EDITOR
Renate Krause
DESIGNER AND PHOTO EDITOR
David J. Kinsey, Alexander & Sydney, UBA
CONTRIBUTORS
Shelley Agrey
Carole Anderson
Stephane Beaulieu
James Bicigo
Janice Clark
Adam Deibert
Jr Ferrer
J.D. Victor Fitch
Marc Froese
Glen Graham
David Jeffrey
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jr Ferrer
David Kinsey
Adam Kiš
Louicius Michel
Eric Rajah
Stephen Reasor
Landon Ritchey
Ron Schafer
Getty Simbarasi
Eduardo Solá
Chloe Weir
Burman Professor Marc Froese co-authored this timely book that explores international hazards to democratic forms of government. The book made its appearance earlier this academic year.
ABOUT THE COVER
Landon Ritchey’s inspiration was an infectious one. His zeal for defying gravity spawned the Olympix / Acronaires. But 50 years of amazing performances are only a part of this story. What it takes to perfect this difficult sport has in many ways shaped the lives of the hundreds of students that accepted its challenges.
TO MAKE A GIFT
Gifts in support of Burman University may be made at www.burmanu.ca or phone 403.782.3381 x 4161
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© Copyright 2023 Burman University
Burman University Magazine is published two times yearly by the Burman University, Office of the President, 6730 University Drive, Lacombe, Alberta T4L 2E5.
Burman University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution.
Know Your
Dr. Sandra Acquah, coordinator of the Burman University/ Kettering College nursing degree partnership, celebrates the graduation of Chestelle Puedivan and Kayen Bergonio during December ceremonies at Kettering, Ohio.
Choosing a university isn’t easy. Professor Stephane Beaulieu shares his perspective on some fundamentals for making this critical decision.
The Acronaires— formerly known as the Olympix—have thrilled audiences with daring performances for half a century.
School of Business now offers two online micro-credential certification modules, consisting of six courses each.
For well over a century, graduates from Burman University have shaped their communities through professional and volunteer service. But such a legacy came at great cost at times. Some families sacrificed even the basics to give their children a Christian education. We can look back to when sacks of potatoes, truckloads of grain, and boxes of eggs were bartered to pay for tuition. Throughout its history, Burman has honoured such trust. Shaping the world is part of this university's heritage and will continue to be part of our future.
How does one say “Thank You” when words are not enough? When any of the usual ways by which we express gratitude appear inadequate for a gift that is so transformative that it literally shapes the future?
Burman University’s new library has spaces dedicated in honour of those who gave such life-transforming gifts in the past. The plaques throughout the building say “Thank you! I will never forget. You changed my life.” They speak of extraordinary gratitude for extraordinary gifts such as a belief in potentials and possibilities, a lifetime of selfless service, an enduring and unconditional love, and so much more.
Individuals can make such thank-you gifts. But how does a university say "Thank You" in a meaningful way to the numerous donors whose confidence in and love for the institution resulted in a beautiful new library that will shape the lives of young men and women now and for generations to come? Or to all those who worked so tirelessly to ensure that the new building is totally debt free? Or to the students who, even at this stage in their lives, became part of the effort?
As I struggle with finding the right words, I am reminded that there is another dimension to thankfulness that is expressed so well in remarks by U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
Burman University is determined to “live its gratitude” by providing the young men and women who come to this campus with the very best we can give. While we have always maintained high standards in the academic program, in the past two years, three extraordinary new programs have become available that further enhance the student experience. These high-impact, value-laden programs include the Saruk Centre for Leadership Development, the Burman Ministry Centre, and a service-oriented organization called “The Burman Advantage.”
I invite you to learn about some of the many more ways by which we serve our students and community as you read this issue of Burman University Magazine. I also invite you to Homecoming 2023 on June 2 – 4 to reconnect with friends and be amazed at “what God has wrought.”
Over the years, I have counselled students in my office for various reasons. Daunting life challenges often lead them to seek me out for one-on-one discussions. Many have admitted that they don’t know why they exist or, in other words, who they are. They have difficulty reconciling the reason for being on this planet with our Western cultural norms and practices steeped in self gratification.
Additionally, I have seen students wrestle with who they are in relationship to their spirituality. They struggle with basic questions such as, “Is there really a Creator God?” and “If there is, how should I aspire to relate to Him?” Some know very little about why they should believe; they also have conflicted ideas of what to believe. This spiritual struggle seems inevitably connected to their confusion with who they are.
Secular universities do not address questions of origins within the framework of a wholistic being. Their ideology does not give students hope and purpose. On the other hand, a Christian university offers numerous opportunities for students to discover who they are both existentially and spiritually.
Students on a Christian campus can explore the world from a perspective that expresses the various manifestations of God not only in religion classes, but throughout the curriculum.
A young adult contemplating higher education and applying to university has almost endless choices. In this first of a series of opinion pieces, contributors take the position that for such a potentially life-changing decision, “knowing your why” is crucial in discovering purpose, setting goals, and finding direction.
Dr. Stephane Beaulieu, assistant professor of religious studies at Burman University, starts our series by sharing his experiences and observations from a faculty member’s point of view.
Also, as part of a team of educators subscribing to a Christian Adventist worldview, I am acutely aware of how that worldview is shaping our lives. We live who we are. And I’m referring not only to our religious affiliation as Seventh-day Adventists, but also to our origins as God’s creation and our destiny as God’s beloved children.
Students who truly understand where they come from will know who they are, thus fulfilling the young adult quest for relevance and purpose. Christianity’s distinctive worldview as articulated on a Christian campus can become the foundation upon which to build a unique life.
Why should students attend Burman University? Whether they know it or not, the ultimate purpose for Burman students on this campus is to explore and discover their why. My role as their professor is to help them find and embrace their life existence (where they come from) and their spiritual existence (where their allegiance lies) so that once they leave this campus, they know their goals and life purpose.
Knowing your why leads to a wholistic life that is existentially and spiritually rewarding, the fundamental goal of Christian higher education.
First-year students at Burman University are enthusiastic about their experience. Every three years, first-year students are surveyed by the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC). Burman University participates regularly. Dr. David Jeffrey, responsible for institutional research at Burman, reports that the most recent survey results from Winter 2021 are auspicious.
The CUSC survey of first-year students examines student characteristics, motivations, and experiences in their university journey. Core questions, as listed on the CUSC website, include the following:
• Personal and academic profile
• Use of and satisfaction with various facilities and services
• Financing education
• Experiences with faculty
• Expectations and assessment of overall university experience
Across Canada, 15,157 students at 44 universities took this voluntary survey in 2021. The number of participants at Burman was significant (almost twice the national response rate), so administrators can confidently use these results in making informed decisions.
Students were asked to rate the likelihood of recommending their university to others. Sixty-five percent of Burman students rated Burman as 9 or 10 out of 10, compared with 26 percent of students at other Canadian universities. Dr. Jeffrey comments that “a marketing measure known as a Net Promoter Score* showed that Burman first-year students led all participating schools with a score of 46. The Canadian average was a score of one.” In addition, 95 percent of Burman’s participating first-year students reported being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their decision to attend Burman. They indicated that they feel they belong at Burman.
