Mount Allison’s Student Success Guides are new roles on campus this year and are here to help first-year students navigate their transition to university life. Each first-year student is paired with a Student Success Guide, who will be their go-to campus guides offering support throughout the semester on a variety of topics.  

This year, two Student Success Guides are welcoming and supporting new students: Jacob McKiel (‘25) and Kevinique Stubbs (‘23).

“We know a bit about all resources on campus, whether that’s financial aid, academic support, career services, or even student life opportunities,” says Stubbs. “If a student has a question about anything, we either know the information or we know who to go to for that information."

Stubbs is from Nassau, Bahamas and graduated with a BA in Commerce and Japanese studies. She first heard about Mount Allison from a childhood friend who recommended the Commerce program.  

During her time at Mount Allison, Stubbs became highly involved in campus life, holding leadership positions in the Caribbean Student Association (Co-President), the Black Student Union (Co-President), and Catalyst (executive team member), among other groups. She also worked at the International Centre and served as Fundraiser and Development Officer for the Kavana Wa Kilele Fund. After years of campus involvement and student leadership, she says this new role felt like a natural next step.

“I don’t think a lot of students understand how common some of the situations they experience are,” says Stubbs. “I try to help normalize their experiences by letting them know that no one expects them to figure out everything in their first year. There's a reason why they ask you to declare your major at the end of the second year.”  

Stubbs says she uses her own experience of navigating through university to help students feel more confident and grow.  

“You learn so much about yourself from exploring university for the first time. Things are bound to happen and to change. So, I focus on normalizing that experience and saying that it's okay. I am big on transparency and creating a sense of belonging – that’s the way I connect with students.”

McKiel was also actively involved during his time at Mount Allison. From serving as VP of Thornton House and joining Catalyst’s executive team, to later taking on a leadership role with MASU as VP Communications and Marketing. Along the way, he was also involved with clubs like the Health Studies Society, balancing leadership with his studies and building connections across campus.  

McKiel is looking to help students navigate their first few weeks, be a source of support throughout the semester, and get to know what excites them about their time at Mount Allison.

“There are so many different things happening on campus — any questions at all are always welcome and I’m happy to answer them,” says McKiel. “Being a recent grad, I understand how overwhelming university life can be, especially in the first year. It’s normal to feel out of place, but I want to remind students that those feelings are part of the process.”

One of the best parts of the Student Success Guide role for McKiel is connecting with students and hearing about their experiences as they settle into life at Mount Allison.

“It’s always nice to see that first-year experience — even after all these years, students are having similar experiences coming into Mount A. They’re enjoying Orientation, enjoying their classes, and this year’s incoming class seems to know what they want out of their university experience, which is really nice to see.”

How to reach out: Visit the Wallace McCain Student Centre, First Floor, Room 125 or email successguides@mta.ca.