In one year as head of the psychology department, Dr. Andrea Hughes has made a lasting impression on her colleagues. With more than half of her department being new to UFV, she took on the role during a period of change and growth, and keeps her teammates feeling energized and cared for. While her department…

In the heart of the University of the Fraser Valley's computing department is 2024 Faculty Service Award winner and recently appointed Director of the School of Computing, Dr. Opeyemi Adesina – a driving force of student innovation, locally and beyond. As an assistant professor in the School of Computing and a software engineer, Adesina's approach…

Sheila McKay has spent 18 years at UFV sewing togetherness with the threads of community, connection, and belonging. Before she was a staff member she enrolled as a student in 1988, studying early childhood education with the dream of becoming a teacher. After two professors encouraged her to apply for a job here, Sheila tried…

Over the past two years, Greg St. Hilaire has collaborated with the Seabird Island Band to implement and deliver specialized adult education courses that cater to the unique cultural and educational requirements of the Indigenous community while developing a pathway to post-secondary education.   For his efforts, Greg has been awarded with UFV’s 2024 Indigenization and…

Dr. Gillian Hatfield has been at UFV since 2016 and has seen many amazing researchers win UFV’s Research Excellence award. She never imagined she’d be in the same group as those “heavy hitters.” But here she is, part of that group. “I’ve been on the award committee that judges these awards and I know the…

Dr. Vanessa Radzimski believes the best way for students to succeed is to make mistakes and learn from them. It’s a core tenet of her teaching philosophy, along with the idea that students are the best teachers for students. Whether they enter one of Radzimski’s courses with a lot or a little mathematics experience, they…

For Dr. Stefania Pizzirani, her duties as an assistant professor at UFV don’t fall into strict silos of teaching, research, and service. They all blend together. Her teaching includes service components. Her research is often based on grassroots community needs. And her service activities feed off her teaching, her research, and her relationships with students,…

What began as a temporary posting in the auxiliary pool in 1999 has led to a fulfilling professional career in human resources for Tara Rozenek, this year’s recipient of the UFV Staff Excellence award. Like many UFV staff members, Tara is a graduate of the Applied Business Technology certificate (called Office Careers back in her…

If there’s one phrase that sums up the attitude of members of the Research and Graduate Studies team, it’s “how can I help?”   The entire team lives by this phrase every working day.  For Martha Dow, Director of Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub, the choice was obvious when it came time to nominate…

Lorna Andrews doesn’t have an easy job, but she has an important one. As UFV’s Teaching and Learning Specialist with a focus on Indigenization, she helps faculty and staff understand issues regarding colonial impacts on Indigenous people and the need to work towards reconciliation in Canada. For her efforts, she is being recognized as the…

Whitney Fordham has been drawn to leadership roles for her whole life. Through Girl Guides and 4-H and serving as a goalkeeper on various soccer teams, she has emerged as someone who can keep her eye on the big picture and guide her teammates or colleagues through their challenges. As Director of Alumni Relations, Fordham…

      Employees who have been around for a decade or more had the chance to be celebrated in person on May 16 at a dinner event at the Clarion Inn. President Joanne MacLean was delighted to greet the long-service employees and retiring faculty members who are receiving professor emeritus status in person after…

When Carol Dickson started working as Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost in 2012, she had no idea that the new job was going to take her on a journey of transformation. She was aware that as part of the role she would be working with Shirley Hardman, UFV’s Senior Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, but…

Shelley Hayes is a country girl at heart. She spent a lot of time at her grandparents’ dairy farm on Fairfield Island in Chilliwack growing up, and always had horses. Hayes graduated from Office Careers (now Applied Business Technology) in 1982 and worked several jobs at Fraser Valley College (as it was known then) before…

By Gerald Narciso In early spring of 2020, as the world shifted and adapted in real-time to the continuous effects of the global pandemic, the IT Service Desk team started a new ritual to deal with the madness. Every day at 3 pm, the entire team consisting of eight team members would huddle -- a…