Alumna Focus
Since graduating from the Liberal Studies program, Gloria has worked on contracts as a caregiver with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and also as tutor (high-school French and English), life-coach, special needs support worker, community support worker, editor and interior designer.
“I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to study at Vancouver Island University in the Liberal Studies program. I enjoy studying and am “self-taught” in many areas of interest. However, the Liberal Studies experience offers a rich and extremely rare opportunity (these days!) for small group seminars and tutorials. This small-group dynamic created the opportunity for daring discussion and accelerated learning around sometimes extremely challenging and always relevant subjects. I am grateful for having had this opportunity “this side of the pond” (tutorial-style-learning seems more common in Europe and Britain), and the memories I have of that social and intellectual interaction with both staff and fellow students are many and sweet.
“In 2000 I had the opportunity to do some editing for Mark Cartledge, a professor at Durham University in England – a steep learning curve, but it all went well and I am so rich for having had the experience. Believe me, a Liberal Studies education is a must for anyone hanging out with the profs at the student drinking hole at the University of Durham!
“The last four years I have focused more on art and design and work in interior decorating and design, most often with two local residential development companies. I enjoy the new challenges with every project and like the fact that I can work the hours around family life and other projects. I live with my husband Ken, who operates a commercial painting company, in downtown Nanaimo.”