Eighty percent of respondents reported that Burman was their first choice of university. The single most important key factor in their choice was parents. Other key factors were professors and friends sharing information with them. Surprisingly, more than half of Burman’s students participating in this survey also indicated that the chance to get involved in varsity athletics was very important or important in choosing this university. While Burman’s first-year students expressed their satisfaction with their Burman experience, more than 60 percent reported a reliance on financial assistance provided by the university and others. Scholarship support helps make the Burman experience accessible to generations of students seeking a Christian higher education.
Dr. David Jeffrey Director, Institutional Research“Our common goal at Burman University is for each student to have a positive experience. The enthusiastic reflections of this class of first-year students are well-received and encouraging.”
MEMBER
Burman Advantage is a new organization on campus with 19 students piloting the program. The group is open to all students in any year of their studies. Burman Advantage aims to give back to the community and concurrently develop career skills through service, mission, and leadership activities.
Membership requires students to engage in a minimum 20 hours of volunteering and leadership on and off campus. Options (such as mission trips and participation in the Saruk Centre for Leadership Development) expand service and leadership opportunities.
President Loren Agrey explains that Burman Advantage is a “special high-impact practice in service, one of our campus' core values. When students serve the needs of others, they are participating in what we are all called to do.” He adds, “The ultimate goal is for each one to adopt an ethic of life-long service.”
Members are developing skills in interpersonal communication, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, personal responsibility, leadership, adaptability, and teamwork.
At the end of every academic year, participating students receive an official document that can be linked to resumés and added to professional portfolios for future graduate and professional school admission committees and employers. Such documentation of service and leadership gives them distinct advantages in achieving future goals.
Teresa Bruce is a Burman Advantage member in her first-year of studies in the Health Sciences degree. She says, “This school year, I had the honour of attending the Saruk Leadership conferences. The Saruk Centre for Leadership Development guides students to develop leadership skills and encourages us to take action. One guest speaker stressed that leaders should strive to be kind instead of nice—an eye-opening perspective for me. Although it may be more comfortable to be nice, leaders should strive to do the kind thing (even if it is awkward and uncomfortable) and have the tough but necessary conversations.”
Teresa also works as a lead editor for Youth Empowering Youth, a youth-led social justice organization with Victim Services of York Region, Ontario. She finds that “through these experiences, I can improve my leadership abilities, be more present in my community, and gain practical knowledge to implement in other facets of my life.”
Nadine Depluzer-Sebetiela, another student participating in Burman Advantage, and her family serve with the Maskwacis community and church in Central Alberta. Nadine is “all in” when she volunteers, knowing that “learning from and supporting the Maskwacis Cree community with my family is transformative. We persevere through trials, celebrate wins, and embrace the gifts Creator bestows. We encourage resilience and visioning through community service and spiritual supports. God is working miracles in the community every day, and we are blessed to be part of His plan for healing and restoration.”
Burman University’s aim is whole-person education. Dr. Agrey encourages every Burman student to become a part of Burman Advantage and to adopt service and leadership as a way of life “to empower themselves, our churches, and our communities.”
ric recalls, “Forty years ago, President Neville Matthews talked of needing a new library. He invited Keith Clouten, a librarian from Australia, to come and begin the process. Mr. Clouten organized and updated the library holdings (a herculean task!), but the dream of a new building was deferred. Several more attempts, especially in the last 25 years, were also aborted.”
He continues, “When Burman’s current president, Dr. Loren Agrey, shared what had by now assumed great urgency, I saw an opportunity to invest in the future of young people and to honour those who, before my time, had given so much to my future.”
Vic, too, was motivated by gratitude. He explains, “The three greatest decisions of my life were made here: my dedication to Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, my decision to be a teacher in the Adventist education system, and my choice of a life companion. I covet for each student the privileges and opportunities that were mine and want to help provide the best facilities and programs for them. So the choice to become involved was really an easy one.”
At first glance, J.D. Victor (Vic) Fitch, an educator, and Eric Rajah, a businessman, appear to have little in common. Vic was born in Central Alberta; Eric’s family immigrated to Canada when Eric was a teen. Although both are alumni of Burman University, Vic first arrived on campus in 1949; Eric, not until 1978. Yet their shared vision forged a deep friendship despite their differences: to turn a longdeferred dream into reality.
What wasn’t easy was the task they set themselves: a wellplanned and staged fund-raising campaign. A new library would cost millions of dollars. Nightmares of starting a building and leaving it unfinished, or of incurring a huge debt for Burman, drove them daily. Covid compounded their fears. They couldn’t conduct group meetings that are so critical to fund-raising endeavours. But they had faith that God was in this project. They saw Him at work in their committed and talented team members who didn’t shirk hard work and long hours. They also saw Him in donors who gave from their hearts. Eric writes, “The generosity of our alumni and friends moved us greatly. Every gift, from the largest of $1.3 million to the smallest of $3.41, spoke of commitment to our youth.”
Once all outstanding pledges have been honoured, the team will have surpassed their goal. Students have used Burman University’s new, beautiful, spacious, and debt-free library since January 2022. It was dedicated at last year’s Homecoming. In addition, another $2 million was raised for projects such as scholarships, program improvements, and better access for students with disabilities.
Vic concludes, “We learned that, when we do our part, with God all things are possible. Also, that giving is very personal. Some give generously from their abundance; others, like the widow, give generously of what they have. We praise and thank God. May He bless each as they are blessing future generations through their magnificent generosity."
Burman University’s $11 million capital campaign, Shaping the World, has three separate components: a new library, student success, and faculty/program support. Under the leadership of Eric Rajah and J.D. Victor Fitch, the $6 million goal for the library was met (counting cash and pledges). In introducing Burman’s new senior development officer, President Loren Agrey says, “I am happy that Adam Deibert will continue their work as he leads out in our efforts to meet the goals for the remaining two components.”
The continuing campaign for Burman University
The final piece of the student success component is internships and missions. For many years, Burman’s students have served internationally as student missionaries (SM), but their number has dwindled. An ongoing source of financial support would create a win-win-win situation: Burman would win from a vibrant SM program as a co-curricular enrichment of the student experience, students would win from the experience of serving, and the communities served would win from their service. Closer to home, support for internships would give students opportunities to gain valuable employment skills even as they study.
Adam Deibert has an almost 25-year history with Burman University. He arrived as a freshman in 1999 and graduated from religious studies in 2003. His first pastoral assignment took him to Edmonton, Alberta. After completing graduate studies, Adam returned to Burman as chaplain in 2013. Now, 10 years later, Adam Deibert is again in a leadership role as Burman’s new senior development officer. He is committed to Burman’s mission to provide students with the best possible opportunities to “think with discernment, believe with insight and commitment, and act with confidence, compassion, and competence.”
The $3 million earmarked for student success will give students barrier-free access to all necessary spaces on campus through projects such as elevator service to the Administration Building and West Hall.
Student success also depends on financial accessibility. A student aid endowment would provide consistent support to qualified students each year.
For more than 100 years, alumni of Burman University have shaped the world in myriad ways. Donor contributions to this campaign will continue this legacy.
Student Success: $ 3 Million
Component: $2 Million
Each year, Burman faculty produce (often with student participation) an exceptional amount of research, from peer reviewed papers and articles to posters and presentations at international conferences to book chapters and even whole books—all in addition to their teaching loads. Adam Kiš, the director of faculty research, points out, "Our research is only as limited as our funding allows."
