Professeur agrégé, École de l'environnement, de l'entreprise et du développement, Université de Waterloo
Jennifer (she/her) is a Shad Calgary alum turned long‑time Shad Waterloo contributor, who believes the best learning happens somewhere between creativity, curiosity, and “wait… what if we tried this?”.
By day, she’s also a professor at the University of Waterloo, where her work lives at the intersection of sustainability, marketing, and human behaviour. Whether she’s designing interdisciplinary workshops, unpacking why people make the choices they do, or asking “What does music have to do with climate change?”, Jennifer loves helping people connect unexpected dots. Her work focuses on sustainability and human behaviour, especially in places people don’t always expect it: sports, fashion, live music, and anywhere else culture and climate collide.
Spend enough time with her and Formula 1 will inevitably come up— because nothing says “interdisciplinary thinking” like cars, physics, strategy, and human drama going 300 km/h.
Outside the classroom, Jennifer coaches field hockey, is an unapologetic lover of all sports that involve snow or ice, and can easily be convinced to take on any challenge that involves the word ‘craft’.
No matter the arena—classroom, rink, festival, or racetrack—Jennifer is all about helping young people discover what they can build, change, and imagine next while they engage meaningfully with the world around them.
Teacher
As Assistant Program Director for Shad Waterloo, Brad (he/him/his) creates a unique bridge between university-level research and the classroom. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and a BEd from Wilfrid Laurier University, a dual background that fuels his commitment to high-impact, inquiry-based learning. For Brad, education is about more than just information; it is about designing environments where students are challenged to tackle the complicated questions that define our world.
Brad’s history with the program began in 2025 at Shad Laurier, and he is thrilled to bring that experience to Waterloo. He currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier while also working as an elementary educator in the Waterloo region. This perspective informs his academic research, where he explores how neural networks help us understand the nature of creativity and consciousness. He views mentorship as a collaborative journey and loves helping curious Shad minds navigate complex technological shifts with confidence.
When he isn’t working, Brad is usually staying active or immersed in music. He is a skilled trumpet and piano player and is currently learning the guitar (so he is always looking for tips from fellow players!). His “off-the-clock” time is spent as a long-distance runner, rock climber, and hockey player. He also enjoys the science of food and cooking, playing video games, and teaching swing dance. Brad looks forward to a summer of discovery and cannot wait to see the incredible ideas this year’s participants will bring to life.
Responsable des programmes GreenHouse
Erin (elle) a hâte de rejoindre Shad 2026 ! Elle est particulièrement impatiente de voir les participants au programme nouer des liens tout en découvrant de nouvelles choses sur eux-mêmes et leurs centres d'intérêt.
En tant que responsable des programmes chez GreenHouse (l'incubateur à impact social de l'université de Waterloo), Erin consacre son temps à soutenir les jeunes qui ont de grandes idées pour avoir un impact dans leurs communautés. Elle travaille avec des acteurs du changement extraordinaires qui s'attaquent à l'innovation sociale, à l'action climatique, à l'équité en matière de santé et à bien d'autres choses encore !
Erin est titulaire d'un diplôme en intégration des connaissances avec une spécialisation en conception collaborative et en sciences, technologie et société. Elle a passé plusieurs années sur l'île de Vancouver à explorer le tourisme d'aventure et l'éducation en plein air, et à participer à des expéditions de nettoyage des déchets marins dans des régions reculées. Ces expériences lui ont appris l'importance de sortir de sa zone de confort et de se connecter au monde qui l'entoure.
En dehors du travail, Erin fait du bénévolat auprès de plusieurs organisations axées sur les jeunes et siège au conseil d'administration de la Gorge Waterway Action Society. Elle adore être à l'extérieur, essayer de nouvelles choses, caresser les chiens des autres et rencontrer des gens qui peuvent lui apprendre quelque chose de nouveau.
Professeur
Tom (il/lui) est professeur adjoint au département d'études internationales de l'université Wilfrid Laurier à Waterloo, au Canada. Depuis plus de vingt ans, Tom enseigne dans plusieurs universités de l'Ontario et pour les Nations Unies au Costa Rica. Fervent partisan de l'apprentissage par l'expérience, Tom a récemment emmené des groupes d'étudiants de l'université Laurier au Costa Rica pour un stage sur le terrain qui explore les défis liés au développement durable et à la paix. Il est ravi d'accueillir les étudiants au Shad 2026 de Waterloo !
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.
