August was a very busy month for recruitment as we welcomed so many new employees to UFV. We are happy to have you all, and wish to congratulate those who were already UFV employees but have now transferred into new positions or became permanent employees in August. Welcome to the UFV team!
EMPLOYEES NEW TO UFV
- Jason Campbell, faculty – School of Business
- Wade Deisman, Associate Dean, Social Sciences
- Harley Gordon, faculty – Biology
- Jenna Key, Specialist, Student Rights & Responsibilities
- Jacqueline Watson, faculty – Registered Nursing
- Tetsuro Shigematsu, faculty – Theatre
- Samuel Okegbile, faculty – Computer Information Systems
- Ibrahim Tariq Javed, faculty – Computer Information Systems
- Vahid Tadayon, faculty – Mathematics & Statistics
- Andrew Staal, faculty – Mathematics & Statistics
- Thais Costa Rabelo Amorim, faculty – Child, Youth & Family Studies
- Chang Lu, faculty – School of Business
- Alexander Villafranca, faculty – Kinesiology
- Marcia Higuchi, faculty – Graphic Design
- Susan Hampton, faculty – Arts & Integrated Studies
- Zubair Raja, faculty – School of Business
- Inaam Charaf, faculty – Library & Information Technology
- Declan Roshea, Laboratory Instructor, Chemistry
- Elmer Magsino, faculty – Engineering
- Sameena Karim Jamal, faculty – Adult Education
- Kelly Kooner, Specialist, Student Rights & Responsibilities
- Kirandeep Grewal, Manager, Service Delivery
- John Flett, faculty – School of Business
- Gillian O’Gorman, faculty – Registered Nursing
- And introducing Janet Antonio, Director, Relationship & Fund Development
Hello! I started in August and have been amazed at how quickly I’ve begun to feel at home here. Already, I’ve met so many friendly faces, whether at the Celebration of Community, the staff BBQ, or various meetings. (Though I must admit, I haven’t quite remembered everyone’s name just yet!)
In many ways, joining UFV feels like a homecoming. My grandfather owned a farm in Cloverdale which was sold before I was born. As a child I lived o
n a small hobby farm in Cloverdale where we raised goats, ducks and geese. While the Fraser Valley has changed quite a bit since those days, the warmth of the people and sense of community remain just as strong.
It’s also been a pleasure to return to the post-secondary environment. I’ve previously worked at BCIT and SFU, and I really enjoy being part of a learning environment, working with faculty, and witnessing the transformational growth that students experience during their time at school. My own student days aren’t too far behind me—decades after graduating from SFU, I completed a high-intensity New Media and Web Development program at BCIT in 2018. That experience gave me a renewed respect for the challenges students face and reminded me of how exciting it can be to dive into learning.
Prior to joining UFV, I also worked in fundraising and management roles at the Salvation Army, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and Vancity Community Fo
undation. I’m excited to bring my experience here and be part of such a dynamic and supportive community.
Outside of work, I’m married to my college sweetheart, Roger, and we have two adult children, Theo and Kate. Although my DIY skills are limited, I’m working on building our personality into our home through various projects. I also enjoy playing board games with family and friends—always a great way to unwind and connect.
I look forward to meeting more of you in the weeks and months ahead!
TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AWARDED PERMANENT POSITIONS
- Brett Pardy, faculty – Social, Cultural & Media Studies
- Deborah Silver, faculty – Creative Arts
- Maya Grant, faculty – Registered Nursing
- Natasha Marriette, faculty – School of Social Work & Human Services
- Heather Campbell, faculty – Registered Nursing
- Mark Rempel, Laboratory Instructor, Physics
- Jeremy Abbott, faculty – Explore Trades
- Upasana Rosha, faculty – Registered Nursing
- Robert Taylor, faculty – English
- Lilian Osborne, faculty – Registered Nursing
- Mark Rice, Laboratory Instructor, Kinesiology
- Nawal Motut, faculty – Social, Cultural & Media Studies
- John Garrett, faculty – Cooking
- Marcel Casarini, faculty – Media Arts
- Benny Godwin Jeyekumar Davidson, faculty – School of Business
- Alysia Wood, Administrative Assistant, Vice President, Community Engagement
- Faisal Naeem, faculty – Computer Information Systems
- Donna Derksen, faculty – School of Business
- Hannah Mark, faculty – Registered Nursing
PERMANENT TRANSFERS INTO NEW POSITIONS
- Anna Mayo, Program Coordinator, Continuing Education
- Avril Alfred, Analyst, Business Systems