“This year was a very welcome transition.
To return to in-person teaching and to watch our athletic teams compete, musicians and actors perform, and students reconnect on campus was a great pleasure. Our students also contributed considerably to the vibrancy that characterizes Fredericton.
At every step of this return, dedicated professors taught and mentored, and caring staff offered valuable support and services. Our students were further sustained by the generous donors who make their education more accessible and fund special events and activities that are deeply enriching.
These are all things that we truly appreciate, and no longer take for granted.
In the future, society will need engaged young citizens with skills in critical thinking, literacy, analysis, communication, and collaborative problem-solving — in effect, graduates with the skills a liberal arts education provides. As you can see from this Community Report, STU graduates are well prepared to make that contribution.
Thank you for your confidence in us and your support for our efforts to provide a distinct and meaningful liberal arts education.”
— Dawn Russell, (BA’77), President and Vice-Chancellor
St. Thomas honorary degree recipient Gloria Paul, a nurse in Fredericton for twenty years, had a lifelong passion for peace initiatives and the environment. Dr. Paul left a $50,000 bequest to St. Thomas which was received after the death of her long-time partner, Yvonne Mesereau. In considering a gift to the University which would marry her dual passions, Dr. Paul directed her legacy donation towards our Environment and Society Program, to create an endowed fund which will annually fund both a $2,000 scholarship and a $250 prize for a graduating student.
St. Thomas alumna Pam Harquail had the kind of presence and charismatic charm that made you feel like you had known her your whole life. Her great interest in education started with Teacher’s College, and was followed by two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree and a doctorate. Pam epitomized the expressions ‘a love of learning’ and ‘lifelong learning.’ She was an exemplary educator who always inspired and lifted up her students whether it was in an elementary school, secondary school, or a university setting. Following her passing earlier this year, a scholarship fund was created in her name to celebrate a woman who celebrated learning every day of her well-lived life.
A practicing clinical psychologist for 58 years, Dr. Maurice Boulay followed his BA from St. Thomas College (1959), with an MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ottawa (1963), and a PhD in Psychology from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California (1982).
Dr. Boulay was a founding member of the New Brunswick Board of Examiners in Psychology and served three terms as president of the Association of Psychologists of the Province of New Brunswick. Dr. Boulay also lectured at St. Thomas University for 25 years.
Following his passing earlier this year, Dr. Boulay’s wife contacted the University to set up an endowment in his name, to celebrate his time at STU. This new fund will provide awards for Psychology students, in support of the faculty and discipline which were a focus of Dr. Boulay’s life and work.
Shortly after returning to St. Thomas to chair the Human Rights Department at STU, alumna Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, BA’01, established a Moot Court Program which, under her guidance, has become one of the most successful Moot Court programs in Canada. Annually competing in six international competitions as well as numerous national moots in which STUdents regularly finish at or near the top, the STU program has also sent teams to the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Geneva, where they were the first Canadian team to be crowned World Champions.
To honour her students and their tremendous success, Dr. DiPaolo has established a graduating prize for a Moot Court participant. As coach and mentor to these students, she decided to name the prize after the two people who have supported her throughout her life, her parents James and Judith DiPaolo.
The James and Judith DiPaolo Moot Court Graduating Prize was awarded for the first time during the May 17, 2022 Convocation to Paytra Waibel.
5 Saddened by the tragic death of Alyssia Paul, who died crossing the Trans Canada Highway on September 7, 2018, alumni John and Diana Cowland felt obligated to do something to honour this young woman’s life. Having personal ties to Kingsclear First Nation, John and Diana wanted to honour her in a way that would directly impact her community. Describing Alyssia’s death as “a tragic loss of an unfulfilled life”, the Cowlands were compelled to establish an endowed bursary in her name that would support students from Kingsclear First Nations.
St. Thomas has received a $100,000 grant from the RBC Foundation to enhance the internships currently offered through the Office of Experiential Learning and Community Engagement.
STU was the first university in NB to establish an office for Experiential Learning and is still the only one which offers a co-curricular Certificate in Experiential Learning. With the early support of local partners, we were able to implement a program which establishes relationships with non-profit organizations and businesses, leading to both volunteer opportunities and skills-based internships.
As an institution which has a singular focus on Liberal Arts, we are in a unique position to transfer the ‘soft skills’ which underpin our entire curriculum into relevant work experiences for our students.
With the support of RBC, we have been able to build on our current internship program to create new/ greater opportunities, in particular for Indigenous students and for international students.
Emily Green and Ashley Thornton
won the North American Regional Round of the Stetson Law School Environment Moot Court. They both won speaker awards placing first during the final round (Ashley Thornton) and first during preliminary rounds (Emily Green) and they won best written legal memorials. They qualified for the international competition but lost in the quarterfinals to last year’s winners from the Law Society of Ireland School of Law. Emily Green placed third overall oralist at the event.
