Support, perseverance lead Miranda Rosehill to Governor General’s Gold Medal

Miranda Rosehill put her trust in the University of the Fraser Valley when it came time to choose a university for her Master of Social Work degree. Two years later, she’s glad she made that decision.

Miranda is the 2026 recipient of the Governor General’s Gold Medal at UFV, after achieving a grade point average of 4.27. Granted to students with the highest academic standing in a graduate degree program, the gold medal is one of UFV’s most prestigious awards.

“This recognition is such a lovely close of my journey at UFV,” she says. “I am very honoured.”

Though she’s only 29, Miranda’s academic journey has followed a long and winding road.

Two months after graduating from Langley’s R.E. Mountain Secondary School, she began her undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University, where she earned a joint major in criminology and psychology.

With her first degree in hand, Miranda began working in child protection, an area that is both challenging and highly rewarding.

“We get to show up and make a difference in the lives of people, specifically young kids who can’t advocate or speak for themselves,” said Miranda, who fills an emergency after-hours role, mostly on evenings and weekends. “Being there for people in their darkest moments, being able to listen to their stories and support them — I’m grateful I’m able to be there for them.”

But to progress in the field of social work, she discovered she needed more post-secondary education, and that led her to UFV in 2023.

Because the Master of Social Work (MSW) is a part-time degree, Miranda was able to find a good balance between study and work. She also found time to serve as chair of the MSW committee and as the MSW representative for her student association.

“After graduating from SFU, I spent almost three years as a full-time child protection worker, building life experience and carrying a lot of adult responsibilities while I was still pretty young,” she said. “I think that prep time was so important heading into UFV. I learned time-management skills and how not to stress over things I can’t control. Those life skills were so important in the master’s program when I found myself juggling school on top of work.”

Miranda says she couldn’t have done any of it without the loving support of her partner, Trevor.

“He’s been extremely supportive and understanding, and I can’t even put into words what he’s meant to me,” she said. “The reason I was able to do this was because of the village that supported me in the background — my family welcoming me back into their home while I was in school, my job supporting my decision to return to school, and my friends being understanding of my alternative schedule and the social events I had to miss.”

“Having all of those people walking beside me on this journey has been a game changer.”

Miranda says UFV offered a well-rounded education that included a research assistant opportunity with Dr. Leah Douglas, who is investigating the impacts of climate change on mental wellness in her research.

“I’m thankful to Leah for trusting me with important work, and I enjoyed a research role where I was fully involved,” Miranda said. “I extend a heartfelt thank you to her for her faith and belief in me.”

For her major paper in the MSW program, Miranda’s research saw her exploring the connections between child protection and climate related impacts, a topic that hits home in many ways.

Through it all, she says the UFV community was incredibly supportive.

“Faculty had opportunities come across their desks, and they thought of me,” she said. “Someone nominated me for a graduate studies award, and for them to see me as deserving of that means so much. All of their support strengthened my own belief in myself and helped me through moments when I felt nervous or questioned whether I belonged alongside so many amazing people.”

“Having an army of people — and an institution, really — believing in me and pushing me to be the best that I can be, it’s almost unfathomable.”

Miranda is taking a well-earned pause now. Her textbooks are closed and her last exams written.

She doesn’t know exactly what comes next, but whether it’s pursuing a doctorate, focusing on her social work career, or doing something else entirely, she feels UFV has prepared her well.

“I’d love to be in some kind of leadership role in the future, and I might go back for my PhD after I’ve collected more life experience and maybe travelled a bit more,” she said. “For now, because it’s been so busy and go, go, go, I’d like to relax a bit and catch up with myself before I pursue bigger things. Right now, I’m just basking in the moment with extreme gratitude and pride in being able to represent UFV.”

Eric Welsh — eric.welsh@ufv.ca