“I am excited to be taking on another TA assignment for the summer term. I look forward to dialoguing with the students and working with them to achieve their academic success. The course, Leading Change, with completely new content is timely, given our need to adapt to an ever-changing work and study environment. I am keen to assess how responsible leadership will impact my field of academic administration during this period of disruption, as well as discovering how policies will change in response to the evolving circumstances.”
Sam Wilson MBA, Leadership Class of 2020
Sam Wilson, Administrative Manager at Dalhousie’s School of Health & Human Performance
Sam Wilson is an Administrative Manager at Dalhousie’s School of Health & Human Performance situated in the Faculty of Health. She is currently one of two Teaching Assistants in Dr. Heidi Weigand’s MBA class, Leading Change. Sam’s commitment to supporting students and professors is stellar. CEGE Connection reached out to Sam in a virtual interview for her thought on her TA experience during the past year.
Sam Wilson
When I realized that the Centre for Executive and Graduate Education was looking for Teaching Assistants (TA) to help with Winter MBA classes, I was quick to apply. Like many other students, after completing my MBA in Leadership at the end of Summer 2020, I did not get the ending I anticipated. I remember feeling burnt out from having my last two courses fully online. While my MBA buddies were ecstatic about working on their last assignments, I was skulking around listening to Taylor Swift’s Folklore, thinking; “Yes Taylor, you know, I think my house is haunted too. It is this powerful presence of work, study and family-life balance”.
Haunting, right? Not really, but looking back, the Covid19 pandemic changed things dramatically. Having internal conversations with Taylor Swift was also a big indicator that study had taken a toll.
While I did not get a TA position with the MBA program, I was fortunate to be offered one in the Commerce undergraduate program with Dr. Heidi Weigand’s Reflections on Leadership class. In the beginning weeks, I believed that being a good Teaching Assistant was knowing a lot of stuff. I soon realized that helping students learn online was not only based on how well I knew a subject. It was critical to know how to provide students with valuable, timely feedback and facilitate the optimum learning environment. I focused on helping students choose the learning path that was right for them.
Initially, I found feedback difficult. Dr. Weigand’s mentorship was invaluable. She recommended the language to use which would help students highlight both improvements and strengths. When providing feedback, I never forgot my experiences of studying during a pandemic. Offering support to students as they navigated a more complex learning schedule has been rewarding.
I am excited to be taking on another TA assignment for the summer term. I look forward to dialoguing with the students and working with them to achieve their academic success. The course, Leading Change, with completely new content is timely, given our need to adapt to an ever-changing work and study environment. I am keen to assess how responsible leadership will impact my field of academic administration during this period of disruption, as well as discovering how policies will change in response to the evolving circumstances.
Having a TA experience has increased my gratitude for my MBA journey. Or rather, using inspiration from my summer 2020 bestie, that unanticipated MBA ending, I have finally been able to “shake it off”.
“Without the cohort of talented and dedicated TAs, the experience would have been so much harder for students and faculty members. We know that we put you through the paces this year and we are grateful for your energy and commitment.” Dean Kim Brooks