Faculty and Programs: $2 Million
Program development and enrichment will support Burman’s ongoing efforts to offer students cuttingedge learning experiences. This requires constant evaluation both in and out of the classroom, and providing the necessary learning spaces and resources for students to have a progressive educational experience. Donations to date have been used to enhance learning spaces (e.g., upgrades to classrooms in McKibbin Centre and West Hall, the greenhouse at Chan Shun) and provide technology (e.g., the purchase of iPads for the sciences, Chromebooks for education, and lab equipment for biology) that keep students current with educational trends.
In June of 2009, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) held its ministerial convention on the campus of Burman University. More than 300 pastors and their families descended on the hilltop as the campus, for five days, was transformed from a university into a convention centre. Behind the scenes was a logistical operation of almost 90 people in housing, food services, transportation, seminar locations, recreation, and customer service.
Dan Jackson, SDACC president at that time, envisioned a convention designed to help with the challenges of ministry in the 21st century. The session's goal was a renewed outlook and a refreshed spirit for each pastor's ministry.
Examining the role of the church in today’s complex environment, the pastoral role, and how Burman University contributes are key elements of the July conference.
Opportunities for dialogue and shared experience is a valuable aspect of the event.
After a 14-year absence, the convention is coming back to campus July 2 - 5. Current SDACC president Paul Llewellyn is excited about what Burman hosting this convention could accomplish for the future of the university. “The SDACC is choosing to have its 2023 Ministerial Convention at Burman University because Burman is ‘our’ university. Burman serves all of Canada, and with the university being the central focus of training for our young people, we want to ensure that Burman is the central focus of ministry for the church in Canada.
The July 2 - 5 summit will provide opportunities for sharing, learning, connecting, and networking across the Canadian Adventist ministerial landscape. The convention’s objectives are to renew commitment to ministry, revive and strengthen skills, and relate with one another through ministry across the nation.
“Also, the SDACC has not had a ministerial convention since 2009. After the 2009 convention, Burman's enrolment experienced a marked increase for the next five years. We want to make sure Burman is again highlighted as Canada's university for training our young people,” writes Llewellyn.
Dr. David Jeffrey, director of diplomas, certificates, and institutional research for the university and lead of the planning committee for Burman, echoes Llewellyn's statement. He states, "Within two years of hosting the conference, enrolment by Canadian students increased by 34 percent, with particular gains among students not attending Adventist academies.
"We plan to showcase the Burman experience for our pastors and their families in July 2023 and hope that a taste of Burman hospitality will have a similarly significant impact. Many of Canada’s pastors have never been to Burman University. We stand ready to welcome them as they are renewed and refreshed at this year’s ministerial convention.”
On December 15, 2022, Dr. Sandra Acquah, assistant professor of biology and coordinator of the Burman/Kettering nursing degree partnership, attended a graduation ceremony at Kettering College School of Nursing in Ohio. Seven of “her” students from Burman University were graduating; three with honours, and one with Kettering’s “Christian Care” peer award. All had jobs waiting for them.
The seven graduates were the first cohort of Burman students who, after studying for one and one-half years at Burman University, availed themselves of the unique opportunity to complete a nursing degree at Kettering. The agreement between the two schools, entered into in 2019, has several significant benefits for students:
• Lower tuition for the first part of their program (even without taking the exchange rate into consideration)
• Low student-faculty ratio for more individualized instruction at Burman (particularly important for freshmen students)
• Smaller campus to learn and practice leadership skills before transferring to a larger one
Esther Boateng, founder and president of Burman’s first Nursing Association club, found that applying for a student visa meant completing a lot of paperwork. But, she reports, both Burman and Kettering “made sure the experience was not very difficult and was handled professionally.”
A full academic program, extracurricular activities (such as the nursing club Esther started and participation in the choir) as well as part-time work made Esther’s three semesters at Burman very busy. She reports that her classes in microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology gave her a solid foundation for her nursing program at Kettering. She was well-prepared for the transition to a larger campus.
Unlike Esther, Ornela Fankem and Chantelle Martens were close to completing undergraduate degrees at Burman when they decided to take advantage of the agreement with Kettering even before the first official cohort started.
Ornela talks of the “village of support” at Burman and professors “instrumental to my academic success.” She also reports that Dr. Acquah helped her “stay on track while transitioning. She even checked up on me throughout my Kettering program.” Now working for the Kettering Health Network in Ohio, Ornela advises students to “embrace change and get comfortable being uncomfortable because there is so much growth that happens when you do—especially in a career as fulfilling as this one.”
On tour and at home games, Burman University’s acrobatic team, the Acronaires (formerly the Olympix), has thrilled and inspired audiences for the past 50 years. A weekend of celebration and reunion is planned for March 8 – 10, 2024.
Coach Ron Schafer says, “We hope to have hundreds of former team members return for this major event.” He invites all former team members to send their contact information to rschafer@burmanu.ca or call/ text 403-391-6909. “And if you know the where-abouts of former members and have their email addresses or phone numbers,” he adds, “please share those also.”
In 1965, Landon Ritchey, founder of the Olympix, first arrived on the hilltop as a Grade 10 student. When a touring group of acrobats from Pacific Union College Academy (PUC Prep) under Hawaiian Coach Robert Kalua arrived on campus, Landon was mesmerized by what he saw. He couldn’t believe his eyes when the PUC Prep student bunking with him for the weekend casually practiced his balance on the back of Landon’s dorm chair with a one-armed planche. His father enjoyed tumbling with the boys, but this was totally different. And then, when Landon saw the PUC team’s performance on Saturday night, he was hooked. The lights, the music, the acts! Landon had found his calling: acrobatics would be his future.
For his Grade 11 year, Landon returned home to Kelowna because Al Stoops, another Hawaiian, was principal there. When Landon discovered that Coach Robert Kalua had moved
to San Pasqual Academy in Southern California, Landon hitchhiked south for his Grade 12 year with a suitcase in one hand and his guitar case in another. One year later, after graduating from high school, Landon followed Coach Kalua to Andrews University in Michigan.
Coach Kalua, in building his team, looked for young men and women who were talented not only in acrobatics, but also in music and public speaking. Few were gifted in all three areas. But touring meant weekend presentations at Seventhday Adventist academies. So they presented lively music and thought-provoking spiritual talks at Friday evening vesper services and Saturday morning church services. On Saturday evenings, they performed their acrobatics. Afterwards, they brought out their guitars and taught students Hawaiian love songs. It became quickly evident that an acrobatic team on tour was a powerful recruitment tool for Andrews University.
Landon says, “I had two of the skills Coach Kalua was looking for: acrobatics and music. For the past two years, I had had practice. Even public speaking was becoming less scary!”
In 1973, then president Dr. Neville Matthews of Canadian Union College (CUC, now Burman University) invited Landon to start a touring group. Under Landon’s leadership, the Olympix flourished. He selected 30 students from the 60 that
tried out. His criteria were those of his mentor Robert Kalua: acrobatics, music, public speaking— and not necessarily all three, nor in that order. Together with Wayne Culmore, the men’s residence hall dean he recruited to be the team’s chaplain, Landon created a team with cachet. Being a team member meant hard work, but it also meant the admiration and respect of the campus. Landon says, “It meant wanting to be on the team so much that you’d do almost anything, including praying in public and leading out in church services . . . and then finding out that God’s Spirit was working in your life.”
He says, “I know many lives have been changed because of the team. Helping young adults to know God better through acrobatics was the whole purpose. Sometimes the routing was circuitous. Nonetheless, the thrill of seeing kids make a decision for God was worth it.”
