Students

Guiding Your Journey: Meet the College of Arts Academic Advising Team

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Your Academic Journey Starts with a Conversation

At the University of the Fraser Valley, education is more than a checklist of courses — it’s a journey of discovery, growth, and transformation. The Academic Advising Centre plays a vital role in that journey, offering students a meaningful human connection between their studies and their future.

Advising is not just about selecting classes. It’s an ongoing process designed to help students:

  • Develop and adjust academic plans as goals evolve
  • Make informed decisions about programs and pathways
  • Connect coursework to career aspirations
  • Access campus resources and support services
  • Strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Reflect and grow throughout their university experience

Whether meeting once or several times, students leave advising conversations with clarity, confidence, and a stronger sense of direction.

For College of Arts students, the advising team is here to listen, guide, and walk alongside you — through questions, uncertainty, big decisions, and exciting milestones.

Let’s meet the dedicated advisors who support the College of Arts community.

 

Amara Wong (she/her)

Supports: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts diploma, General Studies diploma, and various College of Arts certificates.

Amara’s journey into advising began right here at UFV. As a student, she worked at the front desk of the Academic Advising Centre through a work-study position. Watching advisors guide students with care and expertise left a lasting impression — and inspired her career path.

What she loves most about her role is helping students achieve their goals while easing their concerns. For Amara, the real reward is building relationships and watching students grow into confident, capable graduates.

Her advice to students? “Don’t rush to figure everything out. Explore. Discover what you’re passionate about. If you enjoy what you study, the career path will follow.”

She believes your degree is not just about an endpoint — it’s about meaningful exploration.

 

Eve Mix (she/her)

Supports: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts diploma, General Studies diploma, various College of Arts certificates, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Media Arts.

Eve’s path to advising was shaped by her love of working directly with students. After moving into a behind-the-scenes role at a previous institution, she realized she deeply missed student interaction. Advising became the natural next step.

She finds joy in those “aha!” moments — when students connect the dots, gain clarity, and begin to thrive. Watching them step confidently into their goals is what makes her work so fulfilling.

Her message to students: “Trust yourself and follow your dreams. It’s your life and your education — do what you love.”

Eve’s approach is rooted in empowerment and self-trust.

 

Julia Shuker (she/her)

Supports: Bachelor of Integrated Studies, General Studies Diploma, Bachelor of Arts.

Julia sees advising as an extension of her teaching. When offered the opportunity to work in advising, she embraced it as a way to better support her students’ dreams and academic paths.

The most meaningful part of her role? Watching students grow in confidence — from their first uncertain steps to graduation day and beyond. Hearing from former students about their careers continues to inspire her.

Guided by the wisdom of her Elders, she shares this powerful reminder: “Asking for help is not a sign of weakness — it is a sign of strength.”

Julia encourages students to embrace the UFV community and remember: you are never alone in your journey.

 

Kirsten Trustham (she/her)

Supports: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts diploma, General Studies diploma, and various College of Arts certificates.

Kirsten is driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of education. For her, learning is about more than knowledge — it’s about confidence, purpose, and opportunity.

She finds meaning in helping students navigate transitions and discover their potential. Supporting students through challenges and decisions is where her passion shines.

Her advice: “Get involved. Join clubs, attend events, collaborate, explore opportunities beyond the classroom.”

She believes engagement builds community, strengthens skills, and makes the university experience richer and more connected.

 

Shannon Draney (she/her)

Supports: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts diploma, General Studies diploma, and various College of Arts certificates.

Shannon discovered her passion for advising while working in various university roles. She realized she felt most fulfilled when working directly with students — helping them navigate their educational journeys and explore passions and life goals.

The most rewarding part of her work? Witnessing students achieve their educational and career dreams.

Her three pieces of advice:

  • Explore unfamiliar areas of study — you may discover a hidden passion.
  • Asking for help is a strength.
  • Take time to enjoy the university experience.

