Doctoral
Graduate Advising - Primary - Doctoral
1. 2021-2022 – Ph.D. RST. Maria Margarita Fontecha Tirado. Research Topic: Youth's transition
from illegal crop production to sustainable agricultural systems in Colombia.
2. 2021-2022 – Ph.D. RST. Charlotte Potter SEDRD. Research Topic: Cross-cultural comparison of
farmer-led participatory plant breeding among potato farmers in Ontario and the Andean region
3. 2020-2021 – Ph.D. RST. Regan Zink. Transferring to the RST Ph.D. Program after one year of
studies in the MSc RPD Program.
4. 2020-2021 – Ph.D. RST. Meaghan Howard. Research Topic: Rural communities sport and
recreation delivery in rural communities.
5. 2020 – 2021. PH.D. RST. Meaghan Howard. Youth in sports and recreation in rural areas.
Graduate Advising - Committee - Doctoral
1. 2020 – 2021. PH.D.RST. Louis Helps. New Directions for Managed Migration: Comparing the
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and Recognized Seasonal Employer Scheme’s Outcomes
for Migrant Worke.rs and Rural Communities.
2. 2020-2021 – PH.D.RST. Casandra Bryant. Women's enterprises in rural Scotland and Canada:
Similarities and Differences.
3. 2019 -2021. Casandra Bryant. Women’s social entrepreneurship experiences in rural
communities in the Scottish Highlands and Islands Ph.D.RST.
4. 2019-2021. Chelsea Masse. Fast food operations and urban food systems in Ghana.
PH.D.POLS+IDEV. Finished the Program.
Silvia is one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of having. She is an exceptional woman, with a vast array of interdisciplinary knowledge and a heart of gold. I am in the international development collaboration stream and the ability for me to apply the theories and processes I have learnt in my IDEV courses to the practical experiential work/ case studies that Silvia provides each class has been extremely beneficial to me. Her ability to speak about her experiences in the international field has been eye-opening and has not only enhanced my understanding of international rural planning but also provided me with the practical tools and knowledge necessary for my future career in international development. She is extremely supportive, understanding and compassionate towards her students, she treats everyone she meets with the utmost respect and tries her best to help in any way she can. She is an incredibly valuable individual in this department, and I am so appreciative to have her here.
Very comprehensive and enlightening course presented by Silvia. Was easy to learn about the concepts of rural and agricultural extension, as someone who has not taken any courses within this stream. I have been able to take different approaches to various complex situations that are facing the world and those in agriculture today and will now be able to apply the idea of capacity development and extension to other streams and courses I take. Silvia is a great teacher who provides much feedback and encouragement and would highly recommend her to other students as a professor and to take her course.
This is one of the most unique courses I have taken during my time here at Guelph. The balance between lectures and group case study activities was ideal for a fourth-year course. The theories we were taught and the skills we practiced in lectures have enhanced my ability to communicate and work as a team. The course content complemented my Environmental Governance major and International Development minor perfectly and broadened my knowledge of rural and agricultural studies. The assignments were intellectually and creatively challenging. Overall, very rewarding course.
Silvia’s Project Management class is so far the most practical class I had so far in all my taken courses. The course was well-paced with a structured outline to develop a practical project proposal, which is a valuable skill for the students to work in the field in the future. Students were encouraged to participate, be critical, and inspire each other throughout the course. Silvia herself is passionate about the course, responsible for the students, and very caring.