This summer the Centre for Employment Innovation (CEI) is lucky to be joined by eight interns that are helping with research, engagement, and communication work alongside full-time staff. The CEI has partnered with St. Francis Xavier University (StFX), Venture for Canada, co-op programming, Nova Scotia Young Leaders, and the inaugural Nova Scotia Works Summer Student Internships funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education’s Skills and Learning Branch Employment Nova Scotia division to hire these youthful and enthusiastic people. We will be sharing more about our interns and the work they are doing throughout the summer on our social media pages, Facebook and Twitter. Our next highlight is Alaa:

Alaa Salih

Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University

I have always had a passion for psychology as I wished to understand the psychological factors that influence people’s behavior. This interest led me to pursue a degree in psychology. I recently completed my honors thesis, and I plan to work towards a career in the field of psychology.

In the future, I see myself as a clinician and researcher. I believe that it is essential to have research that is informed by clinical practice, and clinical practice that is well-grounded in empirically derived knowledge. Apart from my academic experience, I volunteered at several facilities such as group homes, nursing homes as well as schools. Through my volunteer experiences, I learned that for a community to thrive, people need to be kind, caring, and helpful. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, writing, camping, painting, swimming, and going for long walks.

“As someone from a visible minority group, I am constantly advocating for more minority representation in both employment services and in academia. I became interested in the CEI as they emphasize inclusion and diversity within the workplace. Additionally, the CEI works alongside different partnership to provide distributed systems leadership. This idea of distributed leadership ensures that everyone has the chance to flourish. I believe that this philosophy will only lead to a collaborative and successful community.”