Shannon believes your degree should be both meaningful and memorable.

 

Vanessa Krahn

Supports: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts diploma, General Studies diploma, various College of Arts certificates, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Media Arts.

Vanessa was inspired to become an advisor through her desire to support students academically, personally, and professionally. She understands how powerful guidance can be during moments of uncertainty.

What motivates her daily is seeing students move from doubt to confidence — choosing paths, overcoming challenges, and celebrating milestones.

Her advice: “Stay curious. Be open to exploration. Your degree is not just a destination — it’s about developing adaptability, self-awareness, and transferable skills.”

Vanessa encourages students to seek support early and trust that their path can evolve.

 

How to Book an Appointment

Academic Advisors are available in-person, over Zoom, by phone or by email. Students can book appointments by visiting their myUFV account and look for the My Advisor card.  Alternatively they can visit: ufv.ca/advising or email: advising@ufv.ca

Advising offices are located at:

Abbotsford Campus – S3117, SUB 3rd floor
604-864-4674

Chilliwack CEP Campus – A1318 (across from the library)
604-795-2808

Whether you have a quick question or need help mapping out your entire academic journey, the College of Arts advising team is here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

You don’t have to navigate university alone.

Making connections and finding new career paths

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Anu Sharma is a curious mind who loves learning new hobbies and discovering new shows.

“As a kid, I would always stumble into anything and everything. I haven’t grown out of that phase yet. We are here to wander through other people’s stories, searching for our own.”

Anu’s path to a Media Arts degree at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) was influenced by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The blend of research opportunities and hands-on learning appealed to Anu, who saw this program as a way to further develop their career.

“I had just finished my trades certificate in 3D drafting when COVID hit. I found myself researching the program and saw how many fields interested me. The Media Arts program has several concentrations, and the Applied Interactive core requirements had promising electives and classes to choose from,” Anu explains.

Recently, Anu completed a successful practicum with the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, an experience that proved both challenging and rewarding.

From left to right: Theresia Pio (Festival Production Manager), Beatrice Frenette (Festival Artistic Director), and Anu Sharma (Festival Marketing Manager).

“I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to use my current skillset in a project designed for students showcasing their art. There was familiarity and hope in creating something that I would want to participate in,” Anu says. Working as part of a great team emphasized the importance of constant communication. “Planning between students was easy, but we relied a lot on different individuals and groups to make this festival work. As someone who wants to be part of successful projects, even when trying something entirely new, sticking to basics will help in the long run.”

The project presented significant challenges, especially in terms of vision and patience. Adaptability became a crucial constant, with the team weighing the pros and cons of each new campaign. Thanks to the efforts of the students, sponsors, and staff at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, they produced a great experience for everyone involved.

“We had to craft a festival without knowing who or what was being featured. The core idea was to include all the diverse art that students have to offer. We cast a wide net out to our community and had to work fast to tie in loose ends,” Anu recalls.

Looking ahead, Anu is eager to be part of an engaging team in the arts division.

“Thankfully, I’ve gained experience in both marketing coordination and visual communication to seek out other fun opportunities. In the future, I plan on advancing my education and perhaps pursuing a master’s in my desired field. I know whichever way I turn to, I will be able to give it my all.”

Anu’s advice to future students is to embrace the connections they make while learning.

“You have the benefit of knowing your peers and instructors while you learn. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. I learned the hard way that fear can get in the way of a lot of personal growth, someone once told me to turn that fear into excitement. Your projects are a statement of how much you’ve grown. If you plan on getting into Media Arts, be open to new learning experiences and tons of new people! It is very motivating being immersed in an environment that wants you to be creative and functional career-wise.”

How can students use their voice to advocate for changes and create social impact?

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Encouraging and promoting changes is an essential part of the Liberal Arts. The critical thinking that comes with the classroom, along with living experiences, can become a game-changer when advocating for changes within your community.

