, PhD

Dr. Jiajia Gu, a proud alumna of the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics (MEM), continues to make her mark on the world stage. A top student in our Honours Specialization in Economics program, Dr. Gu went on to earn her MA and PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

But long before her accomplishments at the IMF or in academia, Dr. Gu was known at King’s for her exceptional drive and generous spirit. As a student, she was never afraid to ask tough questions persistently seeking clarity until she truly understood the subject at hand. Her professors remember her as bright, focused, and intellectually curious. She was also deeply kind-hearted, always ready to lend a hand to classmates who came to her for help with academic work.

Dr Gu served as a teaching assistant during her time at King’s and became an enthusiastic ambassador for our school. While home in Chongqing, China for summer break, she introduced King’s to students and faculty at Chongqing Technology and Business University and promoted our 2+2 program with pride.

Guangzhou, China, as an assistant professor. She later accepted a new challenge by joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where she now works as an economist focusing on global policy issues.

In November 2024, Dr. Gu returned to King’s to share her latest research and reconnect with the community that helped shape her journey. Her presentation explored women’s labor mobility following land reform in China, offering a compelling look at how land market frictions affect both employment and agricultural productivity.

While on campus, Dr. Gu also met with students to talk about her academic and professional path from her early days at King’s to her current role at the IMF. What began as a one-hour Q&A turned into a much longer and lively conversation, as students eagerly asked questions about her studies, career choices, and life at one of the world’s leading financial institutions.

After completing her graduate studies, she joined the faculty at Jinan University in

Her warmth, insight, and humility left a deep impression. For many students especially young women her story is a powerful example of where passion and perseverance can lead. Dr. Gu’s return was a proud moment for our School and a lasting inspiration for the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

THE CROSS CULTURAL COLLEGE PROGRAM: A TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE JAPAN, GROW PROFESSIONALLY, AND FORM LASTING FRIENDSHIPS

By Jack Pemberton, Year-four student in MOS honours specialization Accounting

In August 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Cross Cultural College (CCC) program, an award-winning experiential learning initiative hosted by Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan. I knew the program, offering a hands-on, practical learning experience that is uncommon during undergraduate studies, would differ from traditional coursework Still, I couldn’t have anticipated how transformative the program would be, not only for my personal growth but also for my perspective on the world. I’m thrilled to share the highlights of my time in Japan!

The CCC Global Internship pairs Canadian students like me with Japanese peers for a two-week internship at one of many Japanese firms, ranging from small startups to global giants I was placed at a company specializing in architecture, agriculture, and education a unique combination! It was, without a doubt, shaping up to be the opportunity of a lifetime

On our first day, my Japanese colleague and I toured the office, met nearly every team member, and learned about their roles within the company In the afternoon, we were briefed on our project, and we outlined a plan to allocate our time over the next two weeks Each day, we set team goals and regularly checked in on our progress I was impressed with how well the program organized these shorter projects

While much of our time was spent drafting proposals, we also had the chance to participate in field trips and learn more about the company’s operations One of the most unexpected highlights was our interaction with local school kids through the company’s education programs I got to play soccer, tag, and other games with the kids with the help of Google Translate, of course! These moments were unforgettable and impossible to fully capture in words They say “you have to see it to believe it,”

“These moments were unforgettable and impossible to fully capture in words.”

and that saying certainly held true for this experience No matter how much you read or hear about a place, nothing compares to the experience of it firsthand.

Outside the office, we had afternoons free to explore Osaka (or other cities like Tokyo, Kobe, or Kyoto, depending on the group) These memories became some of my fondest After the Global Career Seminar program (the two weeks prior), all the participating students bonded like one big group of friends, often going out for dinner together at the end of the day To me, these friendships were what the program was all about. While I learned a great deal from interning at a Japanese company an experience I’ll always cherish the lasting friendships I formed during my relatively short stay are what I’m most grateful for (Shoutout to Kathleen, Ryunosuke, Airi, Yuki, Haruna, and so many others!) This program, through King’s College, made it all possible

THE CROSS CULTURAL COLLEGE PROGRAM: “STUDENTS LEARN TO BRIDGE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND LEVERAGE EACH OTHER’S STRENGTHS”

