Concordia’s Otsenhákta Student Centre welcomes a new coordinator of student success
Katsistohkwí:io (Tsisto) Jacco says she is most looking forward to getting to know students and establishing trust.
The Otsenhákta Student Centre (OSC) has a new coordinator of student success.
Katsistohkwí:io (Tsisto) Jacco becomes the first person to occupy this position and will act as an advisor to Indigenous students on academic and non-academic programs and services.
Hailing from Kahnawà:ke, Jacco brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to the role. After completing her BA in political science from Syracuse University in New York State, she returned home to work for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke for two years.
“This allowed me to gain experience in the political field. I worked for the elected chiefs, supporting them on files by doing background work and research on various issues and laws they were working on,” Jacco says.
After her time with the band council, Jacco decided to pursue postsecondary studies at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, where she recently earned a Master of Political Science and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Nationhood.
“All the courses I took were focused Indigenous political issues, and my research eventually gravitated to land-based learning and Indigenous food systems.”
‘I know what Indigenous students are going through — I lived it myself’
Applying to the position of coordinator of student success at the OSC was a revelation for Jacco.
“It was a position I didn’t know I was looking for until it was in front of me,” she says. “I know what Indigenous students are going through — I lived it myself — and I have the experience and knowledge to help.”
Jacco is most looking forward to getting to know students and establishing trust and communication. This will form the basis of the workshops and programming she will develop.
“To me, this about creating community so that Indigenous students thrive academically and take advantage of all the supports available.”
For Manon Tremblay (BA 03), senior director of Concordia’s Indigenous Directions, Jacco is the perfect addition to the OSC team.
“We are very pleased to have Tsisto join the Otsenhákta team and the growing Concordia Indigenous community,” Tremblay says. “She brings a passion for Indigenous student well-being and success and a desire to make postsecondary education a better experience for all current and future First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. I am very much looking forward to working with her.”
Learn more about Concordia’s Otsenhákta Student Centre.