The team’s current coach, Ron Schafer, was in high school when he made the Olympix in 1973. He, too, chose to attend Andrews University to study under Coach Kalua and returned to CUC to coach CUC’s team. Under Ron’s leadership, the team changed its name to Acronaires to avoid confusion with the more common Olympics. The name was changed, but Landon’s purpose “to change lives” is still very evident. Landon concludes, “Seeing the team’s 50 successful years of longevity has been the ultimate blessing.”
The “Seniors Fitness” class, meeting every Tuesday and Thursday, is once again back to pre-pandemic numbers, with new participants joining every day. On each of the two days, 50 to 65 seniors attend this free class. Activities that promote cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, reaction time, and flexibility are incorporated into each 75-minute class.
Offering the class free of charge, ensures that no senior is kept out of the Burman Fitness Centre for financial reasons. Director Ron Schafer says, “Our oldest participant is 93 and the average age would be the mid to upper 70s.”
The course consisted of analyzing and then writing up and reporting the research data Dr. Kiš collected last summer in Malawi for an evaluation of a water, access, and hygiene (WASH) project by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) that ran from 2015 - 2018. Evaluations in international development are the primary means of verifying if projects are making an impact or not.
Students in Dr. Adam Kiš’s international studies classes are regularly given opportunities to work on research projects with their professor. For example, in 2019, Dr. Kiš invited Spencer Page, a senior international studies major, to travel with him to Kenya to collect project data for A Better World Canada. Spencer is named co-author with Dr. Kiš in a recently published article in the journal Human Organization, the flagship journal of the second-largest professional association for anthropologists in the world, The Society for Applied Anthropology. A second student, Elisa Vital who helped with the literature review for this article, is also named as co-author.
This academic year, the international studies faculty implemented a strategy that engages not only individual students, but an entire group in research. They added the Professional Writing for Proposals and Evaluations course to the curriculum last fall. Dr. Kiš explains, “Proposal- and evaluation-writing are two of the most marketable skills in the international development industry. Graduates who have experience in writing grant proposals and/ or evaluating completed development projects will have the best chances to get jobs, if international development is the career path that they choose to take.”
In their analysis, students compared baseline data (collected at the initial project proposal stage in 2015) and end-of-project data from 2018 with Dr. Kiš’s 2022 followup evaluation data. They discovered that, even though there was significant erosion of project achievements four years after the project ended, none of the project objectives dropped back to (or below) baseline. They also learned to appreciate the value of identifying the WASH objectives that had the greatest residual impact (for organizational learning) and those that had the least (for future programming).
The class then presented their findings via Zoom to the ADRA Malawi executive office, with ADRA Sweden (the donor of the WASH project) and ADRA Africa (the regional office overseeing ADRA Malawi’s work) also in attendance.
The new course was an unmitigated success, according to the students, their professor, and the ADRA entities. Dr. Kiš comments, “It is understood in the development industry that project effects wear off after time. We just don’t know how quickly that happens. The fact that, in this case, anything remained at all after four years made ADRA elated!”
Engagement in research such as this gives students more than a great addition to their résumés and job applications; it gives them greater knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the processes, rewards, and challenges of research in international development.
Most students who enter Burman don’t know much about post-university careers. They know the basics: if you want to be a teacher or a nurse, pursue a degree in teaching or nursing. But what is international studies, and what can you do with it?
Dr. Marc Froese, chair of the program, writes, “Our program prepares students for careers in global affairs—from law and diplomacy to development and humanitarian intervention. Our graduates have worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council, the United Nations, Canada’s Department of National Defense, and ADRA.” But most first-year students don’t even know these opportunities exist, let alone how to pursue them. To help, the international studies faculty developed two new course pathways so incoming students and their parents can better understand career opportunities.
The first new track includes courses in humanitarianism, international development, and global health. Students are supported by Professor Adam Kiš, an anthropologist who conducts research in East Africa. His newest journal article (written with two recent alumni) tackles the difficult topic of female genital cutting.
In the second new track, students take courses in Canadian government, global affairs, and international law. This track is supported by Professor Marc Froese, a political scientist who has published books on the World Trade Organization, international law, and the rise of authoritarian populism around the world.
These new major pathways let students dream big. When they come home for Christmas and someone asks, “What can you do with a degree in international studies?” they can confidently answer, “My major track is in Law and International Affairs because I plan to pursue a career in international law after graduation.”
Showcasing the wealth of possibilities in the international studies program is just one more way faculty are emphasizing the Burman University advantage.
On October 18, 2022, a new book by Burman University Professor Marc Froese and York University Professor Daniel Drache became available to the public in major bookstores throughout the world.
Has Populism Won?: The Global War on Liberal Democracy defines populism (a significant feature, given today’s tendency to bandy about politically charged words without understanding their meanings—take, for example, the term woke), discusses its extensive reach and real dangers, and warns of its threat to democracy “for at least the next decade or longer.”
The authors state that populism “plays to the mass psychology of fascism in which extremism provides meaning to alienated voters. It emphasises messages of grievance for the purpose of ‘rage farming.’” It grows on anger.
At least 35 populist governments are in power around the world, the authors claim, and more than a half billion voters voted for populist parties since 2015. While each national populist movement has its own agenda, one common emphasis, according to Froese and Drache, is their “ultra-nationalist vision for national renewal that requires scapegoating outsiders.”
The threat of the movement lies in it having “captured powerful political parties” and legitimizing a “paranoid style of politics in which conspiracy theories are used to win elections and hold on to power.” The threat also lies in it being “more broad-based than its critics realize.”
Burman University School of Business launched the Small Business Centre in August 2019. The centre helps small business owners in their quest for sustainability and success.
During Small Business Week in October, the centre hosted several sessions in Central Alberta. Speakers included Dr. Robert Opoku, chair of the Donald School of Business in Red Deer; Jo Phillips, CEO of Jo(e) Social Media; and Chelsea Nespor, vice-president and trainer of Dale Carnegie Training of Calgary/ Twello Consulting. Presentations focused on current issues such as achieving success in growing one’s business, making change effectively, and the role of women in entrepreneurship.
Burman’s goal is that the school be responsive to the needs of the community at large. Our number one message in participating in Small Business Week is that while the school is part of the community, it also ‘belongs to’ the Central Alberta community.
The centre offers a speakers series throughout the year for students and the business community to hear knowledgeable and experienced business professionals speak on various topics of interest. The centre also connects Burman students to local businesses for projects.
Dr. Louicius Michel says, “The concepts we teach make more sense when students can go out and experience theory applied to practice. We are here to help. And we build this into the learning processes of the students.” He describes this as “experiential learning” that benefits businesses as well as Burman’s students.
As of September 2023, Burman University’s School of Business will offer an online micro-credential program in
entrepreneurship and finance. Micro-credentials are short, specialized certification programs that provide the tools for starting a new career or growing a business in less time and through greater accessibility.
Small businesses play a critical and vital role in the daily lives of all Canadians. They help foster local economies by keeping money close to home, supporting charitable initiatives, and volunteering within their communities. Each year they create in the neighbourhood of 150,000 jobs. For context, in 2021, small businesses made up 98.1 percent of all employer businesses in Canada, according to Statistics Canada, and employed almost two-thirds of the total labour force. As such, they are a significant driver towards economic recovery.
