Daniel Forgrave,

Learning Commons, University of Calgary in Qatar

As a writing specialist within the University of Calgary in Qatar’s (UCQ) Learning Commons, Daniel Forgrave has played a pivotal role in the development and delivery of UCQ’s academic supports. He provides writing and academic literacy support to students through one-on-one appointments, virtual consultation, and classroom-based workshops and instruction. Both his colleagues and students applaud his commitment to nurturing student success and his ability to create safe learning environments for students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Forgrave led the development of the UCQ Community Poet Series, a program designed to engage students in creative writing as a means of developing academic writing. In addition to his formal role, he was also deeply involved in the creation of a video-based Master of Nursing Peer Mentorship program. However, his impact is most visible through his relationships with his students. As one student said, “His simple words of positive affirmation saying, ‘Yes, you can do it!’ increased my confidence in myself.”