In Focus: Caroline Hill
Name: Caroline Hill
Job title: Indigenous Student Services Coach
Department: Indigenous Student Services
How long have you been at Mohawk? Almost 2 years
Tell us what you do at the college?
The Indigenous Student Services department offers a wide range of services, programs, and cultural activities to support Indigenous students throughout their academic journey. As the Indigenous Student Services Coach, I’m one of the first people Indigenous Students meet when they arrive at our office.
My role is to help students navigate the transition into post-secondary, answer questions and connect them to the appropriate resources. We often joke that I’m the ‘Google’ of the office, because if I don’t have the answer, I know where to find it. In addition to 1:1 support, I host Student Success Workshops and Information Sessions on a variety of topics like study skills, time management, and how to apply for scholarships and bursaries. I also partner with other college departments and community organizations to bring services/supports to our space, to create opportunities for students to engage, ask questions, and build connections.
What is the one thing that makes you want to come to work each day?
As a youth, I participated in Mohawk College’s Pathfinder: Indigenous Youth Program, where I learned about the supports and services at Mohawk and was able to reconnect with my culture.
The Pathfinder program and the Indigenous Student Services team made me feel comfortable with pursuing post-secondary and helped me build confidence in my future. I went on to graduate from the Recreation Therapy and Mental Health & Disability Management programs from Mohawk.
Working in the same department that helped me through my educational journey is a very ‘full-circle moment’. I feel a sense of purpose supporting other students through their journeys. We also have an amazing team that is so dedicated to the well-being of our students, so it’s great to work with a group of people who all share the same vision.
What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?
I would love to say that I have a super adventurous job outside of work, but my favourite thing to do is hang out at home and spend time with my dog. I also love video games (Skyrim is my favourite), binge-watching random movie franchises, going to concerts, and going to community events like ArtCrawl.