Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Rouse and I am currently serving as the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network’s summer student. I hail from Salisbury, New Brunswick and I am a recent graduate from UNB’s Renaissance College program, where I completed a Bachelor’s of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership. My studies at UNB furthered my interest in the area of public policy, and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with NBSPRN over these past few months!

Over the course of the summer, I assisted with the planning and implementation of community events, as well as marketing and promotions for the Network and its members. In my first week alone, I developed crucial skills in the areas of social media and stakeholder engagement. I look forward to becoming more informed about the role of NBSPRN in our community and learning from the innovative leaders associated with this organization!

My time with NBSPRN was of great benefit to my professional development, as well as to my future studies. In September of this year, I will be commencing my first year of study at UNB’s Faculty of Law. Following the completion of this degree, I hope to become involved with policy development, either from a governmental or not-for-profit standpoint. Luckily for me, NBSPRN possesses the unique ability to bring these two distinct sectors together, and I had the opportunity to bear witness to these collaborations each day. My current position with NBSPRN has granted me a better understanding of the day-to-day functions of a policy network, and I am eager to apply this knowledge to my future line of work!