GreenHouse Programs Manager
Erin (she/her) is looking forward to joining Shad in 2026! She is most excited about watching program participants make connections while discovering new things about themselves and their interests.
As the Programs Manager at GreenHouse (University of Waterloo’s social impact incubator), Erin gets to spend her time supporting youth with big ideas to make an impact in their communities. She works with amazing changemakers tackling social innovation, climate action, health equity, and many things in between!
Erin has a degree in Knowledge Integration with specializations in Collaborative Design and Science, Technology, and Society. She spent several years on Vancouver Island exploring adventure tourism and outdoor education and getting involved in remote marine debris removal expeditions – these experiences taught her the power of getting out of your comfort zone and connecting to the world around you.
Beyond work, Erin volunteers with several youth-focused organizations and is a board member for the Gorge Waterway Action Society. She loves being outside, trying new things, petting other people’s dogs, and connecting with people who can teach her something new.
Professor
Tom (he/him) is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. For more than twenty years, Tom has taught at several universities in Ontario and for the UN in Costa Rica. A strong believer in experiential learning, Tom has recently taken groups of Laurier university students to Costa Rica for a field course that explores challenges around sustainable development and peace. He is excited to welcome students to Waterloo’s 2026 Shad program!
Tom’s research focuses on the peace and conflict implications of human pressure on the natural environment, particularly research linking environmental change and violent conflict. Tom is the Vice-President of the Climate Security Association of Canada, a fellow of the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and a member of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change.
Off campus, Tom is an avid hockey player, backcountry camper, and amateur naturalist.
