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Dr. Mery Perez joined Grenfell Campus's Office of Engagement and the Environmental Policy Institute in summer 2019 as a postdoctoral research fellow. She describes her first few months at Grenfell as "extremely exciting."

"I am continually filled with energy from engaging with communities in rural Newfoundland as well as with our own faculty, staff and students," she said.

Her work brings her close to communities, industry partners and our campus community through projects and academic research. Among the engagement projects that stand out for her are the opportunity to bring Grenfell graduate students to be part of the Sustainable Northern Coastal Communities workshop in Baie Verte and in St. Anthony in October 2019. At this workshop, carried out in partnership with the Harris Centre, several graduate students from the BEAS and MAEP programs presented their research to community leaders and industry partners from the Great Northern Peninsula. They discussed how their findings intersect with the lived realities of these communities. Not only did they make us proud, but they were challenged to speak to the relevance of their work in the social and natural sciences to address problems such as climate change, food insecurity, and accessibility and tourism.

"The academic research project that is central to my postdoctoral position gives me the privilege to talk to communities and to our own faculty, staff and students from the various schools and departments on campus," said Dr. Perez. "I get to listen to them as they describe their experiences engaging communities, partners and government. They also speak to me about their hopes and vision for the future. This has been truly a privilege: being able to grasp knowledge from their experiences and to bring that knowledge to my colleagues at the Offices of Engagement, Research and Graduate Studies for implementation."

Her research project has included focus groups discussions and individual interviews on campus and in rural communities, as well as an online survey.

The goal of this project is to investigate models for research and engagement that will ensure a sustained and impactful presence for Grenfell Campus throughout western Newfoundland. This work is done through a collaborative partnership with Gros Morne Cooperating Association and CBDC Nortip and with funding support from Memorial's Office of Public Engagement Public Engagement Postdoctoral Fellowship program. Dr. Kelly Vodden, associate vice-president (Grenfell Campus) research and graduate studies, and Dr. Garrett Richards, assistant professor, Environmental Policy Institute, are her co-supervisors. The partner organizations have also played a central role at every stage of this project, contributing to the research plan.

Dr. Perez joins us from Ontario where she completed her PhD in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on the role of the arts and creativity in community and economic development, Indigenous rights, and social and environmental change for rural communities. Her research interests include the relationship between environmental governance and community, and the role of Indigenous and rural communities in sustainability.

"Dr. Perez's work first began by conducting an inventory and assessing existing research and engagement activities in the western region," said Dr. Vodden. "This includes Grenfell Campus's vital partnerships with other Memorial partners, such as the Harris Centre, the Labrador Institute and the Centre for Social Enterprise, as well as the broader province-wide context of university-regional engagement."

"We're thrilled that this position is strengthening the ties we have already established with Grenfell Campus," said Colleen Kennedy, executive director of the Gros Morne Co-operating Association. "This can only lead to a continued positive and valuable relationship in the future."

Dr. Perez said this research and engagement has led her to understand many things about Grenfell's mission in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Engagement gives meaning to every sector of our campus, from the natural sciences, social sciences, to business, health care, fine arts, even our administrative and student services sectors. The many faces and levels of engagement contextualize research, inform research questions, strengthen learning, networks and create employment opportunities for our students," she said. "Engagement gives meaning to the work that we are all passionate about at this thriving campus. It is a privilege to be at the heart of it all."

For more information, contact Dr. Mery Perez at mperez@grenfell.mun.ca.