Convocation Spotlight: Kelly Baskerville

Kelly Baskerville

After completing a bachelor of nursing at the University of Lethbridge, Kelly Baskerville knew her academic journey wasn’t over. At work, she was often asked to provide advice on clinical practice and organizational policies, which motivated her to embark on graduate studies that would deepen her knowledge. Inspired by the many older adults in her family, she has worked in gerontology throughout her career. And she was pleased that the University of Alberta provided the opportunity to specialize in aging during her master of nursing. 

Baskerville tells us how the chance to be part of a research team gave her insights that are already shaping the next stage of her career. 

What are you most proud of from your time in the program?

It has been humbling and exciting to take a deep dive into issues that affected my practice for many years. Completing research on gerontology in nursing education for my thesis has created new opportunities to find solutions and act as an advocate for improvement.

How did you stay motivated when things got tough?

My supervisor was a great support! I had great friendships with people from my professional network and some I met as classmates. We took turns cheering each other on, acting as proofreaders, collaborators and co-authors for each other, and sometimes offered a shoulder to lean on. I appreciated being able to access counselling during a particularly challenging time. And I have an amazing family who supported me from the start. We value lifelong learning, and I've been able to act as a role model to my teen daughter, much as my own parents were to me.

Did you receive any awards or scholarships?

I was very lucky to receive several bursaries and awards, including the W.W. and H.E. Trusdale Graduate Award in Gerontology, Ann C. Beckingham Scholarship, the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association, the Margery Boyce Bursary, Canadian Association on Gerontology and the Molly Spohn Research Travel Grant.

What advice would you give to a student thinking of entering this program?

Get to know your classmates and build a few friendships. Student life can be very lonely,  especially if you are a remote student. Having someone who understands the experience is so helpful. I also found it really helpful and validating to listen to podcasts about grad school, such as How to PhD and Grad School Confidential, which is produced at U of A.

What comes next for you?