Starting and growing a small business takes a great deal of expertise, time, effort, perseverance, and commitment. Entrepreneurs have learned that all the hard work and financial resources they’ve put into launching their dreams can go to waste if they don’t have the necessary expertise in marketing and finance. Dr. Louicius Michel points out that 53 percent of small businesses across Canada don’t last beyond the five-year mark.
One primary cause for business failure, in addition to marketing and finance, he says, is “a lack of strategic thinking: what are the long-term prospects? How do you prosper and grow your business? How do you keep it going? Where can a busy owner find time to strategize and make plans for the future?”
A university degree in business is the ideal for gaining essential expertise for success. But obviously not everyone has the interest, time, or financial support to spend four years at a university. For those individuals, getting into a business career or advancing a business career can seem unattainable.
Burman’s micro-credential program offers a solution to the conundrum. The cost is minimal: the $300 tuition charge per course is reduced even lower to $200 for Grade 12 students and also for those who have a high school diploma. The time is minimal as well: each course runs for eight weeks. An additional advantage is that its online courses can be taken any time, anywhere in the world. (See module courses on page 15)
Entrepreneurship Module
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Digital Marketing and Website Development
Marketing Strategy
Bookkeeping and Taxation for Small Business
Small Business Finance
Internet Security
Finance Module
Bookkeeping and Taxation for Small Business
Small Business Finance
Canadian Investment Funds (Mutual Funds)
Family Finance
Introduction to Banking and Financial Institutions
Real Estate and Insurance Finance
Participants in the School of Business micro-credential program are assured that the credits they earn are fully transferrable and that the skills they acquire will boost their careers.
One-Year Online Program
Launching May 2023
Canada is where many immigrants and refugees choose to make their new homes. Students will discover how to best welcome newcomers and gain the skills to help them fit in safely and happily in Canada. Students will interact with qualified instructors and serve handson in the community to develop key competencies.
The world is becoming an increasingly turbulent place, creating many opportunities to serve. Students in this program will learn from experts and practitioners how the world has been negatively impacted by natural disasters and wars. They will learn how to bring help and recovery to a broken world.
In 2018, the Ministry of Education announced, “We have contacted all 60 school districts [in British Columbia] and there is no overall teacher shortage in B.C.” Four years later, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) reported that the teacher shortage has reached a “crisis point.” Some areas are more affected than others, but shortages prevail throughout Canada. Global News Canada estimates that “in the next one to three years, teaching is projected to be the number one job of the future.”
In anticipation of increasing demand for teachers and also the desire for professionals in careers other than education to enter the teaching profession, the School of Education began offering the two-year After Degree program in 2011.
Those who already hold a three- or four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university, but do not meet the requirements for a teaching certificate, have the option of choosing the elementary track or the secondary track, depending on their new career goals.
Karim El Altrach holds a bachelor’s degree in English. He worked in hospitality management for more than 15 years on three continents before deciding on a career change. Karim’s “optimistic, energizing classmates and a welcoming campus community” have helped him cope with a demanding course load—and also with being far from family. He looks forward to achieving his goals of “planting seeds of curiosity” and “fostering creativity.”
Katherine Thompson’s and Noel Hanni’s home is just 15 minutes down the road from Burman University. When they decided on career changes—Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy; Noel, in political science and sociology—and googled universities that offer After Degree programs in education, they discovered Burman right in their (almost) backyard.
Now, after two years in the program, Katherine and Noel have met certification requirements and are ready to graduate. Katherine pursued the secondary track and concurrently obtained a minor in English. Both also improved their skills
in mathematics and have worked as math tutors while in the program. Consequently, school administrators already expressed interest in hiring them, even before they had completed their final practicums.
Holly Hilsabeck, who entered the program with a degree in English, is also graduating this April. She was looking for a small university community close to home—one that has a strong education program—when her mother-in-law suggested she consider Burman. Now completing her second year in the After Degrees program, secondary track, Holly says that Burman “exceeded my expectations.” She finds the community warm and welcoming. “Smaller classes,” she continues, “mean it is easier to form relationships with my classmates and professors. I feel that I belong here.”
All four students speak highly of their positive experiences. They like the low student-faculty ratio that is conducive to a better learning environment and increases social engagement within the learning group. They are also impressed with the curriculum that, as Holly points out, “not only focuses on content-area instruction and teaching strategies, but also includes much hands-on practice with lesson planning and micro-teaching in preparation for field experiences and practicums.”
Burman’s short, two-year After Degree program provides individualized attention and, in Holly’s words, “has been rigorous, informative, welcoming, and full of amazing opportunities to meet and work alongside exceptional individuals.” An added bonus, says Dean Chloe Weir, are Lacombe’s “soul refreshing quiet outdoor spaces, tranquil lakes, and inviting nature trails that create an ambiance conducive to learning.”
point”
On November 25, 2022, an appreciative audience gathered at the College Heights church for the premiére performance of Eduardo Solá’s composition Araucaria angustifolia.
A professional-level string quartet from Burman University plans to travel to Brazil and Argentina this May (tentative dates are May 3 – 18). Professor Eduardo Solá will be joined by Zoe McCormick, an advanced music major, and Heather Ensley and Josh Flynn, two Burman alumni, for this tour to showcase the professional nature of Burman’s music degrees and the collegiality fostered on Burman’s campus.
The group will be performing at five main SDA universities and academies. Dr. Solá explains, “With our recitals at these South American schools, we hope to attract international students to our music program and to our university at large. We want audiences to see the strength of our music department and make our program known beyond North America.”
A detailed itinerary is still under construction, but the group plans to perform in Bahia, São Paulo, and Paraná, Professor Solá’s home state. Sightseeing opportunities will include Iguaçu Falls, Curitiba, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. Perhaps even more important, by performing together, the group will learn from one another and, as Sola points out, “grow enormously as a community of musicians.”
An on-campus fund-raising concert to support the tour is planned for mid-April.
The Burman University Concert Orchestra, with the addition of a group of professional musicians from the Central Alberta community, introduced the audience to Professor Solá’s original piece that, as he explains, “reflects my memories of the majestic Brazilian pine trees in the state of Paraná where I grew up.” Each movement draws on images of nature: the gralha-azul (blue jay), the misty landscapes, the falling of pine cones and pine seeds, and more. It also draws upon rhythms, melodies, and themes from Paranaense folklore.
Solá says, “I wrote this work last summer with my students in mind. I wanted to share my artistry and cultural background with them to connect with them in meaningful ways.”
Burman University’s Young Artistic Concerto Competition (YACC) is again active after having been tabled during the Covid years. This year’s competition took place on January 9. The music faculty selected seven winners from competing young musicians from around Alberta.
On April 8, the winners will perform their major pieces with the Burman University Concert Orchestra in an event that will be live-streamed through the university’s channel. Eduardo Solá, the orchestra’s conductor, says, “We are all delighted to bring this competition back and are committed to providing a high-level experience to those participating in this project.”
April 2 marks the first Burman University Invitational Honour Band Festival. High school students representing schools from Central Alberta and across Canada will converge for a day of rehearsals and performance with the Concert Winds. (See the magazine's inside back cover for more details.)
The need for qualified pastors is growing across the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist church. At the same time, the number of young men and women answering God’s call to pastoral ministry has declined in the last few years at SDA colleges and universities in the United States. During the pandemic, Burman University faculty saw a decline in students entering the pastoral ministry tracks, as well.
This trend is now changing in Canada. Working with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) and local conferences, the administration has enhanced the practical, hands-on parts of Burman’s programs.
