Anita Rachel Ewan

I am a full-time professor at Red Deer Polytechnic within their Social Work program. I also teach at the University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH) in their Early Childhood Studies (ECS) program and I also teach/have taught within Wilfrid Laurier's Master of Social Work program, Toronto Metropolitan University's ECS program, and the Family, Community and Social Services program at UofGH.

I am the co-founder of the Black Professional Early Childhood Education Association (BPECEA). This association provides advocacy and support for Black children and families. The BPECEA also provides workshops, training, mentorship, and support for professionals, organizations, and institutions who interact with Black children and families.

I am training to become a doula, a registered early childhood educator and a registered social worker. I am enrolled in an Indigenous social work program where I will be taking a mixture of both diploma and bachelor of social work courses centred on Indigenous ways of knowing, histories and culture.

The most valuable experience at Toronto Metropolitan University was the mentorship I received. I had a particularly difficult time in my earlier years. I was a first generation student and young mother (I entered the program at 18 years old with a six month old daughter). Academically, I was doing very well but I challenged many perspectives and was very outspoken. Many instructors/professors saw this behaviour as problematic. Because of this, I began to believe that I was not welcomed into academic spaces because I did not fit the image and display the behaviours of the ideal academic. 

However, there was a professor who saw my potential and provided research opportunities; I saw a future for myself that I would never assume possible. I was inspired by their pedagogy and how they created an inclusive and critical space for me to engage in the classroom. I was able to see myself in this professor, who was an intelligent woman who cared for her students, conducted research and created positive change. She was a woman who I aspired to be and encouraged and mentored me to follow a similar path. I will be forever grateful.

Another valuable experience was being able to bring my daughter to class and to also use my experiential knowledge to guide my learning. There were a few professors who were very welcoming and understanding when it came to my motherhood (I mean, how could they not be? This is Early Childhood Studies we're talking about!) The Toronto Metropolitan University Early Learning Centre was also a great place to have my daughter attend while I studied at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Another professor also provided mentorship throughout my time at Toronto Metropolitan University and even afterwards. She filled the gap I needed when it came to seeing myself reflected as a Black woman in academia. Our first interaction wasn't the greatest but she did not let that define who I was as a student and individual and then showed me empathy and guidance. She showed me how important Black representation in the academy is and continues to be. While she is no longer at Toronto Metropolitan University, I know she made a huge difference for me and many other ECS students.