By Jason Dean, Assistant Professor King’s University College

This past summer, I had the chance to participate in the Cross Cultural College (CCC) Program, a partnership between Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan and several Canadian institutions, including King’s University College. Students from a variety of academic disciplines come together in small teams to tackle real-world business challenges while they strengthen their ability to collaborate across cultural differences Although many business programs include shortterm group casework, CCC stands out by fully immersing students in a new cultural environment and connects them with real companies that present actual problems to solve In my view, this extraordinary experience deserves much more attention than it currently receives

At the centre of CCC is the Global Career Seminar, where students from Canada and Japan receive foundational. business training for four weeks before the Canadian students head to Japan Once there,students form teams of six members half from each

country and an industry partner assigns each team a real-world case , which the team must research and develop solutions for Through regular feedback, focused collaboration, and plenty of trial and error, the students learn to bridge cultural differences and leverage each other’s strengths In the end, they present their proposals to company representatives in a final competition I was inspired watching these teams progress from cautious early discussions to confident, well-rounded presentations.

These transformations didn’t happen on their own My role as an instructor was to nudge teams in the right direction and encourage them when they felt stuck In many groups, the Canadians’ individualistic style stood out they spoke up freely and pushed their ideas forward while the Japanese students preferred to explore multiple viewpoints, to ensure everyone felt heard before reaching a decision Some Canadians found this approach slow, and a few

Japanese students thought their Canadian teammates rushed to conclusions without enough consensus Language barriers added extra caution at first At times, the quieter approach of some Japanese students was mistaken for shyness, instead of often the natural caution that comes with speaking a second language

Over time, many of these challenges were overcome as students recognized each other’s strengths. Rehearsals became a place to test ideas, absorb feedback, and refine delivery By the final competition, presentations had gone from hesitant and unpolished to sharp and confident With each rehearsal, the students improved, speaking with more clarity In the end, every team delivered such strong proposals that it was hard to pick a standout winner To see that growth was the highlight of my time with the program

To me, the real value of CCC goes beyond improving business skills. Students learned what it truly means to appreciate each other’s perspectives and work together across different cultures, a crucial skill set in today’s workforce For any King’s student eager to broaden their global outlook and challenge themselves in a genuinely collaborative environment, I can’t recommend CCC enough

MY SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE: CANADA & THE BAHAMAS

Maiya Symonette

Fourth-year student in MOS specializing in Organizational and Human Resources

In my second year of university, a friend of mine mentioned the International Work Experience Program at King’s She spoke of it in a positive light, and it sparked my interest I thought about how great of an opportunity the program was - a space for international students like myself to break into the Canadian work experience and get that experience in the university environment in which we were already comfortable Even with this encouraging outlook on the program, I waited a year, and it wasn’t until my third year that I applied for the program I was excited to see the email that I’d gotten from the School of MEM to work for the summer of 2024

In May, my first role was to assist one of the school’s professors in the development of her new Analytics and Decision Sciences course At first, I felt a bit nervous to take on this role, but there was also a sense of passion. It was exciting because in the semester I’d recently completed, I took up a Statistics course that had similar content to the work I’d be doing My first meeting with the professor was quite welcoming, as she made the environment comfortable and expressed how grateful she was to have me assisting her As I progressed in the role, I was able to form examples for the forthcoming student labs and conduct research on Human Resources Analytics. I enjoyed this research because my specialization is in Human Resources, and this area of the field was an entirely new part that I could explore further I also benefited from the option to work hybrid, as I was still able to do things I enjoyed like go to the gym and hang with friends.

When June came around, it was time for me to leave that role and transition into another administrative role I was a bit sad to leave the professor, as she was kind and fostered my growth, but I was also eager to take on my second role In this new role, I had the opportunity to work with a program advisor in the Department of Economics, Business and Mathematics Here, I was also met with a warm welcome, a space to leverage my skills, and an opportunity to learn In this role, I sharpened my attention to detail, as I would analyze data and bring any discrepancies to attention Additionally, I was able to do research pertaining to university courses and programs in data analytics and write a report Every time I met with my supervisor, she checked on my progress and made space for me to ask questions. This role was both edifying and delightful.

