Alumni of The Journal: Gena Dufour
Written by Holly Morrison
@holly.morrison
Thumbnail and Header Photo by Kamelle LePage
It’s an exciting time for SMUdents right now, as the class of 2021 is graduating and the number of SMU alumni is increasing! Graduating this year are many staff members of the SMU Journal, including former Executive Editor Gena Dufour, who will be finishing her degree at the end of June and graduating in the fall. Gena has been a wonderful leader of The Journal’s team, so I wanted to reach out to her and get her thoughts on SMU, both as a student and soon-to-be alumna.
Having grown up in rural Manitoba, Gena firstly attended the University of Winnipeg for her undergraduate degree. There, she received a BA in Honours Psychology before moving to Nova Scotia to attend Saint Mary’s University for her Master’s in Applied Forensic Psychology. Her research projects and publications are extensive, as you can see on her website, as are the awards that she has won in academics over the years. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), which grants her $20,000 annually over four years for research purposes. In 2019-2020, this specific fellowship received 2585 applications, with only 516 fellowships received. Each application is carefully evaluated by a selection committee before funds are awarded. In the fall, Gena will be attending the University of Windsor for her Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology. Before she moves on to this new chapter of her life, here is what she had to say about her time at SMU.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about your studies and research while at SMU?
Gena: My degree is a Master of Science in Applied Forensic Psychology. It was a 2-year program, so I started in the fall of 2019. I am set to defend my thesis at the end of this month, and then technically I'm done the degree, although officially I graduate in the Fall convocation. My research here focused on victims' experiences with the justice system. … [My] thesis was on Victim Impact Statements —basically, if you are the victim of a crime, you have the option to submit a statement that talks about the various ways you've been impacted by it (emotionally, financially, physically, what have you). My thesis looked at how victim impact statements affect sentencing decisions in court. You can read a synopsis here: https://genadufour.com/ongoing-projects. I also do some other research on the side. I am in the Psychology Department, but I work in the Criminology Department too, and there I do research on domestic violence, domestic homicide, and campus sexual violence, among other things.
Q: What do your future studies look like while at the University of Windsor?
Photo by Martina Faitakis
Gena: At Windsor, I'll be getting my Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology. I haven't started that program yet obviously, but I'll be working generally in the field of gender-based violence and victim experiences. I'd also like to expand my scope a bit to focus on Indigenous and/or LGBTQ+ victims specifically.
Q. What does it mean to you to be a SMU alumna?
Gena: I'm excited to be graduating. SMU will always have a special place in my heart and has been a big part of my life for the past two years, but I also think I'm just about ready to start the “next phase” of my academic career. I think SMU has set me up to succeed moving forward.
Q: What stood out to you as a positive aspect of SMU? A negative one?
Gena: SMU is an exceptionally tight-knit school. I appreciated that people were always [willing] to stop and talk in the hallways and everybody sort of knows everybody. I definitely always felt welcome, which was one of my favourite things about the school. In the same vein though, sometimes the school feels a little disorganized. It's not uncommon for folks in admin to forget things, or for requests to take a very long time. At times, it can be a little frustrating.
Q: Can you tell me about your history and experience working for The SMU Journal, and what you feel you got out of it?
Gena: The Journal was awesome! I was hired in May of 2020, right after the pandemic began. I actually went my entire tenure as Executive Editor without ever seeing my office in the SMUSA building. [I’m a] little sad about that! But working for The Journal was a great experience. I learned a lot of really practical project management and leadership skills. I also got to work on my writing and editing skills. In my field, editing is a really valuable asset. The Journal team was probably one of my favourite things to happen over the last year.
Q: What advice would you give to SMUdents about to graduate, as well as to those still in their studies?
Gena: This is pandemic specific, but I think it's important to remember to get out of the house sometimes. Students are so incredibly isolated lately and I found that it was sometimes necessary to go and study at the Halifax Central Library or a coffee shop (when those things were possible and safe). Switching up your workspace now and then is a great way to help keep you motivated. I think, no matter whether you're still in school or just finished, it's important to remember that where you are right now isn't forever and that this stage is only a few years. Sometimes during my degree, I'd start to feel a little stuck or unmotivated, but at the end of the day, things change eventually.
This is only the beginning of Gena’s career, and with all her accomplishments over the past couple of years, I believe that she will go far in her research. With the research Gena has conducted in gender-based violence, stalking, sexual assault, alongside her thesis work on Victim Impact Statements, she has the capability to help many people across so many different communities. This scope will only increase as she continues her studies at the University of Windsor, as she plans to look specifically at how Indigenous and LGBTQ+ are treated within the justice system. SMU, The Journal, and Nova Scotia will all miss you, Gena. We wish you the best!