Each year, students can experience on-the-jobtraining by spending extended periods of time in local churches across the country. Through a partnership between Burman, the SDACC, and local conferences, all students who are preparing for pastoral ministry at Burman University are eligible for $8,500 in annual scholarship funds. Local congregations are also engaged by encouraging their young people who may feel called to ministry to answer this call and contact the religious studies program.
During the week of December 3-10, 2022, the Burman Ministry Centre had the honour of partnering with Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada (ADRA Canada) during their Week of ADRA Emphasis. This year’s focus was “Creating a Just World.”
The Burman Ministry Centre provided a biblical perspective on the need for, and nature of, godly justice in the world. Seven faculty and students prepared and shared insights on how social action and evangelism go hand in hand during the week’s videos. Presentations by Eduardo Solá, Chloe Weir, Adam Kiš, Dania Pandala, Lindsay Chineegadoo, Stephen Reasor, and Stephane Beaulieu helped ADRA “highlight the work of alleviating suffering, poverty, and need, rescuing the perishing, and demonstrating the compassionate loving care of our God in action.” All seven episodes are available at https://www.adra.ca/ emphasis.
The Burman Ministry Centre is working together with the North American Division (NAD) Office of Volunteer Ministries to send student missionaries from across Canada to serve around the world. Canada is the first union in the NAD to form this important partnership, and we hope to encourage young people in Canada to accept God’s call to serve.
Many areas rely on
the help of student missionary volunteers to serve as teachers, preachers, accountants, dormitory deans, grounds/maintenance workers, etc. Volunteers are provided housing, food, and living essentials as they serve. Those with questions or a conviction of God’s call to serve can email bmc@burmanu.ca.
One student new to Burman’s campus is Arden Brock. Arden and his family come from Iron Bridge, Ontario. He is a first-year pre-professional track religious studies student and has a rich background of experience, including farming and logging.
Referencing a life-threatening accident, Arden explains that working with heavy equipment is essential to his family’s operations, so he has always had to be conscious of a level of danger equivalent only to mining. He recounts times when God’s intervention was obviously clear.
One of these occurred shortly after Kristin, his wife, delivered their first baby. Arden was doing preventative maintenance the morning after spending a long day wrapping up baleage. His exacto knife didn’t produce the expected results. So, well-aware of the danger, he turned on the machine and, with great care, used a putty knife to loosen the wrapped material on the rollers. But the back tab of his leather glove caught in rollers that were turning at 1,000 rpm. He says, “It had the potential to kill me.”
His account of how God intervened (even though the accident took part of his right arm) was captured by It Is Written Canada and aired at the end of last year. This episode can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFxRGzwOI4.
In the years since this accident, Kristin and Arden’s family has grown to three children. Arden's desire to become a pastor and to minister to people has also grown and matured.
Burman’s Board of Trustee members come from across Canada. Some of these are ex officio—that is, they are members by virtue of the positions they hold in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Others are elected by local church constituents.
Dr. Marcia Whittaker has served on Burman University Board of Trustees since the Fall of 2021. She is a dynamic and strategic leader with cross cultural experience in the areas of academia, finance, and banking. She spent more than 20 years in banking in various capacities, including senior management. Her focus included providing strategic oversight and directon on revenue growth, profitability, financial/portfolio management, investment strategies, and human resources.
Professor Whittaker’s PhD in finance helped prepare her for various roles in higher education. In 2014, she transitioned to academic leadership. Specific accountabilities include strategic planning and leadership, profitability and long term sustainability, program and curriculum development, quality assurance, people management, resource allocation, and risk assessment and management. She oversees the finance and registrar departments, as well as business development, growth, and financial prudence.
Concurrently, Dr. Whittaker is an adjunct faculty in Canada and Jamaica. She is also a corporate trainer in areas of practical leadership and emotional intelligence. In addition, she is involved in numerous volunteer activities.
When asked what she believes to be Burman University’s main strength, she points to the university’s “wholistic development of young minds” in a “learning and growth environment that serves as a catalyst for academic success, personal/professional growth, emotional stability, and spiritual enrichment.” She points to Burman’s welcoming campus, small class sizes, professors that are passionate about their students’ success, and the university’s service-oriented focus.
As a Board member, Professor Whittaker’s focus will be to assist Burman with reaching and motivating young adults to make Burman University their university of choice.
What sparked your interest in the Adult Development and Aging class, Getty?
Burman University’s psychology faculty’s successful integration of theory and practice was extended last fall with the addition of a new class to the curriculum: Adult Development and Aging. One of the course requirements is that students spend a minimum of 20 hours volunteering at Royal Oak Village, a senior centre within walking distance of the campus. Getty Simbarasi, one of the students, highly recommends this new class by Dr. Dadria Lewis.
I was interested in this class because I’ve always considered aging such a great gift. My cultural background is Zimbabwean. My maternal grandmother raised me until I went to a boarding school in my teens. In my formative years, I watched as my grandparents took care of their parents. And then, when I was in Michigan, I worked as a direct care assistant at an assisted living facility. While there, I was privileged to provide care for the vulnerable elderly and encountered some of the illnesses that impact aging groups the most. So I anticipated that with this course I would gain a deeper understanding of ways to differentiate between normal aging and mental illnesses that need medical attention. I was not disappointed.
What did you learn that was of particular interest?
The class reinforced what I had known: How we take care of ourselves when we are young and in our prime has a lasting impact. I had to come to terms with the fact that exercise and eating my fruits and veggies reduces my chances of suffering from severe health issues as I age.
The class also taught me that elder abuse can take various forms in addition to sexual abuse. For example, infantilizing the elderly is a form of abuse. So is overlooking mental illness and conflating its symptoms with normal aging. I learned to recognize signs of abuse and how to address it through advocacy and other ways.
This was also the first class I had ever taken that included practical experience so that I learned to integrate theory with practice. It was remarkable! I learned so much!
What were your responsibilities at Royal Oak?
One of my primary responsibilities was to simply spend time with the residents and listen to them. One lady told me of her pen pal in West Africa and of the letters and small gifts they exchanged over the years. They lost contact, but she thinks of her often. It got me thinking about how friends and companions play such a huge role. As we age, our fondness for them will not just disappear even though time has intervened. We are wired for connection regardless of age.
I also assisted the activities director with organized games and outings. For instance, I helped one resident in a wheelchair enjoy an outing to the Gull Lake Honey Company. Whenever she saw me after that, she told her companions about our day together. I felt so honoured that she remembered me.
Did your experience at Royal Oak lead to career discussions?
Yes! My supervisors commented on my great relationships with the residents. They told me that if an employment opportunity opened up, they would consider me. Volunteering at Royal Oak also sparked my interest in the field of gerontology, one of the five concentrations Burman’s psychology program offers. It is definitely one of the areas I am now considering getting into.
Burman’s Centre for Peace and Justice is emerging from its recent Covid-induced hiatus with a “Larry and Denise Herr Lecture” on March 27 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. Keynote speaker and musician Susan Aglukark will present the 60-minute multi media/speaking and singing presentation “Nomad: Correcting the Narrative.”
Susan Aglukark, the first Inuk artist to win a Juno (she has now been awarded three) and a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement, is an officer of the Order of Canada and holds several honorary doctorate degrees.
