For Kristine Lawson, living life to the fullest has always involved a bit of fear, a bit of risk, and a bit of imposter syndrome. Overcoming those barriers has led her to the thrills of playing a lead role on stage, rolling down rapids thousands of times on more than 50 rivers as a rafting…

Internationalization is about much more than students coming to or leaving Canada — it’s about helping students, faculty, and staff develop the intercultural and global competencies they need in today’s world.  “Internationalization is my passion,” says Daryl Smith, director of UFV International. “We're incorporating this intercultural, global, international perspective into everything we do at the…

Chris Bodnar knows what it is to watch a bottom line as closely as a crop. Until recently he was a farmer, and he now teaches the next generation of growers through the University of the Fraser Valley’s Agriculture programs. It is that double vantage, from the field and from the classroom, that has him…

Q’um Q’um Xiiem Dr. Jo-ann Archibald, OC, has been reappointed to a second three-year term as Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley, beginning April 1, 2027. Since becoming Chancellor in 2024, Dr. Archibald has brought her wisdom, warmth, and deep connection to UFV to the role. From welcoming graduates at Convocation to representing…

For competitive trail runners, every second can be the difference between winning a race or finishing a heartbeat behind the victor. Two University of the Fraser Valley professors are now suggesting that blueberries may be useful in shaving those precious seconds off your time.  Dr. Luisa Giles and Dr. Jason Brandenburg recently completed a study examining whether highbush blueberry supplements can improve trail-running performance. Their work…

For children affected by cancer or blood disorders, staying active might mean performing gentle shoulder circles from a hospital bed. On other days, it could mean racing up and down the stairs to collect stuffed animals or learning how to play a new game or sport.  Whatever the activity, Dr. Amanda Wurz wants them to…

Lesa Lacey of Mission has been elected as the chair of the Board of Governors at the University of the Fraser Valley. UFV’s Board of Governors governs the management, administration, and control of the property, revenue, and business of the university. It is comprised of volunteer members appointed by government and elected faculty, staff, and…

Stacy Kirpichova is the new director of communications at the University of the Fraser Valley, leading the team responsible for internal and external communication, media relations, storytelling, and issues management.  Many people at UFV will already be familiar with Stacy. She joined the university as associate director of communications in April 2025 and took on…

It’s been more than a decade since Zack Soderstrom walked the halls of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), but his legacy lives on through projects he worked on during his time on the Student Union Society.  Zack passed away unexpectedly in January.  An endowment has been created by Zack’s friend and former SUS colleague Shane Potter. Through…

The University of the Fraser Valley’s School of Continuing Education is helping Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) build its next generation of leaders through a customized management skills program designed to strengthen leadership capacity across the organization.  The program was recently delivered to 60 staff members from MNBC, who gathered at UFV’s Clearbrook Centre in Abbotsford. Another 60 employees are signed up for training this fall.  MNBC…

Dr. Simone Sangster has joined the University of the Fraser Valley as the new Associate Vice President, Finance.   Simone brings more than 20 years of progressively senior financial leadership experience in public education and nonprofit governance. She comes to UFV from the Chilliwack School District, where’s she’s served as Secretary Treasurer since 2023. In that role, she oversaw a broad portfolio including budgeting, reporting, payroll, procurement, treasury, and…

After living with chronic pain for more than a decade, University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) researcher Dr. Cynthia Thomson is helping reshape how clinicians across Canada understand and treat it.  Supported by Fraser Health, Cynthia, an associate professor of kinesiology at UFV, is leading a national advisory panel planning project to develop a guide, supportive tools, and training for…