As an international student from The Bahamas, I sometimes take the opportunity to go home and soak in the sun, sand, and sea that I left behind So, after my two-month work experience, I traveled back home Of course, I wanted to relax and enjoy recreational time, but I decided I also wanted to work. So, I worked as an administrative assistant for an automobile repair shop called Rollington’s Auto I was given the task to maintain the accounting records – to input sales and expenses into the popular software QuickBooks This opportunity was a pleasurable one, and I had the privilege to work remotely, which gave me a great balance between work and downtime In my downtime, I would enjoy days at the beach with friends, that would often turn into us watching the sunset from the shore, or I would attend family gatherings where I’d savor homemade Bahamian cuisine

I’m forever grateful for both of these experiences I treasure the chance to commence my work journey in Canada, as I was able to cultivate the business skills that I desire to persist in while having supervisors that were kind but would still challenge me My return to the Bahamas was also rewarding because I know that there’s no culture like Bahamian culture I aspire to create more memorable work experiences, like these ones, that allow me to take pleasure in the job that I hold, while cultivating leadership, creativity, and organizational skills

Not all risk-takers are winners, but winners are all risktakers. I was quite surprised when I heard this insight from Bowen Jin. Although she appears quiet, after in-depth communication with her, I fully understand why she holds such views

From Computer Science to Finance: The Brave Choice Bowen Jin is an international student from Beijing, currently in her final year at King's University College, with a major in Finance and Administration and a minor in Analytic Data Science (ADS).

The academic journey of Bowen has not been smooth Initially, she travelled to Montreal to study Computer Science (CS), which is known for its difficulty. Bowen dedicated herself to her studies for 4 years and successfully completed the degree However, over time, she began to think about her interests. Despite Computer Science being a high-income and promising industry, she found herself lacking a real passion for this field

During the pandemic, the global economy has changed dramatically. Many industries have been severely disrupted, and the job market has become unstable Bowen began to take an interest in finance, and she realized that the financial market remained full of opportunities even in times of crisis. She was particularly drawn to financial risk management, which can not only help companies mitigate risk, but also generate wealth. After careful consideration, she decided to switch to the field she was more interested in - finance.

The decision was not an easy one It takes a lot of courage to give up a degree you ' ve already earned and start another undergraduate program. However, Bowen believes that life is like investment: only when you take risks can you get a greater return Therefore, she resolutely applied to King's University College and began a new academic pursuit.

Academic experience at King's

At King's, Bowen began studying her true passion - finance She particularly enjoyed courses 3316 and 3312, which focus on risk management and investment knowledge. These courses gave her a deeper understanding of the financial markets and sparked her interest in investment

One of her favorite courses, 3316, a course on risk

Bowen Jin Embracing Risks,

Redefining Success in Finance

By Boya Yang, Fourth-year student in MOS specializing in Finance and Administration

management, asks students to simulate how to design an equity basket to minimize risk but maximize returns. Bowen is so passionate about the course that she applies it to real-life situations She started to invest on her own, based on investment analysis strategies she learned about in class.

Her dedication paid off With an impressive grade point average (GPA) of 87, Bowen ranked among the top students in her class. Due to her outstanding performance in 3316, she was offered a position as a Teaching Assistant for the course. As a teaching assistant, she helps other students better understand the concept of risk management and answers their questions. This opportunity not only improved her professional knowledge but also allowed her to find a sense of accomplishment in teaching.

She was also impressed by the 1220 course Although the course was challenging for many students, Bowen found that it was accessible and gave her a real understanding of the basic concepts of finance This course sparked her interest in finance and made her determined to pursue further studies in this field.

Self-discipline and time management: the keys to success

Bowen's success is no accident. She attributes her academic achievements to her strong discipline and excellent time management skills

She keeps a regular routine every day to ensure productivity in both her studies and personal life. In addition, she has a five-year-old Shiba Inu which she brought from China and needs to walk twice a day at a fixed time. This routine helped her establish a good pace of life and improve her time management skills.

Whether in study, internship, or daily life, she efficiently allocates time to ensure everything is completed effectively. She believes that good time management skills can enhance her academic performance and help her better cope with challenges in her future career.

