Shad TRU

Program Directors

Adina Gray, MBA

University Instructor and TRU Gagladi Academic Coordinator

Adina Gray (she/her) joins Shad Thompson Rivers University as the 2025 Program Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in post-secondary education and student engagement. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Thompson Rivers University and a Graduate Certificate in Intercultural Studies from UBC. Adina’s career has centered on fostering ethical leadership and innovation among students, particularly through her teaching in Business Ethics, Organizational Behavior, and Corporate Social Responsibility.

A dedicated advocate for AI in education, Adina has organized symposiums and training sessions on responsible AI use. She has presented at international conferences and engaged with AI thought leaders from top universities, including Stanford, NEOMA Business School in Paris, and Santa Clara University in California. Aligned with Shad’s mission to empower youth in STEM and entrepreneurship, Adina is passionate about inspiring the next generation of change-makers. Her global perspective is informed by her work with diverse student groups from over 100 countries, and she looks forward to creating a program that challenges young minds to think critically and creatively.

Outside her professional life, Adina enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and immersing herself in different languages and cultures. She is excited to build an inspiring, inclusive environment for the Shad TRU community.

Connor Nelson, MSc.

Scientific Assistant, University of Victoria

Connor (he/him) is a biologist and post-secondary educator who loves getting people excited about science! Since his time as a Program Assistant in 2017, Connor has made his way back to Shad as often as he can. He has contributed to Shad programs at McMaster, York, and Thompson Rivers, and is thrilled to be stepping into an Assistant Program Director role for the first time this summer!

Connor holds a Bachelor’s of Science from the Integrated Science program at McMaster University, where he discovered a love for ecology, insects, and field research. He went on to complete a Master’s of Science in Conservation Biology at the University of Alberta, where he studied insect pollinator ecology in the forests of Northern Alberta. Connor now works in the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria, where he supports a wide variety of experiential lab courses.

Connor considers himself incredibly lucky to live, work, and play on Vancouver Island, and spends much of his free time enjoying its many forests and beaches. Connor is a certified scuba diver, frequent traveller, and self-proclaimed foodie. When not in the lab or outside, Connor can be found spending time with his wife, family, and friends in Victoria.