Dr. Allyson Jule, a leader in education and champion for social justice, joins UFV as the inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Education, Community, and Human Development (FECHD). The vision of the new faculty, announced in late 2021, is to create an inclusive and collaborative learning environment dedicated to educating others, and assisting families and…

When Natasha Rainkie of Chilliwack learned what had happened to her grandmother at the Lower Post residential school in northern British Columbia, she knew she had to become a teacher. “I want to provide this generation of children with the education that my grandmother needed and should have received. I want to tell her story…

Alaina Brocklesby may not have set foot on campus for the entirety of her Master of Social Work studies, but that doesn’t mean she’s not familiar with the University of the Fraser Valley. Brocklesby earned the top grade-point-average in a master’s degree program at UFV this year, earning a perfect 4.33 (A+) GPA, and will…

Reinventing yourself with your career is a daunting idea for anyone. But try doing it at 51-years old like Rose-Mary Siemens. In 2019, after a decade-long career in tourism followed by a 20-year run managing wine stores, Siemens hit a crossroads professionally. Opportunities in the wine industry had dried up. She also felt unfulfilled. And,…

Dr. Judy Larsen of UFV’s Upgrading and University Preparation department has always taken the atypical route when it came to teaching mathematics and mathematics education courses.  Guided by principles of the ‘Building Thinking Classrooms’ framework, her classes are known to be a little loud, messy, and full of students out of their seats and at…

Dr. Awneet Sivia has received a West Coast Teaching Excellence Award as one of the province's top teaching professors. Dr. Sivia is an associate professor in the Teacher Education department at UFV and program chair of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Mentorship degree. The British Columbia Teaching and Learning Council (BCTLC) selected…

Late last month, Alona Gurieva was at home in Langley when she received an unexpected email. It was from Christina Slavik, the department head of Child, Youth, and Family Studies at UFV, letting Gurieva know that she was the recipient of the 2021 Governor General’s Bronze Medal at the University of the Fraser Valley, awarded…

There were two key experiences early in the teaching career of 2021 UFV Teaching Excellence award recipient Awneet Sivia that defined her approach to her profession. One was accepting a job in Merritt, BC, in 1988, for her first teaching post. The student body was a diverse representation of Indigenous, White, and South Asian backgrounds.…

The International Transgender Day of Visibility began in 2009 when Trans, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit people recognized the need to celebrate Trans individuals and communities and their contributions to culture and society. This day is marked as a celebration, in contrast to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes those who have lost their lives to…

A new approach is making applicable, accessible university-level credits available through an innovative micro-credential initiative. Currently enjoying a successful pilot stage, UFV’s micro-credential programs are set to expand in the upcoming spring and fall semesters. Covering Digital Marketing fundamentals such as web writing, collaborative and team working tools, graphic design, content promotion and WordPress, the…

Queering Cancer (www.queeringcancer.ca) is a new website that addresses systemic disparities in access to cancer support and information for people who identify as LGBTQ2+. The site is the brainchild of a research team that includes Dr. Evan Taylor, an assistant professor in the UFV School of Social Work and Human Services, and colleagues from Queen’s…

Shanna Yaroshuk started out her career in the early childhood education field, and looked to the University of the Fraser Valley when she wanted to continue her studies. “I enjoyed working with children but decided to expand my horizons and go beyond the childcare centre setting.” She enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Child…