Congratulations to the first graduating class of Grenfell Campus’s transdisciplinary sustainability (TRSU) doctor of philosophy program.

This program, launched in fall 2020, allows students to work with community, government, and industry partners to research, understand and seek solutions to complex, multi-faceted problems towards a more sustainable future. Bringing together knowledge from many different fields, perspectives, and worldviews, TRSU students address sustainability issues using a transdisciplinary approach.

Three students received their parchment at the first session of Memorial convocation on May 14, with two students having graduated earlier this year. New graduate Dr. Lucas Garcia was Grenfell’s first-ever winner of the Governor General Academic Award for achieving the highest academic standing in graduate degree program and demonstrating academic excellence in his course work.

“We are extremely proud of the TRSU program, the first of its kind in Canada, and of this first class of graduating students and their work to address real world sustainability challenges in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Dr. Kelly Vodden, professor and program graduate officer.

Graduated: June 2025 

Dr. Kamal Islam

Thesis: Assessing climate change impacts on hydrology and agriculture in a boreal watershed

Partner: Division of Agriculture Production and Research, Government of NL

 

Dr. Lucas Garcia

Thesis: Cultivating resilience: women's participation as a catalyst for resilience and sustainability in the Canadian Forest Sector

Partners: NL Forest Industry Association and NL Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)

Winner of the Governor General Academic Award for achieving the highest academic standing in graduate degree program

 

The graduating students, May 2026, are

Dr. Abdul-Latif Alhassan

Thesis: Innovative agriculture to support food security in Newfoundland & Labrador under a changing climate: Diverting industrial byproducts into greenhouse farming. Read more here.

Partner: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited (CBPPL)

 

Dr. Leanna Butters

Thesis: Exploring social space and sustainability in Labrador West

Partner: Town of Labrador City, NunatuKavut Community Council

 

Dr.  Willy Benson Gihangange

Research focus: Conversion of biomass from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. into sustainable biofuels highlighting the role of forestry-based bioenergy in promoting sustainability, regional economic diversification, and climate change mitigation.

Partner: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd.