Blair-Walcott: Bringing the PhD Curriculum into the 21st Century

Kenisha Blair-Walcott, PhD, is working to improve graduate programs across the country through her work with the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies. As a dedicated mother, professional, and life-long learner, Blair-Walcott is not afraid of a challenge and always finds it in herself to persevere, “Even during the times when the journey was particularly difficult, I resolved to complete the task,”.

By Kassidy Guy

Born and raised in Jamaica, Kenisha Blair-Walcott learned the importance of hard work, determination, and a love of life-long learning from her parents, Nigel and Pauline. “I honestly believe that these values were the catalyst for all the other ingredients and life experiences that shaped me into the professional I am – and am still becoming – today.”

Blair-Walcott began her career by pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Sector Management with Honours from the University of West Indies immediately following high school. She entered the professional world of Human Resource Management at the young age of 22 and was inspired to return to academia to earn her Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development alongside her work. Despite juggling the priorities of being a new wife, post-graduate student, and young professional, Blair-Walcott quickly progressed through the ranks of her career, earning the title of Director of Human Resources & Administration in a few short years.

Blair-Walcott learned of USask’s Educational Administration doctoral program in 2015 and promptly applied.  She quickly received notification of her acceptance to the program and an entrance scholarship offer, making the choice to attend USask an easy one.

When beginning her PhD journey, Blair-Walcott originally came to Saskatoon alone. The experience of being away from her family for the first time combined with Canada’s infamous isolating winters proved a challenge, but she was determined to go on. “Quitting was just not an option, and simply not in my DNA,” said Blair-Walcott, and she found opportunities to refuel and stay motivated with frequent trips home to Jamaica to spend quality time with her family.

Blair-Walcott often jokes that in five years, she managed to earn three PhDs of sorts: her PhD in Educational Administration, and her two girls Eliana-Jade and Hannah Elizabeth. Her eldest daughter was born only two weeks after her comprehensive examination and her youngest was born amid the data collection and analysis phase of her PhD, making their births memorable achievements during her academic journey.

As she completed her PhD studies, Blair-Walcott held numerous teaching and research positions on- and off-campus, including roles with the Gwenna Moss Centre, Innovation Enterprise, CGPS, and most recently, the Canadian Association for Graduate Programs (CAGS). Blair-Walcott joined the CAGS Task Force in November of 2020, joining a team of accomplished academic professionals that included CGPS’s very own Dean Debby Burshtyn, and several other researchers, Deans, Associate Deans, etc. from across Canada.

The goal of this highly decorated CAGS team was to set out principles and recommendations for excellence in graduate programs. “Recommendations as adopted by the CAGS task force…are being adopted by graduate programs across Canada,” says Blair-Walcott, “We’re working on bringing the PhD curriculum into the 21st century”.

Through every obstacle and challenge throughout her academic career, Kenisha Blair-Walcott has risen to the occasion and found a way to succeed while remaining humble. “It was the love and grace of God, the support of my very close-knit family and friends in Saskatoon and Jamaica along with the support of my advisor Dr. Keith Walker, and of course, my two main reasons – Eliana-Jade and Hannah – that ultimately pushed me across the finish line.”