Challenges and Growth

Despite Bowen's academic success, she has faced some challenges. Among them, Group Work is one of the biggest difficulties she encountered.

As an introvert, Bowen prefers completing tasks independently, but group work requires significant communication and coordination with others. In team projects, she needs to coordinate time, assign tasks, and communicate effectively with team members These skills were initially difficult for her, but she's constantly working to improve her communication skills.

Through continuous practice, she learned how to better cooperate with team members and gradually adapt to the rhythm of teamwork.

Future plans: From King's to UOT

Bowen loves Montreal, where she spent four years as an undergraduate. However, she recognizes that there are more career opportunities in Toronto, so she plans to move there in the future.

She has applied to the graduate program of Financial Risk Management at the University of Toronto (UOT) and hopes to enter the corporate risk management department after she completes her master’s degree. The program she is applying for includes a Co-op opportunity which will allow her to gain more practical experience

Bowen is confident about the future. Through postgraduate study, she hopes to further enhance her professional knowledge and make a difference in the field of financial risk management.

Advice for first-year students

First, Bowen says, master fundamental courses to lay a solid foundation First-year courses are the foundation of financial knowledge, and only with a strong foundation can you gain a deeper understanding of advanced courses.

Second, find your true passion. Interest is the best teacher: only when you are passionate about a field can you really devote yourself to it and achieve success

Third, build good relationships with professors. King’s small class teaching provides students with more opportunities to communicate with professors. If you take advantage of these opportunities, you can get valuable academic guidance and career advice

Bowen's story is one of courage, persistence, and growth. Her experience tells us that life is like an investment: only when we bravely take risks can we get a greater return

My Journey to Passing the CFA Level 1: Lessons Learned and Tips for Success

By Bowen Jin, Fourth-year student in MOS honours specialization in Finance and Administration

In August 2024, I achieved a milestone that I had been working toward for months: to pass the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam. As a finance student at King’s, I was fortunate to have a curriculum that covered approximately 60 to 70% of the material required for the exam. This foundation, combined with the unwavering support of my professors and the financial relief provided by the CFA scholarship, made my journey smooth and manageable In this article, I’ll share my personal experience, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I learned along the way. Whether you ’ re considering taking the CFA Level 1 or are already in the midst of your preparation, I hope my story provides valuable insights and encouragement.

Preparation Phase: Setting the Foundation

The decision to pursue the CFA Level 1 exam was both exciting and daunting. I knew the exam ’ s reputation for being rigorous, but my coursework at King’s had already prepared me for a significant portion of the material. Topics like financial reporting, derivatives, and economics were familiar territory, thanks to the comprehensive curriculum. This familiarity gave me a head start and allowed me to focus more time on areas that were less familiar, such as ethics and alternative investments

Creation of a study plan was crucial. I dedicated

approximately 15-20 hours per week to study, and balanced it with my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. I divided the curriculum into manageable sections and set weekly goals to track my progress One of the biggest challenges was to stay consistent, especially during periods when the material felt overwhelming. To stay motivated, I reminded myself of the long-term benefits of the CFA designation

I also want to take a moment to thank my incredible professors at King’s Their guidance and support were instrumental in my success Whether they were clarifying complex concepts or they simply offered words of encouragement, their dedication to their students made a significant difference in my journey

Exam Day: The Final Test

The days leading up to the exam were intense. I reviewed my notes, practiced mock exams, and revisited areas where I struggled, such as fixed income and derivatives On the eve of the exam, I avoided cramming and instead relaxed by reviewing key formulas and concepts. I went to bed early because the exam office required me to show up at 7am next morning

Exam day was a mix of nerves and excitement. Time management was critical I made sure to allocate enough time to each question so I wouldn’t get stuck on difficult ones. After the exam, I felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. I knew that I had given the exam my best shot.

Lessons Learned and Tips for Future Candidates

underestimated the importance of ethics, a topic that carries significant weight in the exam. Additionally, I wish I had joined a study group earlier in the process Collaboration with peers provided moral support and helped clarify difficult concepts.

I’m also deeply grateful for the CFA scholarship I received as a student at King’s College, an affiliate school recognized by the CFA Institute. The scholarship significantly reduced my exam costs and alleviated my financial burden, and this relief allowed me to focus more on my studies. This opportunity is something I encourage future candidates to explore, as it can make a meaningful difference in your preparation journey.

