Meet student leader Samantha Brand
Nipissing students consistently impress as leaders, in the classroom, on campus and in the community. Recently the university celebrated 25 student leaders at the annual Dave Marshall Leadership Awards. Over the coming months, NU News will introduce each student leader to the wider community with a short article discussing their accomplishments and activities. Today, we are pleased to profile Samantha Brand a student in the Concurrent Bachelor of Education degree program, who is working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree, with Honours in History, and Geography, and a Bachelor of Education degree – Intermediate/Senior division.
Brand has been a volunteer and student leader in the Enji Giidoyang, or the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, for four years. She has volunteered with Wiidooktaadwin Mentorship Initiatives, the Peer 2 Peer Mentorship Program, Biidaaban Community Service Learning, Aasagaawitaadwin Indigenous Youth Leadership Conference, Debwendizon Indigenous Youth Education Gathering, Welcome to Community, Wampum Belt Beading Sessions, National Aboriginal Day, numerous speaker series events, and other special events through the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
Brand has also worked with the Circle of Caring Program offered through Biidaaban Community Service Learning in local North Bay elementary schools, to co-create resources for an anti-bullying initiative. The initiative involved inviting local volunteers – members of the North Bay Police Services and North Bay Fire and Emergency Services - to read to Indigenous students at the primary level. Brand’s role in facilitating this project helped to raise awareness of the barriers facing Indigenous students and communities, and helped to contribute to the program’s goals of building kindness, inclusiveness, identity, and culture in schools.
Brand is a loyal, reliable, compassionate, and honest person. She has volunteered her time for countless campus and community programs, asking little in return.
The university community is proud to recognize Samantha Brand with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.