This week, I’d like to take a moment to highlight two invaluable members of the Office of the Dean of Students staff: Edith Breiner and Kayin Queeley. As the Office’s Student Affairs Case Managers, Edith and Kayin are a great source of guidance and support for McGill students. Students can contact them directly, or, if someone is concerned about a student—like an instructor, staff member, friend, roommate, or parent—they can contact a Case Manager on the student’s behalf. A Case Manager can then reach out to the student and invite them to meet.
Case management isn’t therapy or counselling, but a way of finding solutions to the obstacles students face. This can include referrals, as student situations often involve many dimensions—academics, mental health, finances, accommodations, and personal issues, amongst others. Case Managers will also facilitate difficult discussions with faculties or parents, and triage time-sensitive issues like housing precarity or harassment.
Ultimately, Case Managers are here to listen, evaluate what students need, and provide the follow-through to make positive outcomes happen. They are on your side, and I hope you’ll connect with them if you or a fellow student needs a helping hand.