Racialized Graduate Student Collective
Welcome to the Racialized Graduate Student Collective at the Faculty of Education, Memorial University!
Our collective is a vibrant and inclusive community dedicated to supporting racialized graduate students and addressing the barriers and challenges that they may encounter in their development as students in the Faculty of Education. As a collective, we strive to create a brave and welcoming space where racialized graduate students of the faculty of education can come together to share experiences, and resources, and support one another on our academic and personal journeys.
We recognize the unique challenges that racialized graduate students, particularly international students may face in academia and aim to address these through advocacy, mentorship, and solidarity. Our collective is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and de/colonization within the Faculty of Education, advocating for systemic change and amplifying the voices of racialized scholars.
Whether you're navigating the complexities of graduate studies, engaging in research that reflects your identity and experiences, or seeking community and camaraderie, the Racialized Graduate Student Collective is here for you. Join us as we work towards building a more equitable and supportive academic environment.
The Racialized Graduate Students Collective (RGSC) is a student-led, non-hierarchical initiative grounded in equity, solidarity, and joy as resistance. Our structure is designed to be both collaborative and sustainable, centering the lived experiences and leadership of racialized graduate students.
We are organized into two interdependent groups that shape and sustain our work: the Vision Group and the Community Facilitators.
Together, these two bodies embody a decolonial, community-rooted approach to leadership—one that resists hierarchical models and instead centers care, co-creation, and the transformative potential of racialized graduate student solidarity.
The Vision Group
The Vision Group consists of alumni and current students who voluntarily hold space for long-term thinking, collective memory, and future-building. This group annually revisits and revises the Collective’s terms of reference, and provides guidance on the overall direction and values of the Collective. The group also reserves the right to nominate a current student or an alumnus to serve in the position of program coordinator.
| RGSC Vision Group | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Membership Type | |
| Abu Arif | aabu@mun.ca | (Pioneer Chair) |
| Baharehsadat Razavian | brazavian@mun.ca | Alumni |
| Erum Angbeen | eangbeen@mun.ca | Current Student |
| Esther Osei-Nkansah | eoseinkansah@mun.ca | Alumni |
| Iroda Abdunazarova | iabdunazarov@mun.ca | Alumni |
| Monica Murias Cato | mmuriascato@mun.ca | Alumni |
| Faith Kinyua | fnkinyua@mun.ca | Current Student |
The Community Facilitators
The Community Facilitators consist of current students and alumni who are consistently present and available in the Faculty of Education to carry out the plans and execute the tasks of RGSC. This group includes the Program Coordinator and the Program Facilitators.
The Program Coodinator:
The Program Coordinator of RGSC is a current student or an alumnus that is nominated annually by the Vision Group. They serve as a relational facilitator between the Faculty of Education and the Racialized Graduate Student Collective. The program coordinator ensures continuity, nurtures collaboration, and holds the space where vision and action meet.
| The Program Coordinator | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | |
| M.M Amoo | mmamoo@mun.ca | Program Coordinator |
The Program Faciliatators:
The Program Facilitators’ team is composed of current students who receive Graduate Assistantships (GAs) in recognition of their contributions. This team carries out the day-to-day operations, organizes programming, and animates the vision set forth by the Vision Group.
| Program Facilitators | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Program Area | |
| TBD | TBD | Community Connections |
| TBD | TBD | Community Connections |
| TBD | TBD | SheWrites |
| TBD | TBD | PPSQ to Publication and Conference Attendance |
| TBD | TBD | Social Media Manager |
The Community Connection Series is a weekly gathering created by and for racialized graduate students and allies in the Faculty of Education. It provides a gentle weekly community where students can reflect, celebrate small wins, share resources, and support one another. Each session varies, ranging from social mixers and peer-support circles to collaborative planning and resource-sharing. These programs are shaped by evolving needs and desires of the community.
Newly, the collective now has check-in as a more regular event that students can have access to for four days in a week. Also, the collective has expanded the community connections to accommodate care events bi-weekly. Through these care events, the members of the RGSC will care for members of the larger community of people of the faculty of education.
Lunch Sharing:
This is an event to serve one free lunch to racialized students biweekly. These lunches would be served by members of the collective and ingredients list would be attached to each meal. The Lunch Sharing by the RGSC features staple food or popular snacks from diverse cultures that are not easily accessible in Newfoundland and Labrador. This program would create a homely and culturally sensitive environment for racialized students in the Faculty of Education. Food is a universal need to every student and members of the faculty are welcomed to share the lunch.
