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Maddie Ronan
Name: Maddie Ronan
Nickname(s): Mad-dawg, Maddie Moo, MRon
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Tottenham, ON
Favourite thing about ConEd?: My favourite thing about Con-Ed is the incredible family and closeness that this faculty fosters; I have met so many of my best friends in Con-Ed, and undoubtedly, Con-Ed Camp was my favourite weekend of First Year so far!
Favourite first-year class?: My favourite first year class was PSYC100 ... just kidding! HIST 104 has been my favourite class thus far, Dr. Steven Maynard was an incredible professor, and the entire teaching team was so helpful with all assignments - the course painted a whole new picture of Canadian history for me!
Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: My favourite thing about Teach Exec. is how approachable, kind and open the entire team is! It was definitely intimidating entering this position, and Teach Exec approaches you as a peer, being supportive and wanting to make this the best experience for both Teaches and first year, as possible! I also love portraying them all in our entrance skit!
Personal Spotlight: It's time to Shake and Shimmy Class of '26! Welcome to the best fa~cult~ty at Queen's University! My name is Maddie Ronan, and I am in the I/S stream with teachables in History and Indigenous Studies! I am so beyond excited to meet all of the new and incoming Con-Eddies, and welcome you to this beautiful family. My three favourite things in life can be described in a simple alliteration: country music, cats, camping and Costco! And of course, I cannot leave out my affinity for the entire discography of Taylor Swift and travelling! The coolest place I have ever visited is Shanghai, China and my happy place is Venice, Italy! I love working out and getting involved in campus clubs and organizations - so do not hesitate to reach out to me if you are looking for a gym buddy or someone to help you get involved! Can't wait to see all your shining faces!
Words of wisdom: Fortune favours the brave! I can say with certainty that your nerves, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed in your transition from home to university is a shared experience - all of your peers around you are in new environments, so take this opportunity to introduce yourself to the Queen's community as you want to be known! Get involved! Meet new people every day! Attend all the CESA Events! Sign up for intramurals! Go door-to-door in your residence with a box of cookies and meet your neighbours (trust me, this goes over well). Seize the chance to be the best version of yourself, and make Queen's a safe and comfortable home-away-from-home! There is no social hierarchy here, and you are going to meet the best friends of your life, even if it takes a little bit of time!
Elizabeth Li
Name: Elizabeth Li
Nickname(s): Liz, Lizzy, Liz Laz Loz, E-Dawg
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Favourite thing about ConEd?:
The people!! Everyone is super friendly and supportive, and it’s really easy to meet new people and make friends :)) I also really love the community, and how no matter where you are and what class you’re in, there’s always bound to be a friendly con-eddie nearby! Meeting all these lovely people who share your passion and energy is definitely one of my favourite things about ConEd!
Favourite first-year class: Don’t send me hate mail but I honestly really enjoyed PSYC 100! I thought the content was interesting and the assessments were super fair, and I’m really not sure why most people thought it was the worst thing they ever experienced. For another enjoyable course that was more academically challenging, I liked MATH 121! Math has been my least favourite subject for a long time, but the way the course was structured and taught worked really well for me (although this may have been due to the online format)!
Favourite thing about being a Teach?: Their passion and dedication to their roles! They have been working so hard to make Orientation a fun-filled week and an overall positive experience, and I can’t wait for you all to see what’s in store! They are truly a group of supportive and MMMAgNifiCeNt people <3
Personal Spotlight: Hellooo everyone! Most people like to call me Liz and I’ll be going into my third year in September. I’m in ConEd science and in the biopsych specialization, with teachables in bio and chem. I am a cream cheese enthusiast, a reluctant user of at least 3 alarms in the morning, and a non-believer of telling apart your left and right without holding up your hands. Ice cream is my favourite food (my favourite flavour is maple syrup), and I think everyone should try drizzling honey on ice cream because it is delicious and genuinely elevates the experience. I love to read (always looking for goodreads friends!) and bake sweet treats (although I don’t love chocolate)! Please don’t be shy and come introduce yourself and say hi :))
Words of wisdom: Get yourself out there! Reach out to people who you have friend-crushes on so you can be their new bestie, and don’t forget that everyone is in the same eager-to-make-friends boat as you. Everyone is coming to university for the first time and leaving behind their friends from high-school, so don’t be afraid to strike up some conversation! Apart from connecting over social media, getting involved in extracurriculars is also a fantastic way to meet new people and step out of your comfort zone. Attend some Queen’s or CESA events (you’re already doing great by registering for O-Week!) and join clubs that align with your interests, and you’ll find your time here to be really rewarding! Be bold and take some risks !!!
Alison Walmsley
Name: Alison Walmsley
Nickname(s): Ali
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Belleville, Ontario
Favourite thing about ConEd?: I love the positivity of ConEddies! Everyone - from faculty members to an upper-year in the hallway - is always so willing to help you out with whatever you need, or will point you in the right direction.
Favourite first-year class?: PSYC 100 is my favourite class so far! There are A LOT of readings and it takes dedication, but learning about the human brain’s biology and behaviour is so interesting.
Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: Teach Exec is always so friendly to everyone! They truly want to get to know you and will do whatever they can to help you reach your goals. They are all such joys to be around, and your enthusiasm for Queen’s is their top priority!
Personal Spotlight: I am in the P/J stream, hoping to teach grade 5 or 6. I consider myself to be an advocate of mental health and the LGBTQ+ community. I have participated in two Spartan races, which is a 5-kilometer long obstacle course…up and down a ski hill! I own five houseplants, three of which are succulents. Some of my favourite pastimes include listening to music, playing video games and collecting notebooks but never using them. Musicals are my FAVOURITE, I’m currently in a Heathers phase. I am officially bilingual, my first language being English and second being French. I cannot wait to meet all the incoming students for this year, I’m so ready to welcome you all to Queen’s!
Words of wisdom: University can be a difficult transition for some, and an easy transition for others. The most important thing is to take advantage of the services that the university offers. SASS (Student Academic Success Services) is a huge help when it comes to anything related to your classes. They can help with procrastination and motivation to writing and editing papers. There are mental health services, including counselors and psychiatrists. Also, set a time to do housework every week. It’s new to a lot of people to be the one taking care of everything, so put an hour aside on the weekend to do laundry, dishes, or just to neaten things up!