Scott Munro, BC’96
For Scott, the Castle offered the chance to study in the UK and better yet, explore the rest of Europe.
Hailing from Whitehorse in the Yukon, Scott attended the Castle in the Winter term of 1996.
"It was an unique opportunity to study in an unique setting." says Scott.
"During my time at the Castle I was able to continue with my areas of focus in the social sciences." says Scott, "I then spent my fourth and final year of university back at Queens."
Scott went on to eventually attend other post-secondary schools to get his accounting related courses and then he obtained a Chartered Accountant designation. Scott has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen's University and CPA, CA, and CAFM designations.
Today, Scott is using his experience in the financial sector as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Financial Management Board, a position he has held since 2011. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Public Sector Accounting Board and is active in building partnerships with professional organizations to promote reconciliation with Indigenous Canadians.
"The time I spent at the Castle made me more comfortable living and working in the UK later in my career" says Scott. "I have great memories of a really fun learning experience and very unique Great learning experience."
Scott is a firm believer that alumni should use their experience to mentor and support current students.
Ashley Kelleher Skjøtt, BC’08
Ashley's experience is the direct result of spotting a flyer for the Castle on a friend's coffee table!
Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Ashley attended the Castle as a first year with Queen's, from Fall 2008 - Spring 2009.
"I was at Julie Michaud's New Year's Eve party, having been invited by a mutual friend and there was a pamphlet for the Castle on her coffee table." says Ashley, "I said that I had applied to a regular Bachelor's program at Queen's and she told me about the Castle's program and we agreed that I should apply so that we could be roommates! And we were!"
At the time, Ashley had wanted to study Art History, History, Anthropology, or Archaeology, but that soon changed.
"When I began as a Bachelor, the Castle coursework with Daphne Lawson was life-affirming for me." she says. "Being able to visit works in-person for the first time that you had only begun to learn about in a classroom, well, that is just an irreplaceable experience for anyone!"
On her return, Ashley continued onto a Master's in History of Art and combined Master of Library & Information Science at Pratt Institute in New York. After completing the Master's program at Pratt she then returned to the UK to seek work in London.
"Because of my time at the Castle, I knew that I felt comfortable enough already in the UK to give it a go." says Ashley, "It gave me the opportunity to live and study with the most fun and like-minded people, making friendships that I have treasured ever since, and continued to share my life with as a surprising number of us, from my own year and beyond, who have come to call London, or other European cities home."
Ashley recently had the good fortune of meeting another Castle alumni at a mutual friend's birthday party in London, and it transpired she had graduated two years above her from the Castle and had both worked at the same museum. "We discovered we had both taken Daphne Lawson's Art History class!" says Ashley.
To date, Ashley has delivered systems migration and initiation projects for Pratt Institute, Cornell Tech, the UK Crafts Council, The British Museum, and The British Library.
Ashley remembers her time at the Castle fondly and thinks it is important that students experience living in a supportive and tight-knit community with lots of opportunities to meet friends, see London and the UK, and travel easily in Europe.
"It was very impactful and empowering, for a young person." says Ashley, "The whole experience of the Castle still feels as though it was very much a defining experience, academic and otherwise, that continues to impact my life."
"I think that the Castle should continue to celebrate Canada day every year with a party to welcome back alumni who are based globally, as my memories of this celebration some years back are fond and I thought it was well-organised." says Ashley, "As someone who lives not so far, relatively speaking, from the UK now I would be glad for the opportunity to give to the current initiatives of the Castle - especially when it comes to mentoring new students, continuing to diversify the course offering, and providing an alumni voice when it comes to networking, career opportunity counselling, or what it's like to live in Europe.
Colin Lynch, BC’06
Colin would enthusiastically recommend the Castle to all and thinks it's one of the most unique places to study around the world!
Toronto's Colin Lynch attended the Castle in the Summer of 2006.
"I was always interested in having the opportujnity to study in a very historic castle in Europe." says Colin, "And as I was doing a dual degree program and looked to graduate within with both degrees within 4 years, the ability to complete 3 courses within 6 weeks was very attractive!"
Colin went on to complete a B Com and BA at Queen's and then completed an MBA from Harvard University.
"I have worked in investment banking on Wall Street (New York City) and Bay Street (Toronto) with Morgan Stanley. I then worked in Europe, South America and North America with McKinsey & Company (management consulting firm), focused on commercial aviation and transportation. I then became the general manager of global strategy for AIMIA." he says.
Colin has shifted into the investment world, joining Greystone Managed Investments as a Vice President and then becoming Senior Vice President.
"We sold Greystone to Toronto Dominion Bank and I am now Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Investments, where I oversee a commercial real estate portfolio of $25 billion that is invested in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia." says Colin.
Colin has also served (and serves) on many boards, including the Board of Trustees of Queen's University for 9 years and as a Member of the Queen's University Council for 10 years, where he continues to serve as an Emeritus Trustee.
"My time at the Castle exposed me to people from many parts of the world, allowed me to develop new perspectives and ways of thinking." says Colin, "I would enthusiastically recommend the Castle because it's one of the most unique places to study around the world!
Keen to stay in touch with the Bader College Alumni Network, Colin says, "Not only does it enrich the strength of the community, but it allows one to "pay it forward" giving back to the current students, which also provides tremendous satisfaction, happiness and new connections."
Scott Girvin, BC’99
Little did we know that by the time we'd approached Scott to provide a Spotlight profile, he had already been made a trustee of Bader College!
Well, we thought such obvious dedication to the cause deserved some special treatment.
You can read our special interview with Scott in this month's edition of the Castle Herald.