Alumni Archive
50 Remarkable Alumni: Jenna Noppen helps Indigenous communities prepare for
The 2021 atmospheric river flooding in the eastern Fraser Valley was devastating, but sometimes, a negative event can be the catalyst for positive change. For UFV alumni Jenna Noppen (BA ‘19), a Cowessess First Nation Member born and raised within Coast Salish territory, the disaster revealed significant gaps in emergency preparedness and management for Indigenous…
UFV Career Fair on March 13 opens doors for students’
The UFV Career Fair returns on March 13 to Evered Hall, bringing another opportunity for students to explore career paths, connect with industry professionals, and take meaningful steps toward their futures. Open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the event offers a chance for the entire university community to engage with employers and build valuable…
50 Remarkable Alumni: Targeting and treating pain is Mike Hildebrand’s
There’s no doubt about it: life can be a pain. For some, who have to live with chronic pain for years or even decades, that’s no joke. Dr. Mike Hildebrand (BSc ’01) has dedicated his career to finding ways to address pain. Mike, who got his start as a Bachelor of Science student at the…50 Remarkable Alumni: Jasmin Kaur inspires others with the written
From UFV grad to celebrated author, Jasmin Kaur (BA ’17) is making a difference through the written word. She’d always dreamed of publishing a book, and now she’s published two: a novel and a book of poetry. Despite her longtime ambition, she didn’t know how to reach that goal at first. “It felt like something…50 Remarkable Alumni: Leili Heidema is loving life and making
When Dr. Leili Heidema (BA ’06) graduated from university and went north for her first job in 2010, she didn’t plan on staying long. Fifteen years later, she’s still in the Northwest Territories, loving life in the community of Fort Smith and using her UFV education to make a difference serving remote and isolated Indigenous…50 Remarkable Alumni: Nikita Griffioen uses education, advocacy, and art
With a career ranging from trauma-informed teaching to international education and award-winning paleoart, Nikita Griffioen has followed an unconventional path. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in less than three years, Nikita went on to earn a Bachelor of Education from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in 2017. Since graduating, Nikita has dedicated…50 Remarkable Alumni: Ashlyen Singh lifts others through sport, education,
Ashlyen Singh doesn’t see themself as remarkable. They balk at the idea of being recognized and are quick to shift the spotlight to the people and communities that have shaped them. “Everything I am today has come from other people,” they say. “Everything I do is done with others, in partnership. It feels strange to…50 Remarkable Alumni: Sheetal Deo is changing the world’s view
Sheetal Deo (BA ’12) changed lanes to follow her heart, centering her life’s work around equity and accessibility. This comes through in the way she approaches her work as a lawyer. “While community legal aid centres exist and provide free legal help, these organizations are often under-funded, under-resourced, and as a result, unable to help…50 Remarkable Alumni: Aaron Pete makes it his mission to
Lawyer. Leader. Podcaster. At just 29 years old, Aaron Pete has proven he’s not afraid to take on challenges. Since graduating from UFV in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a communications certificate, Aaron has focused on helping others and contributing to his community. In 2022, soon after completing law school…50 Remarkable Alumni: Christopher Pascoe’s research looks to clear the
Anyone who has spent time in the emergency room with an asthmatic child knows how scary an asthma attack can be. But what if you could prevent childhood asthma in the womb? That’s a goal that Dr. Christopher Pascoe and his colleagues are trying to achieve through their research on the respiratory system. Chris, who…50 Remarkable Alumni: Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin combines artistic talent, activist roots,
Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin is an artist. She’s also a community builder. And an experienced public servant. Combine those three superpowers and you have all the necessary ingredients for bringing communities to life. And UFV helped her develop those skillsets. Twice. Her first degree was a Bachelor of Fine Arts, completed in 2008. “I started out…50 Remarkable Alumni: Keenan Beavis empowers the next generation through
Scholarships and awards were pivotal to Keenan Beavis’ (BBA ’18) success at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). Now, seven years after graduating, Keenan is making sure today’s UFV students have similar opportunities. A graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, Keenan has turned his gift for entrepreneurship into a thriving business while…
