UFV Top 40 Alumni: Julie Czeck — Young alumna credits supportive professors with accomplishments so far

Julie Czeck

Julie Czeck is one of the younger UFV Top 40 Alumni, still enrolled in graduate studies in the Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution at the University of Victoria.

But she has achieved a lot at her relatively young age after graduating from UFV with her Bachelor of Arts in 2011 with a near-perfect 4.2 grade point average.

Her accomplishments include working in as a program coordinator and mediator for Abbotsford Restorative Justice, completing a research stint in Vietnam for UFV’s Global Development Institute, and conducting research for UFV’s Centre for Safe Schools and Communities, Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, and Centre for Social Responsibility, and most recently, working as a junior analyst for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, in Ottawa.

She embraced the research opportunities that UFV offers its undergraduate students, and was the co-author of several reports while still a student.

As a result she earned a $17,500 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) award to help fund graduate studies at UVic.

Added to her professional and academic achievements is extensive volunteer experience at UFV and in the community.

“Julie demonstrates excellence in all the categories mentioned in the criteria for the Top 40,” said Joanne Field of Abbotsford Restorative Justice, who nominated her for the award. “In a very short time period, she has demonstrated that she is a leader in the field of restorative justice and no doubt will be an emerging leader in the area of international development. In addition, Julie is a person of character and she demonstrates courage, compassion, integrity, and service above self.”

Julie credits her UFV experience with helping her to achieve as much as she has at a young age.

“The best part of my experience at UFV was the close networks I built with professors and other students. In the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in particular, because many of the professors were also professionals in the field it allowed for lectures to strike a balance between theory and practice. This learning environment promoted my development of sharp critical thinking competencies.

“From the content of the courses to the strong and networks with professors, I felt that UFV faculty encouraged me to aim for heights I may not have reached for on my own. The high caliber of research skills I was taught primed me with the confidence to apply for (and secure) prestigious research scholarships and awards to fully fund my graduate school goals.

“To this day I am still in awe that I was awarded such a high honour at such a young age! I feel like I was lucky to be known by the right people who recognized my hard work and achievements. “I can only hope that one day when I teach my own classes I will inspire students the way that I was inspired at UFV.”

The UFV Top 40

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the University of the Fraser Valley and the UFV Alumni Association chose UFV’s Top 40 Alumni.

It wasn’t easy to select only 40 outstanding alumni. UFV has welcomed many students into its classrooms and labs over the past 40 years. Thousands of them have graduated and become alumni of the university.

“The UFV Top 40 Alumni exemplify a range of exceptional qualities, from career excellence and leadership to acts of selflessness, courage, creativity, and innovation. We congratulate all of them on their achievements,” said UFV Alumni Association chair Justin P. Goodrich (BA ’12).

The list includes alumni who attended in the early days of Fraser Valley College in the 1970s, those who helped plan and shape the new degree programs during the university-college phase, and recent graduates.

“When I look at this list, I am truly impressed by breadth, depth, and variety to be found in our alumni ranks,” noted Nancy Armitage, Manager of Alumni Engagement. “And it really illustrates the impact that UFV alumni are having in our communities and around the world.”

More than 260 nominations were received for the Top 40 Alumni after a community-wide appeal. Representatives from the UFV Alumni Association and the university then selected the Top 40 based on a set of criteria that included community contributions, commitment to others, career/professional excellence, leadership, creativity/innovation, and acting with selflessness or courage.

See the whole list here.