New role additional resource for students during transition to King's

As King’s prepares to welcome first-year and first-time students to our campus to begin the fall term, Student Affairs has created a new role to support students at the beginning of their King’s experience. Emily Skinner ’19, has been named as the Student Engagement and Transition Coordinator and has been working in this role effective July 4, 2022.

In this new role, Skinner will help students learn more about the programming and services available at King’s to help first-year and first-time students have a smooth transition to King’s, starting with O-Week and through the first year and beyond. She will work with student leader groups and departments at King’s to ensure such programming and resources are in place.

“For first-year and new students, this position is the consistent contact point when they may not be sure exactly who to reach out to when questions arise during the year,” says Doreen Vautour, Associate Dean of Students. Skinner will direct students to supports and connect them with events, student groups, resources, etc. to make them feel comfortable about getting involved on campus. She will also meet with students facing challenges to help them create a game plan to overcome those challenges.

Joe Henry, Dean of Students, says the creation of the Student Engagement and Transition Coordinator strengthens King’s commitment to supporting first-year and first-time students. “This role will help connect new students to our campus through the many services and programs that will enhance academic and personal success,” says Henry.

Skinner will draw on her experience in the transition process for incoming students, both as a student and, more recently, as a King’s Recruitment Officer. As a student, she was a member of the Off-Campus Don team, an executive with King’s University College Students’ Council (KUCSC), and a work-study student with King’s International.

“Through all of these roles I got to be part of programming such as Orientation Week, Bridging Week and other year-long events that help new students with getting to know others on campus and feeling as though King’s is their home,” says Skinner.

As a Recruitment Officer, Skinner met one on one with incoming students during Summer Academic Orientation (SAO), the first step in the transition to life at King’s. She remembers many students asking about  things they were unsure about before starting classes. “I hope to use this knowledge in shaping some of my initiatives to help students feel prepared for when they walk onto campus in September,” says Skinner.

Students can connect with Skinner via email. During the school year, she will also be available to meet in person on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. outside the Kenny Theatre in the Student Life Centre.