Community Circles:
Community circles are held every alternative week from the meal serving week. The community circles would feature music (Karaoke), painting, sharing circles, a movie night and a sponsored trip to a local event. It is the hope of the collective that racialized students may find emotional and relational comfort through these events. For these events, registration would be required and priorities of acceptance would go to racialized students in the Faculty of Education.
Why Join Us?
- Build meaningful relationships with other racialized graduate students
- Share strategies for navigating academic life with joy and intention
- Co-create initiatives that reflect our diverse lived experiences
- Enjoy snacks, solidarity, and a space where you can just be...
Facilitated By:
- Graduate Assistants (TBD)
The graduate assistants facilitating the Community Connections are committed to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment where no one has to choose between their scholarship and their well-being.
Weekly Sessions:
| Community Connections: Spring 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Topic |
| Friday, June 5 | Open Mic Night at the Faculty of Education |
| Friday, June 12 | African Dishes: Lunch Sharing at the Faculty of Education |
| Friday, June 19 | Karaoke Night at the Breezeway |
| Friday, June 26 | Indigenous Food Tasting at the Faculty of Education |
| Friday, July 3 | Canada Day: Red T-Shirt and Beach Day |
| Friday, July 10 | Tropical Fruit Mix: Lunch Sharing in the Faculty of Education |
| Friday, July 17 | Colors of Summer: Cultural Fashion Show at the Whale Atrium |
| Friday, July 24 | Asian Spices: Meal Sharing in the Faculty of Education |
| Friday, July 31 | Restoring Nature: Planting Trees in the Faculty of Education |
| Wednesday, August 5 | Regatta Day: Serving Drinks and Snacks at Quidi Vidi Lake |
SheWrites Circle is a weekly online writing space for graduate students who identify as women, offering a supportive community for developing writing skills and achieving writing goals. It is held every Saturday at 4 p.m. (NL Time) and it provides a consistent hour to write, share, rest, and reconnect. Students working on a thesis, revising an article, or rebuilding a writing routine will benefit the most from this program. It is designed to counter isolation as the circle brings care, encouragement, and practical support directly to participants wherever they are.
Why Join SheWrites?
- Build or rebuild a consistent writing practice
- Share feedback, tips, and motivation with fellow writers
- Be in community with other women navigating grad school
- Reclaim writing as a source of connection, not just stress
- Skip the theory; get practical help you can use right away
Online Sessions:
| SheWrites Circle: Spring 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Topic |
| Saturday, June 6 | Many Ways in: An Experience-Based Conversation on Choosing Literature |
| Saturday, June 13 | Keeping Track without Losing Mind: APA & Reference Managers |
| Saturday, June 20 | Research as a Series of Decisions: Making Visible the Small Choices |
| Saturday, June 27 | Storytelling the Research Journey |
| Saturday, July 4 | SheWrites Circle Guest Speaker Series |
| Saturday, July 11 | AI and the Struggle for Original Writing |
| Saturday, July 18 | Holding Each Other: Feminism and Collective Care |
| Saturday, July 25 | SheWrites Circle Guest Speaker Series |
Facilitated by:
Graduate Assistant and Alumni (TBD)
Registration:
Questions?:
For any questions about SheWrites Circle, please contact Iroda Abdunazarova at iabdunazarov@mun.ca.
This program is designed to support racialized graduate students who are specifically interested in participating in research development and conference attendance on matters unique to racialized and marginalized communities. Modelling the Writing in Relations program, this program is to support the development of research in indigenous, anti-racist, feminist and decolonial topics in Education and other fields of interest. This program will match racialized graduate students with mentors in the faculty of education to support their research writing and development. Through this program, support will be provided so that racialized graduate students can attend conferences that would enhance their development as researchers and members of various communities of interest.
Facilitated by:
Graduate Assistant (TBD)
The Racialized Graduate Students Collective (RGSC) is proud to offer a range of special events tailored to meet the diverse needs and interests of our members. These events, organized upon request, reflect our commitment to personal growth, professional development, community celebration, and academic support and dialogue. By partnering with both on-campus and off-campus service providers, we ensure a rich and comprehensive array of resources and opportunities. Through these special events, the RGSC reaffirms its dedication to support racialized graduate students and enriching their educational and social experiences. We are committed to listening to our members' needs and continually evolving our offerings to better serve our vibrant community.
There are no special events currently scheduled. Please check back in the near future.
The Racialized Graduate Student Collective is a program sponsored by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.