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The School of Resource and Environmental Studies (SRES) thrives on its interdisciplinary approach, blending various fields to address complex environmental issues. While the faculty and students often receive recognition for their research, the backbone of this institution is its dedicated administrative staff. Their contributions ensure the seamless operation of the school, allowing faculty and students to focus on their innovative work. Brenda Smart, a long-serving school administrator at SRES, and Khoi Truong, the Administrative Secretary of Admissions, provide valuable insider perspectives on this crucial yet often overlooked role.

Brenda Smart has been an integral part of SRES for over four decades. Her journey began as the assistant to the director and internship coordinator for the Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM) program. She now serves as the school administrator, a role that encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. When asked about her career path, Brenda shared, "What draws you to any job when you're 21 years old? Money. But what kept me here was the students and the research. The faculty and students do such interesting work, and I find most environmental issues easy to understand and fascinating."

Brenda’s role involves managing the school's finances, supporting MREM student internship placements, overseeing facilities, working on funding and ensuring space needs are met for postdocs and full-time researchers. "If something goes wrong, I get someone to fix it. I also advise on accounts and make sure the faculty doesn't have to think about the operational side of things," she explained. Her administrative duties are crucial in maintaining the school's infrastructure and ensuring that both faculty and students can focus on their research without logistical distractions.

One of Brenda’s most cherished aspects of her job is the strong sense of community at SRES. She emphasized, "The students are always my priority. I occasionally remind people that they're the reason we have a job. Working closely with the internship program really hit home for me the importance of supporting students." Brenda’s commitment to student support extends beyond administrative duties; she takes a personal interest in their well-being and career progression. That sense of community goes both ways; students often drop by just to catch up with Brenda and check in on mentors in the faculty.

Brenda's close involvement with the MREM program highlights her dedication. "The creation of the MREM program was a turning point for me. I did the internship coordination for the first year and was hooked. Supporting students directly was the challenge I was looking for," she said. Over the years, Brenda has maintained relationships with many alumni, watching their careers progress and celebrating their achievements. "Every time someone gets a new job, I think, ‘I was a part of that.’ It's incredibly rewarding to see their success and know I contributed to it." Testifying to her genuine connection to students Peter Duinker, a former director of the school and forestry management and policy expert said, “[of the nearly 500 MREM students we’ve had over the years I seriously doubt there’s a single one whose name and face she doesn’t remember].”

But Brenda doesn’t support students alone; Khoi Truong, the Administrative Secretary of Admission, joined SRES less than a year ago but has already made a significant impact. His role involves easing administrative burdens on faculty and students, managing admissions processes, and ensuring the smooth flow of operations. Khoi's proactive approach and genuine interest in the well-being of the students and faculty have made him a valuable asset to the school.

"I generally prefer to work from home, but because I really like the people that I work with here, I like coming in," Khoi shares, reflecting a sentiment largely mirrored by faculty and students across the unit. His commitment to minimizing administrative stress for students aligns with the school's ethos of supporting student success.

SRES’s sense of community has a unique connection to those who support the school. Khoi notes, “People often come in just to catch up with Brenda and chat. Faculty often bring up new placements of former students” The network of alumni around Canada and the world is not unique to SRES; many graduate-level programs have something similar. However, what makes SRES unique is the history of excellent graduate and faculty support. The network is engaged, active, and continually passionate about people and sustainability.

In conclusion, the backbone of SRES's smooth operation lies in the hands of dedicated individuals like Brenda Smart and Khoi Truong. When asked Sam Chu, a 2nd year MES student, gushed “Brenda and Khoi are amazing [definitely an integral part of SRES].”  Their tireless efforts in administrative support and fostering a strong community spirit ensure that both students and faculty can thrive in their academic and research endeavours. As the school continues to grow and evolve, the contributions of Brenda and Khoi will undoubtedly remain pivotal in maintaining the excellence and camaraderie that define SRES.

For more reading about our amazing staff: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/sres/news-events/news/2021/07/30/brenda_smart_recognized_for_student_service_with_rosemary_gill_award.html