To future candidates, my advice is simple: stay disciplined, believe in yourself, and view the CFA journey as a learning experience rather than just an exam. The knowledge and skills you gain will serve you well in your career, regardless of the outcome

As I look back, there are several strategies that contributed to my success. First, consistency is key. Regular study, even in small increments, helped me retain information better than if I’d crammed at the last minute Second, practice exams under timed conditions were invaluable. They not only familiarized me with the exam format but also highlighted areas where I needed improvement.

There are also things I would do differently. For instance, I

To pass the CFA Level 1 exam was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my academic journey. The experience taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and strategic planning. While the road was tough, the sense of accomplishment I felt when I saw the word “Pass” on my results screen made all the effort worthwhile.

If you ’ re considering taking the CFA Level 1, I encourage you to take the leap. With the right mindset and preparation, you can achieve this milestone and set yourself on a path toward a successful career in finance Remember, every hour you invest in studying brings you one step closer to your goal. Good luck!

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: A REAL LOOK AT LIFE AT THE BIG FOUR FROM KING’S ALUMS

ByRushikeshChhatbar,

Let’sfaceit:fewphrasesinthebusinessworld carry as much weight (or as much mystery) as “Big Four” For students eyeing a career in accounting, these firms are the holy grail: powerful, polished, and perched atop LinkedIn dreams everywhere. But beyond the shiny branding and corporate prestige, what’s it really like to work at one of these firms?IcaughtupwithafewKing’sUniversity Collegealumnicurrentlymakingtheirmarkin the Big Four universe to get the inside scoop Think of this article as your VIP pass to what actually goes on behind the spreadsheets andno,it’snotjustcoffee-fueledall-nighters andExcel-inducedeyestrain

the people who eventually run those companies In other words, work at one of these firms is less about where you start and more about where it can take you Plus, that name on your résumé? It opens doors faster thanyoucansay“deferredtaxliability.”

Surviving(andThriving)in BusySeason

Ah, busy season the one everyone talks about, often with a mix of dread and dramaticLinkedInposts So,howtoughisthis season, really? According to the alumni we spoke with, the hours are definitely long, but it’s not all doom and gloom With the right mindset and a few smart strategies, finding somebalanceistotallydoable.

For all three alumni, the decision to pursue accounting was rooted in a common desire for career stability, structured growth, and professional credibility. Accounting, they agreed, isn’t just about crunching numbers: it’saboutunderstandingtheinnerworkingsof businesses, from global giants to niche industries So why aim for the Big Four rather than start in the industry? Our insiders say these companies provide unique exposure, tough training, and a launchpad to future leadership positions. The Big Four don’t just auditFortune500companies;theybuild

One common tip was to set clear personal boundaries and communicate them with yourteam IzanTahir(BMOSHSPAccounting), who is now working at EY, made sure to stick to a daily fitness routine. He would leave the office around 5 PM every day to hit the gym for an hour before he came back to work That break wasn’t just about exercise: it helpedhimrechargementallyandphysically When he was honest and upfront about how the break helped him, his team understood andsupportedit.

Another alum, Svar Patel (BMOS HSP Accounting), currently working at Deloitte, made Fridays sacred He aimed to wrap up work by 3 or 4 PM to enjoy some personal time and treat the evening like his sacred wind-down time before he circled back to unfinishedworkovertheweekend

Salaar Durrani (BMOS HSP Accounting), now working at KPMG, had some great advice to stay motivated through those intense few months: don’t obsess over the finish line. Focus on small wins and what you can get done each day, rather than count down the days As he puts it, “It’s just three months staying present and taking it one day at a timemakesallthedifference.”

WhatIfTheyCouldDoItAll Again?