Today, we would like to use this blog as an open space for the Advocates for Change group. Advocates for Change is a student-led movement at UFV focused on building a community where cultural diversity and difference are not only discussed and celebrated but critically examined.

As part of this group, the Psychology student, Ella Halladin, is leading a project to vocalize changes in the Fairy Creek region in British Columbia. On this guest blog, Ella will walk us through the details about the situation in that region as well as ways you can support the cause:

“Less than 2.7% of the ancient temperate rainforest remains in British Columbia. These old-growth trees help the environment in many ways, preventing land erosion that causes landslides, preventing carbon from being released into the atmosphere, regulating water flow to prevent droughts and floods, and providing homes to millions of species both above and below ground.

These trees hold deep spiritual and emotional meaning for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and they are being logged through unsustainable, destructive methods. This logging is being carried out on unceded Pacheedaht and Ditidaht territory, where Indigenous land defenders and non-Indigenous supporters have been peacefully protesting the logging of these old-growth trees to help save the surviving trees since August of 2020.

This Indigenous-led peaceful protest has been met with police violence. When extracting blockaders, police often target IBPOC first, resorting to excessive use of force and using aggressive tactics to remove and arrest IBPOC blockaders. Police have been seen displaying the “thin blue line” patch signifying “blue lives matter”, which has become a symbol of white supremacy. Police have been using dangerous extraction methods (heavy machinery, jackhammers, and angle grinders) often putting blockader’s personal safety at risk.

This movement aims to hold the BC government accountable for protecting the last of our ancient forests both across the Fairy Creek region and the rest of the province and to support the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht Nations in achieving sovereign control over their ancestral lands within their own traditional systems of governance. As well, this movement is not anti-logging, but aims to see the implementation of non-destructive logging practices instead of the logging of original forest or irreparable damage to forest ecosystems.

As part of the Advocates for Change group, I am working to raise awareness for the Fairy Creek Blockade. It is an anti-racism and anti-climate change issue. We will be raising support and directing those who would like to donate to fundraisers for supplies, food and legal support for the volunteers defending the old growth. I have attached those links. I appreciate your time and your support. If this is the first time you are hearing about the Fairy Creek Blockade, I encourage you to look into it.”

Click here to learn more about the Fairy Creek Blockade.

Help support this cause:

 

UFV Student Research Awards 2021 – Celebrating Arts students winners!

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The 2021 Student Research Day featured 54 research projects created by 80 students from all areas of study at UFV. In addition, eight exemplary posters have been recognized with awards in honour of their scholarship. Among the awarded students, Arts students Regan Thompson (Psychology) and Michelle Grafton (Sociology) were awarded the President Award and the Dean, College of Arts Award.

Regan’s project named “Death Anxiety and Spiritually across the lifespan: Factors and relationships amidst COVID-19” was supervised by the Psychology Associate Professor Dr. Lesley Jessiman and counted 308 participants, from young adults (aged 19-40) to older adults (aged +60). It presented a new perspective about the correlations between death, anxiety, spirituality, age, depression, and loneliness.

In response to the circumstances created by COVID-19, Michelle Grafton’s project named “Enforcing the rules versus ‘doing what’s right’: lived experiences of labour and delivery nurses in the context of COVID-19” introduced a new sociological standpoint of how COVID-19 affected healthcare workers, and specifically labour and delivery nurses whose work demands an extra-level of mental, emotional, and physical support essential for the birthing process.

In the light of such brilliant projects, the College of Arts is proud to acknowledge the high quality of research work produced by Arts students and their faculty supervisors. Each research project is one step forward to making a global difference and creating new perspectives and opportunities for everyday challenges.

Click here to view Regan’s and Michelle’s full project.

February Success Stories

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Seasonal Sociology announced as a 2021 PROSE Awards finalist

Social, Cultural & Media Studies (SCMS) Professor Emeritus Dr. Elizabeth Dennis recently co-authored a book chapter in Seasonal Sociology with colleague, Alison Thomas, from Douglas College. On January 21, Seasonal Sociology was announced as a 2021 PROSE Awards finalist in the Social Science Textbook category.

