Laura Gilmour is one of the newest members of MacEwan University’s Alumni Advisory Council. After graduating from MacEwan with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2011, she pursued graduate studies in educational psychology at the University of Alberta. In January 2022, she defended her PhD dissertation.

The research she has undertaken in her academic career has positioned her well to advocate for alumni as part of the council, including as a member of the university’s General Faculties Council. “Most of my research has been related to disability and intersectionality, but I think the biggest contribution of that research has been questioning the status quo and starting discussion,” she says. “This is an important skill for any committee.”

We caught up with her to discuss how her education, research and personal experiences with autism have helped her become a voice for MacEwan’s alumni and current students.

What prompted you to get involved with the Alumni Advisory Council?

My professors and the staff at Student Services made a major difference to me during my time as a student. I felt welcomed, valued and eager to learn. I hope that my ideas and input will help make a difference for future students.

What did you value most about your time at MacEwan?

I had the opportunity as an undergraduate student to be actively involved in research, including study design and data collection. Psychology courses related to research allowed me opportunities to practice writing, data analysis and critical thinking skills. I still use these skills on a regular basis, including as a teaching assistant for a research methods course. In addition to research skills, I learned constructive debate skills and the ability to consider the viewpoints of those who disagree with me and understand the rationale for their opinions. Through my professors and those in Student Services advocating for me and for other students who faced barriers, my interest in educational advocacy grew.

What is your most vivid MacEwan memory?

My favourite memories relate to the independent study I did with Dr. Melike Schalomon. I felt respected as a research collaborator and was given independence on the project while still being guided in fine-tuning the study and experimental design. Just before my graduation in 2011, I learned the paper had been accepted for publication in a top journal. That study still gets cited today as a founding paper in the field of intersectionality and autism. I am still in regular communication with Melike and am proud to consider her both a lifelong mentor and a friend.

As an educational psychology PhD candidate and autism researcher, what unique perspectives and knowledge will you bring to your role on the Alumni Advisory Council?

Although most of my work with the Alumni Advisory Council will not be related to autism, some discussions examine the impact of marginalized groups and improving accessibility and representation. I also know the dangers of implicit bias when interacting with individuals who behave or think in ways that may seem unfamiliar.

As the AAC's representative on the General Faculties Council, how do you plan to advocate for alumni?

I have a strong interest in discussions and motions related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and reducing barriers for students. Barriers to full participation are not just faced by students with disabilities. Some other examples may be online learning for people living in remote Northern communities who have poor internet reception, family caregiver or childcare commitments, and people who come to campus as newcomers to Canada or from remote communities who experience culture shock. Accommodations and support need to balance meeting the needs of these individuals without creating undue hardship for MacEwan or providing unfair academic advantages.

What is something that you associate with your time at MacEwan?

When I was a student at MacEwan, my grandmother Esther Gilmour (who passed away in 2009) would give me a toonie each morning to buy an ice cap from Tim Hortons. I remember being handed that toonie on the way to the bus. It was a sweet memory of my grandmother and a vivid memory from my early MacEwan days.