“Nomad: Correcting the Narrative” sheds light on some of the psychological and cultural impacts of rapid change in the North and gives a glimpse of the resilience and determination of a people who have maintained a quiet dignity despite near annihilation by disease and rapid change.
Ms. Aglukark was born in Arviat, a small hamlet in Nunavut, the largest of Canada’s northernmost territories. Located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Arviat is north of Churchhill, Manitoba and even north of the Arctic tree line.
Through her music, Susan Aglukark shares her experiences as an Inuk growing up in Nunavut, as well as the challenges faced by northern communities and Indigenous youth. She says, “We have an extraordinary culture and an extraordinary past. We must embrace the opportunity to learn about our very own heroes, write those culture bridges, and reframe who we are in today’s world.
“[Our young people] need to be anchored to an identity and so many of those connections are in our ancestors and their stories. We have a duty and a responsibility to engage them in the process of connecting with and helping them write those stories.”
Everyone is invited to attend the presentation on March 27, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Lacombe Memorial Centre. To register, visit www.burmanu.ca and click on News and Events.
A spectacular sunset viewed from the Inuit territory of Nunavut belies the harsh realities of life in the environmental extremes of the region.
The journey of Inuit told through songs and stories by the legendary Canadian singer Susan Aglukark
Twelve years ago, Jim and Janice Clark’s neighbour asked if his 12-year-old granddaughter could live with them for a few weeks while the family sorted out an acceptable housing arrangement. The Clarks already had five children. But they agreed; their middle child, Mallory, was also 12. Six months later, the girl was still with them. So they contacted their local foster care office for advice.
After completing the required coursework, the Clarks became certified foster parents. Since then, Jim and Janice have fostered close to 40 children. Some, like the 12-year-old, stayed for years; others, for shorter periods. At times, the Clark house has been home to 12 children at once. Janice says, “We have a party with us wherever we go.”
Jim, a builder/carpenter, and Janice, a teacher at the nearby Mamawi Atosketan Native School (an Adventist school for First Nation children in Central Alberta), soon decided that one of them needed to stay home. Their growing family required a full-time caregiver, housekeeper, counsellor, cook, chauffeur, etc. Jim was the one to quit his job.
One day, one of Janice’s junior high students told her, “My sister is having a baby. She wants you to have it.” But as the months passed, nothing further was said. So the Clarks assumed that there were no serious plans for them to take the baby. Then, months later, the mom-to-be sent word through her little sister that the delivery had been scheduled. Would the Clarks please be at the hospital. Janice says, “Despite being skeptical, I made arrangements for a substitute teacher.”
She adds mischievously, “I told Jim I was taking the day off to shop for antiques in Edmonton. Eventually, I had to confess, of course."
Janice and Jim arrived early at the hospital on the designated day. When they introduced themselves, they were told, “Oh, you are the adoptive parents. We have a room all set up for you. As soon as the baby is born, we will bring him so you can care for him and bond.”
“At that moment,” Janice says, “we realized we were adopting a baby.” They named him Huxley.
The Clarks write, “One of our hardest times is when the little ones go back to their biological families.
When Huxley came home with us, our children were jubilant because he would not ever leave our family.”
Currently, the Clarks are fostering five children between the ages of three and seven, all of them First Nations Nehiyaw awasisak (Cree children). Janice, who learned the Cree language and is teaching it and cultural studies at Mamawi, says, “We work hard to keep the children connected to their heritage. Coming home recently from a Powwow, our 3-year-old wanted to become a powwow dancer. A few minutes later, he wanted to be a firefighter. Huxley’s response, ‘And you’ll go around and stamp out the fire when you dance? Right!’ had everyone giggling.” The special joys of fostering, the Clarks reflect, are just all the little moments in the day when a laugh and smile is shared.
Karen (Strutz) Baumbach HS ’75, a farmer in Bentley, Alberta, believes that serving others is part of God’s plan for her. Her parents demonstrated what that looks like, and she has passed it on to her daughter, Heidi. (Heidi’s story of her time in Ukraine is reported in the Fall 2022 issue.)
Karen has led her church in serving the Bentley community in numerous ways, from organized projects such as the Little Chefs program for firstand second-graders, the soup supper for seniors, the food drive for the Bentley school breakfast program, and more. She is also attuned to needs outside of programs (providing jeans for a homeless man, diapers for a new baby, and mittens for cold little hands).
In addition to her “regular” volunteer work, Karen helps care for Ukrainian refugee families in the area. God works daily miracles through people’s generosity: a fundraising buffet meal fully-sponsored from food to centre pieces to hall rent, furniture donations and volunteers to assist with the move, money for rent and utilities, skates for the children, shopping trips for Christmas gifts or something warm to wear, desperately needed eye glasses . . . the list goes on.
Karen says, “It has all been orchestrated by a loving heavenly Father!”
Gerald (Gerry) Chipeur HS ’79 was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for public service to Alberta. The Medal was presented by the Lieutenant Governor and Premier of Alberta at the Queen Elizabeth II Building in Edmonton.
Gerry’s public service includes chairing hearings of the Alberta Review Board under the Criminal Code, and teaching the Negotiation of Indigenous Rights at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. He is also the Honorary Consul for Korea in Alberta, the Chair of the Advisory Council for the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, and a Centre Associate of the University of British Columbia Centre for Constitutional Law and Legal Studies.
Gerry has LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Since his admission to the Law Society of Alberta in 1985, Gerry has advocated for clients in over 120 reported cases, including two dozen matters before the Supreme Court of Canada. His scholarship includes more than 100 articles on topics such as administrative law, charitable organizations, the Constitution, education, the environment, ethics and government integrity, Indigenous rights, corporate governance, hospitals and healthcare, human rights, lobbying, and public safety.
Barbara (Fowler) Chipeur HS ’78, U att. ’79 is the third of four generations in her family to attend Burman University or one of its divisions. She earned a degree in education at the University of Alberta and taught junior high students at Coralwood Adventist Academy in Edmonton for three years before deciding on a career in dentistry.
After graduating from the University of Alberta with a doctoral degree in dental surgery, Dr. Chipeur owned and operated a successful dental practice in Calgary for 25 years.
In November of last year, Dr. Chipeur was appointed for a second three-year term to the Council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta. This public agency has a “critical role in growing Alberta’s economy, creating jobs, and balancing the province’s finances, while ensuring quality services are provided.” As a member of this regulatory agency, Dr. Chipeur’s role is to ensure that Albertans receive safe, appropriate, ethical, and quality dental care.
Barbara and Gerald Chipeur have two adult daughters. Stephanie has a doctorate in civil law from McGill University Faculty of Law and is currently working at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy; Lauren has a master’s degree in fine arts, and her practice in Calgary features ceramic processes.
Melane Mullings U ’98 entrepreneur and author, shares lessons learned from a journey through her management and consulting practice, Aere Management Consulting, and her book, Lemonade!.
Melane’s professional background includes working as a registered nurse in both the U.S. and Canada. She is also a registered professional trainer, a board member of Canada’s Immigrant Women in Business organization, and a mentor with Futurpreneur Canada, a nonprofit organization that provides financing, mentoring, and support to aspiring business owners.
Melane writes, “At 17, I was hospitalized with leukemia in Calgary, Alberta. Through my cancer journey and miraculous recovery, I gained an understanding of my purpose, faith, and the power of a positive mindset. After a crushing bout of burnout in my late 20s, I took my understanding of my purpose and joined it with my faith. This became a sustainably successful, impactful, purposedriven business.