Read moreFebruary Success Stories

Ethics of Internships

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On November 26, UFV held a panel discussion entitled Ethics of Internships. The event was hosted and organized by Dr. Cherie Enn’s (an Associate Geography Professor at UFV) and seven students from the Global Development Studies class (GDS 400). Dr. Enn and students worked hard during the fall term to organize the event and invite speakers. Funding support came from the Queen Elizabeth Scholars.

The panel included both UFV students and internship hosts, those of whom held a range of differing views when it came to the complexities of international and domestic internships.

“Presenting at the Ethics of Internships event was a great way to reflect on our experiences and roles as GDS students and interns. Discussing the opportunities and challenges surrounding internships through a parody encouraged us to critically reflect on why GDS students do internships and how to ‘practice development’ in a positive way,” said Gina Dhinsa, a Global Development Studies student at UFV.

Read moreEthics of Internships

GENERAL STUDIES MINI FAIR

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Designed to address student needs within the program, this mini-fair will cover the following topics:

  • Diploma Drop-In: 2-3:30pm
  • GPA Booster Workshop: 3-3:30pm
  • So you want to be a teacher? 3:30-4:30pm
  • Degree Drop-In: 4:30-6pm

WHEN: Monday, May 14
TIME: 2-6PM
LOCATION: D217, Abbotsford Campus

OPEN TO EVERYONE! Come learn about customized learning plans, speak with an advisor, or learn how to calculate your GPA.

Click on the event link to learn more!

INTERPRET CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

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Creative & Performing Arts Festival

Date: Friday, April 27
Time: 6pm – 10:30pm
Location: Evered Hall, Student Union Building

This first-time event will celebrate the arts at UFV featuring Theatre, Creative Writing and Visual Arts. The following individuals, including alumni, will showcase their diverse talents on April 27, 2018:

Margret Bollerup
Bethany Caldwell
Paige Caldwell
Sidi Chen
Julia Dovey
Emily Eggert-Botkin
Cat Friesen
Mitch Huttema
Jessica Karroll
Jesse Klassen
Luke Kokoszska
Abrianna Leaming
Wenwei Liu
Cameron McKerchar
Willow Mussell
Emilie Poirier
Deanne Ratzlaff
Deb Silver
Krystina Spracklin
Christopher Taylor

Readings and performances by UFV Creative Writing and THEA Directing 451 students. Selected artworks from the University Arts Collection will also be on display in addition to works produced by the following courses: IDS400: Decolonizing Canada’s 150th, VA 232 Sculpture & Extended Media II, VA 252 Print Media II, VA 160 Video Production I & VA 261 Video Production II.

Opening Reception: 6:00 PM @ Evered Hall, Student Union Building, 33844 King Rd Abbotsford.

The art exhibition will run until May 11, 2018.

Event locations include the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (B136), D and C buildings.

Catered by Restaurant 62. Live music from 9-10:30 PM! Performers include Kristin Witko, Myriad of Whispers and DJ Simon Bridgefoot.

Event is free and everyone is welcome!

Sponsored by SUS, UFV, CIVL Radio, Restaurant 62, & Ravens Brewing Company

 

Take a Course in 18 Days with UFV U-Cube!

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Focus and fast track your education! During the 2018 Summer Semester, the College of Arts is offering the U-Cube program to all UFV students.

What is U-Cube? It is a Condensed University Block Experience at UFV.

This semester’s pilot program will allow students to take blocks of condensed courses in:

  • Theatre 101 (May Block: May 3-25)
  • English 108 (June Block: May 31-June 22)
  • History 102 (July Block: June 27-July 20)
  • Geography 130 (August Block: July 25-August 17)

Each course will run Monday to Friday (3 hours per day).

Space is limited, don’t miss out on this new summer opportunity! Sign-up today, visit: ufv.ca/arts/u-cube/