Book a Conversation Session
Reach out to the volunteer of your choosing (see list below) via the forms or the online appointment booking page, orĢżcontact MORSLĢżfor assistance.Ģż
Telephone (General Information): 514-398-4104
Telephone (Director): 514-398-1932
Email: morsl [at] mcgill.ca
We ask that you omit any confidential information from all email communication to maintain privacy. Keep in mind that all communications with Volunteers may be copied to the MORSL email address. Please use your Ā鶹AV email for all correspondence related to the Conversation Partners Program.
What to Expect
These peer-to-peer conversations areĢż1 hour in duration. You can meet with a conversation partner regularly or just once.
All meetings take place in approved locations or via MS-Teams between 9 am and 7 pm, Monday through Friday. In-person locations include on and off campus spaces, such as libraries, cafes, student centres, or the MORSL office. Sessions will never take place in a private location, such as a university residence or apartment building. You may request a particular location or have a Volunteer to suggest one.
Meet Our Peer Faith Volunteers
Our Conversation Partners are members of the Ā鶹AV student community who are available to meet with fellow students seeking support. These volunteers are affirming peer supporters who draw on their own life experience and training in their conversations with students.
Abigail Segel
Year: U4
Hello! My name is Abigail Segel (she/her) and I'm a Religious Studies student with minors in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies. I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and have enjoyed being an international student in Montreal. I come from a Reform Jewish background, and attended Sunday school and summer camp growing up. I'm now a member of the Ā鶹AV Chavurah, which allows me to explore my Judaism outside the structure of a formal institution. In both Jewish and non-Jewish contexts, I most strongly feel a sense of spirituality in moments of deep connection to others, myself, and the earth. Indeed, having a network of fulfilling relationships is vital to my mental and emotional health; I'm interested in different ways people build and sustain such relationships. In my free time, I love to cook, visit food markets, travel, take walks in the park, watch soccer, watch TV, and listen to podcasts. I am so excited to get to know and support fellow Ā鶹AV students as we navigate a time of immense change and growth in the world and our lives. If youāre curious about what a Conversation Partner relationship could look like for you, please reach out!
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Benjamin Rudski
Year:Ģż4
Hey! Iām Benjamin (you can also call me Ben; he/him). Iām a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Quantitative Life Sciences program at Ā鶹AV. In my research, I follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Ezekiel, trying to make dry bones ālive againā; my research focuses on quantifying and understanding the relationship between lifestyle and bone architecture. Before my PhD, I completed an undergraduate degree at Ā鶹AV. I grew up in Montrealās Jewish community, studying at Jewish elementary and high school, and attending an Ashkenazi Modern Orthodox synagogue for most of my life. As part of my religious practice, I keep the Sabbath and Kosher dietary laws. These observances have led to interesting experiences at conferences in different cities during my time in grad school. As a student in the sciences, I have also encountered individuals with different perspectives on religion and various religious practices. When I am not in the lab, I like to (try to) go hiking and to explore Montreal. I am also a big fan of sit-coms (especially those with some Jewish content). In my role as a Conversation Partner, I am looking forward to learning more about people from diverse backgrounds and faith traditions. I am hoping to hear how different people approach their balance between religious practice and secular education. Hoping to talk soon!
Julielee Stitt
Program: Bachelor of Theology
Year: U4
Hi there! My name is Julielee. I am a theology student at Ā鶹AV.
Prior to moving to Montreal in Fall 2022, I was a communications officer. And before that, a journalist. Life, work and study have taken me across Canada, and Iāve had the opportunity to live in Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Kingston. My life has not gone exactly according to plan. (Can you relate?) Over the years, I have come to find tremendous wisdom, comfort, and joy in my faith and relationship with God. I grew up in a secular environment, and spirituality is not something I talked about openly in the past. In recent years, Iāve come to learn the value of being able to speak about faith and understand the importance of community. Some Sundays, you might even spot me leading worship at a Presbyterian Church. If youāre someone who would like to talk about life, faith, spirituality, it would be great to meet you! And if youāre not sure exactly what you want to talk about, Iām here for that too. When Iām not hunched over a book or article of some sort, I enjoy running with a podcast, visiting different churches, spending time with friends, and watching excellent television.
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Noor Ahmed
Program: Philosophy and International Development
Year: U4
Hey there! My name is Noorunnahar. You can call me Noor. As of now, Iām a third-year student majoring in philosophy and international development, while minoring in South Asian studies. Iām born and raised in Montreal. So, I completed my DEC at Dawson College under the Law, Society and Justice program. I would describe myself as a practical yet creative person with a positive outlook.ĢżĢżI love talking and listening to people because it broadens my perspective.ĢżSpirituality, academics, mental health, social justice, and intersectional feminism, to name a few, are topics that greatly matter to me. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, practicing martial arts, reading, writing, listening to music, learning different languages, and driving or going outdoors. Feel free to talk to me if you want to exploreĢżSufism (Islamic mysticism), incorporating meditation or mindfulness in your daily routine or navigating family and university life.ĢżOn a lighter note, If you want to just talk about fashion, anime, kdrama, Bollywood , UK rap or 90s sitcom and 80s pop, I would be more than happy to. I would love to listen to your point of view on any topic. I can talk about anything and everything. Feel free to reach out!
Nicholas McCorrister
Year: U3
Hello! My name is Nicholas, and Iām a U3 International Development Student. Iām half Canadian and half Colombian, but I grew up in the tiny Southeast Asian nation of Brunei, where I lived for seventeen years. Growing up in Southeast Asia exposed me to various traditions and led me to take an interest in Buddhism along with other Eastern philosophies. Meditation and mindfulness are central to my daily routine and have permanently changed my life for the better. I have undertaken over two hundred hours of Vipassana meditation training and am currently running the Ā鶹AV Meditation Club. I love how we have created a community of meditators and a space where people feel free to share their experiences in a supportive atmosphere. I also have experience with plant medicines and have participated in six Ayahuasca ceremonies with Shipibo shamans in the Peruvian Amazon. Working with these sacred plants within the context of Indigenous Amazonian culture has given me a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me while strengthening my connection to nature. I would love to chat with anyone about integrating mindfulness and meditation into daily life, spirituality, healing, growing up abroad, mental health, nature, or anything else important to you.
