Pamela Mackenzie
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I have a passion for educating others and also for the enrichment my intellectual life. A graduate degree was the best opportunity for me to pursue both of those interests.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC is a great university with a beautiful campus and a good international reputation, plus my department is well known for its engaged faculty and high-quality research.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
The Art History department at UBC has a reputation for being a stimulating and theoretically rigorous intellectual environment, while my supervisor Dr. Monteyne is able to provide the support and guidance I need to work through my research questions in a thorough and responsible way. The emphasis on both theory and art practice is also a very attractive part of working with this department as I believe the two go hand in hand.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I really enjoy biking in this city. There is great infrastructure for biking and the sea wall is a truly idyllic, though sometimes a little meandering, way to commute across the city.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
I've really enjoyed the tactile aspects of the archival research that this program has allowed me to complete. Working with old books, maps, engravings, ideas, has been a very satisfying process.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
I would recommend establishing a community of peers inside the university for academic support, but also trying not to neglect the broader cultural and natural environment of Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Maintaining work-life balance has been key, for me, to working through the inevitable moments of self-doubt and anxiety that accompany a long degree program.Take advantage of the sunny days, visit a beach, check out some microbreweries.