If the alumni could hop into a time machine and drop in on their younger, slightly undercaffeinated university selves, their advice wouldn’t be limited to resume tips or which electivestotake.Itwouldbeathoughtfulmix of wisdom, hindsight, and the kind of clarity that only comes after a few audit busy seasonsandahundredclientcalls

Izan would walk right up to his younger self probablyhunchedoveralaptopandworried about future job offers and say, “Relax. Breathe It’s going to work out” He stressed the idea of trust in the job-search process, that all the stress in the world won’t change the outcome If anything, stress just makes the journey harder. With time, things fall into place: internships get secured, opportunities comeknocking,andyoulearnmorefromthe bumps along the way than from the smooth rides

Svar would hand over a calendar and say, “Circle your summers don’t waste them.” He’durgehispastselftocherishthetimewith family and friends, to make memories while there’s still a student card in his wallet and minimaladultingtodo

And then there’s Salaar, who’d simply say, “Network. Seriously talk to people.” He’d emphasize how much can be learned from others’ experiences whether you chat with upper-year students, attend a firm info session, or strike up a conversation with someoneyouadmireonLinkedIn Ifyoubuild thoserelationshipsearly,theycanleadto

mentorship, referrals, and the kind of insight thatGooglecan’toffer

In short, the alums’ collective advice is clear: enjoy where you are, but start to plant the seeds for where you want to go. The future may look like a maze now, but with time, connection, and a bit of patience, that future startstolookalotmorelikearoadmap

DebunkingtheBigFourMyths

Let’s get this straight: Yes, the Big Four are intense Yes,you’llprobablywork60-70hours per week during peak periods And no, despite what your uncle thinks, you won’t be raking in overtime pay for every extra spreadsheetyoureconcile.

But what’s often missed is the seasonality of accounting The busy season doesn’t last forever, and when it’s over, the workload evens out, sometimes dramatically That meansmoretimetobreathe,reset,andeven explore passion projects within the firm. Salaar also pointed out that if you choose to specialize in an industry you’re genuinely interested in say, real estate the work can actuallybefun Imaginethat

FinalWord:It’sWhatYouMake ofIt

So, is work at a Big Four firm challenging? Absolutely But the work is also rewarding, eye-opening, and incredibly formative. From auditing industry giants to building relationships with peers and mentors, “the journeyiswhatyoumakeofit”

If you’re currently a student wondering if you’re cut out for the Big Four life, know that the alums who are thriving now were once in your shoes. They didn’t have it all figured out either But they leaned in, asked questions, foundb l d d i

Sog most impo Four migh

Alumnus Calls King’s “A Place Brimming with Opportunities”

Throughout my academic journey, whenever I faced decisions under uncertainty, I found guidance and support within the King’s community. With great appreciation, I would like to share my reflection on my experience at King’s, a place brimming with opportunities.

When I decided to join the collaborative English degree program at King’s in 2021, I was a second-year English major at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. I weighed the potential benefits and risks of studying abroad: I had fears about the distance from family and friends, adjustment to life in a new country, and how to find my place in an unfamiliar environment. At the same time, I saw the opportunities: small classroom sizes that help connections with professors and peers, extensive support services from the Accessibility, Counselling & Student Development (ACSD) department, and a variety of degree programs that keep future possibilities open. I chose to focus on the potential for growth, rather than let fear hold me back, and I am grateful that I did.

My first class at King’s confirmed I had made the right decision. Prof. Werstine’s personal anecdotes brought Shakespeare to life, making the lectures more engaging, while his genuine care for students set the tone for my learning experience at the University. Similarly, I had never studied postcolonial literature in a theater before, and it sparked my interest in the subject. However, there have been challenges since I came to King’s for the third year of my undergraduate studies, and King’s amazing resources have helped me overcome those hurdles.

By Aotikuer Ainiwaer ‘24 honours double major in English Literature and Finance

When I struggled to follow lectures and take notes during class, I mustered up my courage and reached out to the professors. knowing my situation, they were very understanding and arranged volunteer note takers whose first language is English to help international students like me to succeed. The King’s International Office also helped me adjust to life in Canada through a variety of workshops and the peer guide program. As I attended events at King’s and Western, I started meeting wonderful students and staff members who made me feel welcome.

One year into my English Language and Literature studies at King’s, I decided to double major in Finance after I carefully considered my interests and future opportunities. While I enjoyed the critical thinking and expression nurtured by the English program, I was deeply drawn to the analytical and problem-solving aspects of finance, particularly its role in assessing risk and making data-driven decisions. This interest grew stronger when I joined the King’s Capital Management Club, where I worked on a stock pitch analyzing the natural resources industry. The experience of interpreting real-world data and making evidence-based decisions was both challenging and rewarding. Moreover, the combination of both qualitative and quantitative skills seemed like an asset for both personal and professional growth.

