What is Nags?

The NSAC Association of Graduate Students is an umbrella organization representing Graduate Students at the NSAC. As an executive, we are responsible for the operations of the association, from planning a budget to organizing activities. Further, NAGS is an advocate of Graduate Students at the local and provincial level. All in all we would like to help make your experience as a NSAC graduate student an enjoyable one.

Who we are...

2011-12 NSAC Association of Graduate Students (NAGS) Council

l-r Sophie Cross, Laura Boudreau, Todd Larsen, Gina Stewart, Kyra Stiles

Hello folks! My name is Laura Boudreau. I am the 2011-2012 NAGS president. I grew up in a French Acadian village (Wedgeport) just outside of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. I’ve been residing in Truro since I was twelve years old. I began my undergraduate Animal Science degree here at the NSAC in 2003 and graduated in 2007. After graduation I worked at Kejimkujik National Park for the summer and fall then took off to travel and work for a year in New Zealand. In New Zealand I worked as a calf rearer, vineyard and apple orchard laborer, and dairy farmer.  I then spent a winter as a ski bum and worked as a lift operator at Kicking Horse Mountain in British Columbia.  Once I was back in lovely Nova Scotia I began my Master of Science under the supervision of Dr. Kirsti Rouvinen-Watt.
My project looks at the effects of moderate diet restriction on body condition, health, and reproductive performance in female mink. Many people don’t know this but the mink industry is the #1 agricultural industry in Nova Scotia! They may be smelly and not so friendly little animals but they sure are valuable. This project allows me to experience this industry hands on and I’ve also gained much experience in molecular genetics.
My position as president of NAGS is an exciting one as I get to be your voice. I want all grad students to have the highest quality experience they can. As a member of the graduate program committee, it allows us grad students to have a say in what we are offered and what policies are put into place. Sometimes changes must be made but it’s up to us to make them beneficial!  As the NAGS president I also help with the planning of graduate student activities. I look forward to the coming year and learning from all of you and hope you feel free to contact me about anything related to your graduate program experience.  My office is in Haley Institute (room 236) and my email is lboudreau@nsac.ca.

Gina Stewart:

Hello everyone! I’m this year’s NAGS VP internal representative. I grew up in Antigonish NS, where my obsession with a snorkel and love for fish started.  I did my undergrad at St.F.X University in biology and aquatic resources. I spent my final semester of my undergraduate degree at Griffith University in Australia where I stayed on to travel and scuba dive. I worked for an aquatic NGO for a year in Cheticamp NS before coming back to school. I’m currently in my second year of graduate studies at the NSAC, studying striped bass ecology on the Shubenacadie River with Dr. Jim Duston. I’m desperately trying to adopt the Truro agricultural vibe by raising some chickens and a garden.

Kyra Stiles:
Hey everyone! My name is Kyra Stiles and I am the new VP External Affairs for the NAGS group for this 2011-2012 school year. I have been a grad student at NSAC for just over a year now, in the Department of Environmental Sciences, under Dr. Dave Burton and Dr. Bernie Zebarth. I studied my B.Sc. in biology at the University of New Brunswick, and went straight from New Brunswick to begin my fieldwork for my Master's, looking at nitrogen transformation rates within the root zone of a conventional potato crop rotation on P.E.I.  Since then I have been back and forth between the Island and Truro, going to school, working and enjoying the student life in each of the Maritime provinces.
Now that you know a bit about myself, I am looking forward to meeting all of you at some of the great NAGS activities we have planned this year, so make sure to take some time out of your busy schedules for some grad student downtime with NAGS. Please feel free to stop by the office anytime (Cox 117) if you have any questions, or pop me off an email at stilesk@nsac.ca.

Sophie Cross:
Hi everyone, I am your 2011/2012 Financial Officer for the NAGS council. I grew up in Nova Scotia and after 10 years away I am very happy to be back! I've had the opportunity to live and work in some very cool places starting with Lennoxville, Quebec where I received my B.Sc from Bishops University in Biochemistry . After my undergrad I moved to Bar Harbor, Maine to work at the Jackson Laboratory where I studied gene signaling in mice embryos. It was a great job but my feet were itchy so off to Rossland, BC for a winter of ski coaching and instructing. We loved Rossland and stayed for 5 years and I worked as a mineral characterization technician for the mining company Teck. This brings me back to Truro where I started my Masters last September with supervisor Dr. Farid. For my project I am working on the detection of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus in the environment. This virus has detrimental affects to mink farming, one of Nova Scotia's biggest industries. How the virus is transmitted from farm to farm is still unknown. One possibility is that the virus survives in the environment (soil and water) for long periods of time. I am testing methods that can be used to detect this virus in soil and water samples.
So that's enough about me! My role for NAGS is to make sure your money is spent responsibly and on what you want. I don't know what you want unless you tell me so please feel to send me an email (crosss@nsac.ca) or stop by Haley 236 with your thoughts or concerns; I'd love to hear from you!

Todd Larsen:
Hello there! Your Communications Officer for this year is Todd Larsen. I started my MSc project last September, working with Dr. Nathan Boyd on the ecological effects and management options of an invasive plant, Japanese knotweed. I really enjoy working in this exciting field, and aspire to make a contribution to the ongoing study of invasive species ecology. Originally from Port Perry, Ontario, I received a BSc from Bishops University in 2004, and then worked as a wildlife research assistant in California and Maine. I lived in Rossland, BC for 5 years where I ran my own landscaping business in the summer and ski school in the winter. When I’m not sitting at my desk or crashing through a knotweed jungle, I can be found participating in a multitude of outdoor activities, such as skiing, rugby, kayaking, biking, camping, and most recently, steer riding.
As your student representative, my goal is to effectively communicate with all graduate students in terms of upcoming social events, career-building opportunities, school activities, and other relevant affairs. On the other hand if you have a comment or concern, I can forward your message to the proper recipient, and ensure that it is fulfilled. NSAC is a very encouraging and inspiring environment, and it is my privilege to represent the graduate student body. Drop by my office in Cox 107 or email me at larsent@nsac.ca See you around campus!