“Beating all the odds, I successfully sold it 13 years later. Now through my consulting practice and in my book, I share my journey to help others experience success in life and business as well.”
Caitlyn Brousson U ’18 has always been attracted to two quite divergent areas of study: health and art. After she graduated with a degree in business, she began her career with managing a health food store in Red Deer, Alberta—a perfect fit since she already had worked for five years in the natural health industry.
While managing the store, she studied to become a holistic nutritionist (CHN) to assist her customers more effectively. At the same time, Caitlyn decided to develop her creative side. So over the past few years, she worked concurrently on also becoming a part-time artist.
Caitlyn writes, “This year I started Caitlyn Brousson Art. I create and sell original watercolour paintings. My business degree has given me the financial and strategic knowledge and passion for small business that I need for making fine art a part of my career path. I was able to financially plan, evaluate the market, and create a strategy to get started.
“The most important thing my degree taught me is how much communities need to support small businesses. With Caitlyn Brousson Art, I source materials exclusively from my local community. Supporting local business builds a community that continually gets healthier in every area: financially, spiritually, relationally, physically, and creatively.”
Victoria de los Angeles Soto Linan U ’19 graduated from Burman’s Scholars program with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She says, “My experience with the university’s co-op research and honours program helped me discover a type of newfound academic curiosity. Donning a researcher’s lab coat, I pursued a master’s degree in neuroscience.
“Scientists in this field generally gravitate toward creating new treatments or unravelling the molecular biology behind diseases. However, I believe that optimizing the time and methods for diagnosis should be simultaneously addressed.”
So Victoria chose to research the use of noninvasive measurements of both electroretinographic abnormalities and oral microbiota alterations as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Her goal is for this multidisciplinary approach to provide a wider window for therapeutic intervention in the future.
She writes, “It took a few years and a mix of pure and applied science, but I’ve watched this project grow and am now close to graduating with a doctorate in neuroscience from Laval University. All researchers are well aware that ‘one gets out what one puts in.’ Unfortunately, this can’t always be done with a smile on one’s face. Today, I find it easier to resonate with the drive common to many patients I’ve worked with: ‘For the advancement of Parkinson’s
research, not for us, but so that future generations may benefit from our contribution today….’”
Nevandria (Henry) Page U ’20 writes, “While completing a master’s degree in feminist and gender studies at the University of Ottawa, my research has been focused on how the future of outer space exploration and industry could export social and economic inequalities into space or exacerbate those still existing on this earth.
“During my religious studies degree at Burman, I developed a passion for working with people and advocating for marginalized communities, but it was really elective courses like Social Problems with Dr. Obisike and Feminist Film and Fiction with Dr. Ringer that fostered these interests by challenging me to think critically and pushed me into exciting new directions.
“I later started a club at Burman, the Intersectional Feminist Society, that collected donations for local community organizations and volunteered at community events. These elective and extracurricular experiences showed me that I could pursue my combined interests in critical theory and advocacy as a career.
“After graduating this summer, I aim to launch a career as a diversity advisor in a national space agency or private firm where I can apply my knowledge and passion to help
realize futures on our world and beyond that are peaceful, sustainable, and just.”
Spencer Page U ’20 writes, “I have now been working at National Defence as a policy officer for 18 months. Initially I worked in our Directorate of Strategic Coordination and Outreach where my primary role was engaging experts to find new insights on a broad spectrum of policy challenges.
“Last spring, I moved to the Directorate of NATO Policy where I was assigned to manage the Ukraine file. I am currently receiving several months of full-time second language training and will return to my usual duties this summer. My assignment to the Ukraine file was undoubtedly the most challenging and rewarding experience of my year. It was an enormous adjustment to inherit this tremendous set of responsibilities.
“At Burman, many of my studies in the Scholars program emphasized how we think about and navigate violence and conflict. I never imagined confronting a geopolitical crisis unlike any in my lifetime, nor that I would occupy a position where conclusions drawn from those same previously abstract discussions could yield tangible consequences for real people. Consequently, I am thankful for the wise colleagues and mentors who empowered me to play this small part in Canada’s support for Ukraine.”
This year, Dr. Karen Gustafson and Dr. James Bicigo have brought band back to campus. They are working to revive Burman University’s tradition of excellent bands and are recruiting woodwind, brass, and percussion players to the ensemble. Newly christened the Burman University Concert Winds, the band has had several performances at Burman and in the community this year.
April 2 marks the first Burman University Invitational Honour Band Festival. High school students representing schools from Central Alberta and across Canada will converge for a day of rehearsals and performance with the Concert Winds.
Taking place April 2 at 6 p.m. at the College Heights Church, the concert will feature each group individually and conclude with the combined ensemble. The program will also include Bicigo’s composition about the Great Lakes entitled Sweetwater Seas. All are invited.
Correction Notice The editor regrets errors in the fall 2022 issue of Burman University Magazine (vol. 5, no.1) and offers the following corrections:
An exciting benefit for you as a Burman graduate!
Corrected caption (pages 8 and 9): (from left to right)
President Emeritus Victor Fitch; former librarians Keith Clouten, Carol (Horne Anderson) Nicks, and Joyce (Tinkler) Van Scheik; student representative Shania Solá; Pastor Jeff Potts; President Loren Agrey
In Memoriam notices (inside back cover)
Alma Blabey Reimche HS ’41 May 9, 2021 September 5, 2021
Carl Ritchey (att) March 12, 2021 December 3, 2021
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Burman University
6730 University Drive
Lacombe, AB Canada T4L 2E5
(800) 661-8129
www.burmanu.ca
JUNE 2-4
Activities/Special Events
• Alumni Banquet
• Awards and Recognitions
• Sabbath Lunch Potluck
• Sunday Pancake Breakfast
• Class Photos
Friday Vespers
Chanda M. Nunes-Henry Speaker
Pastor Nunes-Henry, an ordained minister, began her pastoral journey in 2003 as youth pastor and chaplain of Parkview Adventist Academy and College Heights Christian School. She is a trailblazer—a “first”—in every position she has held: youth pastor, chaplain, administrative pastor, family life pastor, senior pastor, and now as vice president for Nevada-Utah Conference.
In addition to her degrees in religion, Chanda holds associate degrees in private investigation and paralegal studies and is also a certified coach practitioner.
Sabbath Worship Steve Cassimy Speaker
Honour Classes
2018 19931968
2013 19881963
2008 19831958
2003 19781953
199819731948
and all classes prior to 1948
Sabbath Vespers
Parkview Adventist Academy Shad Lehmann, Speaker
Since graduating in 1978 from Burman University with a degree in theology, Dr. Steve D. Cassimy has pastored in Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. He also held a number of administrative positions in the Greater New York Conference.
Dr. Cassimy was a member of the Board of Directors for the SDA church in Canada and served on the Human Relations Advisory for the North American Division. In 2022, he retired from his position as the lead pastor for the Co-op City SDA church in Bronx, New York.
Shad Lehmann’s more than 20-year career in Adventist education began with positions as teacher and principal in Alberta and British Columbia. Then the ManitobaSaskatchewan Conference invited him to be superintendent of education. In his current position as associate education director for Canada, he has a major role in rewriting the Church in Canada’s Education Code and also various school accreditation documents. In addition, he is working on a doctoral degee.
Shad, Tara, and their three children enjoy outdoor activities as often as time allows.