My exposure to data analysis in finance eventually led me to explore its applications beyond markets, particularly in health sciences. My turning point came with an econometrics project, where I examined the determinants of life expectancy in different countries. I was fascinated by how the foundation of empirical economic analysis can be applied in population health by supporting intervention evaluation and health policy decision-making. I was driven, by this realization and the inquisitiveness developed at King’s, to pursue a master’s degree in public health, where I can continue to use quantitative methods to improve community wellbeing.

My time at King’s was filled with transformative experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. I am grateful for the education I received, the support I found, and the opportunities I pursued. Among many experiences, I will always appreciate the critical thinking, data handling, and leadership skills I developed during the English and Finance double major program.

Graduate Spotlight

MEM graduates have been accepted to postgraduate programs around the world, while others plan to begin their careers; some students shared with us their success stories here.

KhaledAshrafElKhodeir (Specializationin Accounting)hasbeen invitedtobeginafulltimepositionatMNP London.

ConnorMalcolm Colquhoun(Honours SpecializationinFinancial Economics)hasbeen acceptedtotheMasterof Economicsprogramat theUniversityofToronto

TheodoraPetrou,(Specializationin OrganizationalandHuman Resources)hasbeenhiredat: CIBCWoodGundyCorporateas BranchAssociate Theodoraisalso inthelastsecurityphaseof securingajobwiththe governmentofCanadaasa JuniorHRAdvisor.

NoorSaleh(Honours Specializationin Financeand Administration,Minorin ADS)hasbeen acceptedtotheMScin BusinessAnalytics programatIvey.

JiechengWeng(BMOS HonoursDoubleMajor AccountingandFinance) hasbeenacceptedtothe MasterofFinanceprogram atJohnsHopkinsUniversity andtheMasterofScience inFinanceprogramat WashingtonUniversityin St.Louis.

BowenJin(Honours SpecializationinFinanceand Administration,MinorinADS) hasbeenacceptedtotheMA financeprogramatthe UniversityofToronto.

ChristopherAbou Naoum,(Honours Specializationin Financeand Administration,Minorin ADS)hasbeen acceptedtothe MastersinFinancial Economicsprogramat Western.

PhillipKovacs(Honours Specializationin Economics,Minorin ADS)hasbeen acceptedtotheMA Economicsprogramat Ivey.

MatthewScottOrcutt(Honours SpecializationinFinanceand Administration,MinorinADS)has beenacceptedtotheMasterof ScienceinManagement AnalyticsprogramatWilfrid LaurierUniversity.

ShanQu(HonoursSpecialization inGlobalCommerce)hasbeen acceptedtotheMSc InternationalManagement programatTrinityCollege Dublin

NatalieJaneSmith(Honours SpecializationinFinance andAdministration)has beeninvitedtojointhe MississaugabranchofCIBC WoodGundy,asaprivate wealthassociateintheir PrivateWealthRotational Program.

AinsleyRoberts(Honors Specializationin Organizationaland HumanResources)has beenhiredatSHW PumpsandEngines,a Germanautomotive company.

OwenStevenson(HonoursDouble MajorEconomicsandApplied Statistics,MinorinAnalyticsand DecisionSciences)hasbeen acceptedtotheMAEconomics programattheUniversityof Waterloo.

Gold Medal Winners

Connor Calquhoun - HSP Social Science

Cole Fletcher - HSP Finance and Admin

Mohamed Sheikh - Spec Finance and Admin

Taya Pandur - HDM, OHR and Sociology

IN MEMORY OF SERGEI KUZMIN

ByJosephTurnbull,PhD

Dr.SergeiKuzminbeganhiscareerasbothaninstructorandaresearchscientistin1981afterhecompletedhis M.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics. He eventually became Director of the Theoretical and Molecular Physics LaboratoryinMechnikovStateUniversity(USSR)fromthelate80’suntil1993 HelatermovedtoCanadawithhis family and settled in London to complete his PhD, under the supervision of Dr Gerry McKeon, in the Applied MathematicsDepartmentatWestern Sergei’sresearchtouchedongeneralrelativity,supersymmetry,quantum field theory, and other areas in theoretical physics He began working at King’s in 2012, and regularly taught Mathematics1229A/Band1600B,aswellasotherMathematicsandCalculuscourses. BelowaresometributesforDr.Kuzminfromcolleagues.

