Whether it’s providing expert commentary, leading groundbreaking research, or making a difference in the community, our students, faculty, staff and alumni are making headlines.

Whether it’s providing expert commentary, leading groundbreaking research, or making a difference in the community, our students, faculty, staff and alumni are making headlines.

Dr. Joyce Helmer's career journey in education is as unique as it is inspiring. A Nipissing graduate with both a Bachelor and Master of Education, her story began in an unexpected place—a wrong classroom on the first day at Fanshawe College. Enrolled in the Social Service Worker Program, Dr. Helmer mistakenly attended an Early Childhood Teacher Education class instead. This serendipitous mistake set the course for a career that has profoundly impacted the educational landscape, especially for Indigenous communities in Ontario.