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A Message from SASAH Director Manina Jones |
It’s such a pleasure to welcome the SASAH community back to the new academic year. It was exciting to welcome the new cohort of first-year students in an information session on-line before classes began and in an in-person social event during Orientation. I met the fourth-year cohort in the capstone seminar this week, and I’m gradually getting to know folks in between first and fourth year. I’m looking forward to the meet-and-greet on September 19th in University College 3105 (the Jim Good Boardroom) at 4 pm. In the meantime--and going forward--please drop by my office in University College 2307 if you’re on campus and introduce yourself (if we haven’t met) or check in. Our move to University College is more-or-less complete.
I have been giving a lot of thought to identifying a theme or organizing principle for the year, as is the tradition. It’s a challenge to think in overarching terms when I’m just getting to know our students and settling into the program. “How are you doing in your new role as Director of SASAH?” I’m often asked these days. “I’m finding my feet,” I respond tentatively. I admit that some days I feel like Bambi on the slippery frozen pond, all gangly awkwardness with hooves scooting off in all directions… but like Bambi, I’m up for the adventure.
And it promises to be a tremendous adventure. So, I’m proposing that our touchstone concept for this year be FINDING YOUR FEET. SASAH’s programs provide a rich matrix for students be intellectually daring, critically expansive, creatively inspired – and to be grounded in a strong sense of themselves in community and the environment. “Finding your feet” will mean different things for different people, but it’s a metaphor that is meant to suggest that we share the ongoing process of learning with humanity, whatever our means of locomotion, bringing a sense of down-to-earth self-awareness and responsibility to the undertaking. Finding your feet means working to achieving balance but never getting too comfortable – that’s where discovery begins.
You can only truly find your feet if you know you have support when and where you need it. We continue to be deeply grateful to our alumni, our Advisory Council members, our donors, and our collaborators, who foster our mission of excellence and innovation in the Arts and Humanities. That mission of excellence is brilliantly brought to life by our SASAH Teaching Fellows, innovative instructors who teach our core courses, bringing unique insights that reimagine disciplines, media, communities, localities, and trajectories of thought.
Last thing – a reminder that you will find our Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, Dr. Ruth Skinner in University College 1123. Jennifer Tramble (SASAH Program Coordinator) is next door to me in UC 2308 and Dr. Barbara Bruce (Experiential Learning Coordinator for the Faculty of Arts & Humanities) is currently in UC 2401D, but she may be on the move to another office, so stay tuned. Expect to hear from Ruth, Jen, Barb, and me about all the events and activities we will be planning for you this year. |
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Former Director Joel Faflak honoured by Royal Society of Canada |
SASAH's founding Director, Joel Faflak, is among seven Western scholars newly recognized by the Royal Society of Canada for their outstanding contributions to the arts, humanities and sciences. Joel is joined by Dr. Robert Hegele, John Meyer, Julie Aitken Schermer, Juan-Luis Suárez and Ying Zheng, all elected Fellows. Professor Angela Roberts is being inducted into the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
The Royal Society of Canada honours excellence across the country, empowering leaders who are building a better future in Canada and around the world.
Joel is the Robert and Ruth Lumsden Chair in the department of English. He is a sought-after lecturer and recipient of multiple teaching awards during his time at Western. His publications are internationally recognized for their study of literature’s profound influence on theories of mind, emotion, evolution and addiction.
Congratulations, Joel! |
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Jaya Sinha is Western’s new Student Writer-in-Residence |
SASAH celebrates fourth-year student Jaya Sinha as this year's Student Writer-in-Residence.
Described wonderfully by Jo Jennings for Western News: "Sinha is the type of person you want as a dinner party guest – animated, articulate and a gifted storyteller. Conversations are sprinkled with amusing anecdotes and the self-deprecating humour of her generation. She thrives in diverse social settings, absorbing the everyday stories of others as deeply as she engages with literature, film and philosophy. She spends her summers writing plays with her best friend 'being each other’s dramaturgs' and figuring out how to make their work better."
Jaya will hold her inaugural reading on Sept. 24 in University Community Centre, room 56 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Student writer-in-residence office hours for the fall semester are Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments can be made by email. |
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From Tornadoes to Theatre:SASAH Internships in Action!🌪️🎭🌪️🎭🌪️🎭🌪️🎭 |
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Experiential Learning = learning by doing. Develop your skills, connect theory with practice, grow your career readiness, and meet people who can open doors for your future. Want to know more about SASAH’s 1.0-credit Experiential Learning requirement? Check out SASAH's Experiential Learning page and the Experiential Learning site in OWL Brightspace. Not sure what to do—or when? Book a chat with Dr. Barbara Bruce, SASAH’s Experiential Learning Specialist, and start planning your EL adventure! |
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SASAH Speakers' Series presents Sam Maggs:
Writing for Novels, Comics, and Video Games |
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Monday, September 15th FIMS/Nursing Building FNB 2220 2:30 - 4:00 PM
SASAH kicks off the 2025-2026 SASAH Speakers' Series with our first acclaimed guest! Author Sam Maggs will discuss different approaches when writing for novels, comics, and video games on a very practical level, followed by a Q&A.
Email sasah@uwo.ca for a live zoom link if you're unable to join us in person.
Sam Maggs is a New York Times Bestselling and Eisner-nominated author of books, comics, and video games. Her novels include Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars and The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope; she’s written for games like Call of Duty: Vanguard, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and Marvel’s Spider-Man; and her comics and graphic novels include Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins, and Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas. She is also on-air talent for networks like Dropout and the Nerdist. A Canadian in Los Angeles, she misses Coffee Crisp and bagged milk. |
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SASAH Welcome Picnic, hosted by AHSC SASAH Rep Khadeejah!
West Lions Park Sunday, September 14 3PM - 6PM
Come join us to celebrate the start of the school year! Drop by between 3 and 6PM.
While we will have many refreshments provided, we also encourage to bring any food or snacks that you wish to (remember the more the merrier 😉)! We can’t wait to see you all there 🧺☀️
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SASAH's Welcome Reception
University College Room 3105
Friday, September 19 4 PM
SASAH students across all four cohorts, it is time to get together. Please join us in the James Good Boardroom for a social gathering to celebrate the new academic year with food, drink, and conversations. Come meet your fellow students and, if you haven't already, connect with your SASAH Casa irl!
We can’t wait to catch up! |
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Important Dates
Sept 12, 2025: Last day to add or drop a Fall/Winter 24-week course or a Fall 12-week course Sept 30, 2025: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (non-instructional day) Oct 13, 2025: Thanksgiving Nov 3-9, 2025: Fall Reading Week Dec 1, 2025: Last day to withdraw from a Fall 12-week course resulting in a grade of ‘WDN’ (withdrawn, without academic penalty) Dec 9, 2025: Fall term classes end Dec 10, 2025: Study day Dec 11-22: Examination period
Image: October, November, December 1896 calendar, Edward Penfield (MET, 36.23.1(5)). Via Wiki Commons. |
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The School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH) offers an enriched undergraduate learning experience that is unique in Canada. Students gain practical experience in many career fields in a range of sectors—including arts and culture, non-profit, for-profit, education, and information technology—and undertake opportunities in the London community and beyond. We are grateful for our community: our students and alumni, our teaching fellows, our valued Advisory Council, our community partners and our supporters.
SASAH acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Chonnonton Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.
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