FromJosephTurnbull:

Dr Kuzmin was my professor in Applied Mathematics 420 at Western over two decades ago, initially an intimidating,andperhapsevenaterrifying,figure MyclassmatesandIeventuallyfiguredoutthathehadabig heart and was not someone to be afraid of. The same could not be said for his exams: sometimes his undergraduatefinalexamscontainedquestionsthatcouldleadtopublicationifsolved.

Sergei later became my colleague, and it was an extreme and surreal honour to work with him at King's for the last 12 years He continued to have high standards in his testing of students, requiring formal proofs and asking "interesting" (aka very challenging) problems even in first year linear algebra (math 1600), but he never left students to struggle on their own His teaching method was very interactive, with constant communication He would email students back and forth about problem sets, old tests, and challenge problems. He kept simultaneousemailconversationsgoingbetweendozensofstudentsatatime,especiallyastestsapproached.I don’tknowwhenheslept,asheseemedtowork24/7

Dr Kuzmin catered to the serious students (whether struggling, excelling, or anything between) with a deep desiretolearn,andforanyonewhoacceptedthisindividualizedformofteaching,Sergeisetastandardthatwas daunting for other instructors to try to match. His instructional methods were "old school", but, for those who persisted,thesemethodswereextremelyeffective.

When Sergei passed away, I met with many students who wanted to share stories: stories of exams with unlimitedtimethatnobodycanfinish;storiesofsomeoneaskingaquestionduringclassonlytobegivenchalk, thenguidedtoanswertheirownquestionatthefrontoftheroom;storiesofsomeonebringinga40%quiztohis office hours to lament their poor performance and seek help, only to be congratulated for scoring one of the highest marks in the class (such grades, of course, he later adjusted to acknowledge that the very tough questions were essentially stealth bonus questions). He asked these horrible/wonderful questions because he feltitakindofcrimetonotprovidetestingatahighenoughleveltochallengeallstudents.

WekeepthememoryofDr Kuzminalivebypassingalongsuchlegendsandlore,andIwillalwayswelcomesuch sharingwithinterestedcolleagues,students,andalumni

FromJenJeffrey:

Sergei was an exemplary colleague, known for his dedication to student learning and engagement with our SchoolofManagement,Economics,andMathematics Hehadaquickwitandwonderfulsenseofhumour,spoke with such love about his grandchildren, and was known for his delicious homemade cheesecake always a favourite at our faculty potlucks I am deeply saddened by his passing, and my thoughts go out to his family, particularlyhiswife,Natalia

FromRamValluri:

IhaveknownSergiyforovertwentyfiveyearsandadmiredhimforhisclarityofthought,scientificintegrity,and dedicationtomaintainhighstandardsofresearchexcellence

Hewasaremarkablydecenthumanbeingwhohadthecouragetostandupagainstanytypeofinjustice

We will all miss his infectious enthusiasm and energy but will fondly treasure memories of our association with him

If you have any career or personal announcements please contact us at MEMInsider@kings.uwo.ca

BMOS Association

Instagram: kingsbmosclub

Email: Kings bmos@kucsc com

King’s Accounting Club (KAC)

Instagram: kingsacctclub

Email: kac@kucsc com

King’s Capital Management (KCM)

Instagram: kingscapitalmanagement

Email: kcm@kucsc.com

King’s EconoMath Society (KEMS)

Instagram: kemsclub

Email: kems@kucsc.com

King’s Entrepreneurship Association (KEA)

Instagram: keaatkings

Email: KEA@kucsc.com

Credits

Project management: Estelle Van Winckle, School of MEM

Layout and design: Estelle Van Winckle, School of MEM

Photography: MEM students, King’s Communications, Erik Mclean (Fishing Communities)

Editor: Lisa Kovac Student Editor: Jack Pemberton