Saint Mary's is pleased to welcome Odane Finnegan BA'15 back to his alma mater as the Black Student Advisor in Student Affairs and Services.
Throughout his undergraduate degree, Odane was deeply immersed in the SMU community. He played on the Huskies football team, worked as a teaching assistant, and engaged in various student societies and groups across campus.
"It was my involvement in the Conflict Resolution Society at SMU that really sparked my interest in student support," reflects Odane. Working in partnership with Peaceful Schools International, Odane and other members of the Conflict Resolution Society facilitated workshops on conflict resolution in elementary schools both locally and abroad in Northern Ireland.
Following graduation, Odane eventually made his way to the African Nova Scotian Road to Prosperity, where he became immersed in community engagement and advocacy. "I saw the importance of community-led initiatives in furthering programs that were actually reflective of the community," notes Odane. "I will absolutely be bringing this approach to the Black Student Advisor role as I look to advocate for and create programs that serve Black students at SMU."
The Black Student Advisor role supports the Black and African-descended community at Saint Mary's, providing advice and guidance for students while enhancing the student experience through initiatives and programming. "There is a deep-rooted history of black culture here," says Odane. "Black students are leading amazing initiatives, coming together in community and driving real change on campus, but without the proper resources, they often face insurmountable roadblocks."
"My primary goal in this role is to help Black students succeed," says Odane. "I want to empower students by helping to improve the supports, resources and tools they have available to navigate their studies and help them grow professionally and personally while on campus. I plan on doing this by advocating on behalf of students to help address and reduce barriers they face and by helping students build up their own skills to manage the challenges they may face on campus and beyond."