The STU moot court experience has been made possible, in large part, thanks to a generous donation from Frank and Julie McKenna to create an endowment fund in the name of McKenna’s long-time assistant Ruth McCrea.
STU Moot also competed at Oxford University’s Price Media Law Moot Court Competition
,
They were in the North American Round hosted by the University of Chicago. STU finished in the top 8. Patrice Cammarano, Maggie Jardine Adelaide King, and Kassandra Trainor
represented STU.
STU Moot had a quarterfinal finish at the Manfred Lachs Space Moot Competition, where Ethan Nylen and Oliver Larson represented STU.
Paytra Waibel and Emma Ruiz were quarterfinalists for STU at the Osgoode Cup STU had five teams in that tournament. Elisha Gunaratnam and Muchaneta Nyambuya also made the playoffs for STU (top 16 teams out of 72 total teams).
After being successful in the preliminary rounds in May, Laura Rea and Graci Young were quarterfinalists at the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court in Geneva at the United Nations.
In the fall of 2021, master stained-glass artist and conservator, Ned Bowes, BA’73, approached STU to ask if we would accept the gift of 12 stained-glass panels which had been removed from a church in Saint John. The work of Nathaniel T. Lyon, these windows are 120 years old. Ned spent six months restoring the panels, which are now installed in custom-built frames in the windows of the University Chapel.
When the Alumni Association pledged a gift to the Campaign for St. Thomas for campus beautification, then-president Margaret Tracy, BA’75, raised the idea with alumnus and professional artist Bill Johnson about adding a mural in the Great Hall. He offered to donate his time and expertise as a gift to his alma mater
The mural concept is a triptych, a work of art divided into three sections. Each section is a variation on a theme. They celebrate students engaged in activities which highlight arts, culture, and sports in the flanking panels, and academics, diversity, and ideals in the larger centre panel.
Student Laura Forrester, BA’22 was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the finished mural. After delays brought on by the pandemic, Laura worked with Bill over 12 months to bring his vision to life.
Julia Evans was selected as a participant in the New Brunswick Legislative Internship Program. The NBLIP was launched in 2019 to give students an immersive experience that would add a practical element to their in-class learning. Under the supervision of the Office of the Legislative Assembly, interns conduct research and provide other assistance to members of the Legislative Assembly, legislative committees, and to officers of the Assembly.
Fourth-year student, artist, and entrepreneur Sydona Chandon from Jamaica had four photographs featured in The Gallery on Queen’s new exhibition, DiasporART: Self Actualization. The inaugural exhibit, which was hosted in partnership with the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance, featured the work of eight artists and celebrated Black identity in New Brunswick.
Third-year French and History Honours student Pablo Costa has won the 2022 Prix du Consulat général de France à Moncton et Halifax. This prize is awarded by the Consul General to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence in the study of French language and culture in the Atlantic provinces.
“Being recognized for my writing and academic achievements is not only a huge honour, but also encouragement. Sometimes it can be hard to believe in yourself when you are writing in your second language or trying something new in a creative way,” Costa said.
The premiere of Fine Arts Professor Dr. Martín Kutnowski’s composition, Awakenings, was part of Symphony New Brunswick’s “Virtuoso Series,” and was performed by woodwind quintet Ventus Machina along with Kutnowski on piano.
Education professor Léo-James Lévesque has received an Honorary Lifetime Member Award from the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers for his advancement of second language education. The award recognizes individuals whose work has contributed significantly to language teaching and learning.
Professor Emerita Andrea Bear Nicholas, BEd’67, was recognized by l’Université de Moncton with an Honorary Doctorate for her exceptional contributions to the fields of language and linguistics.
Dr. Matthew Hayes’ Canada Research Chair in Global and Transnational Studies has been renewed. In his first term as CRC, Hayes completed work on the migration of North Americans to Ecuador. In addition to writing Gringolandia (University of Minnesota Press), he also published several articles in international journals and was invited to contribute book chapters to collected editions. His work has begun to pivot towards urban studies and the financialization of real estate. His current work looks at the intersection of cultures of aging in high-income countries and their impacts on lower-income urban spaces.
The Black Students’ Association worked with the university to introduce the Kente Stole to Convocation to commemorate the differences and obstacles Black students overcome to graduate. The Kente Stole honours the legacy of Black ancestors and is a testament to each graduate’s strength and excellence. Adapted from African tradition in Ghana, this woven cloth, which was once only worn by royalty, is a scarf-like garment worn over the shoulder to signify an accomplishment, graduation, or other rite of passage.
The Tommies Men’s Volleyball team won their second straight Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championship.
The Tommies Men’s Soccer team claimed the ACAA Championship with an undefeated season.
Former Child and Youth Advocate and Seniors’ Advocate Norman Bossé, awardwinning journalist Harry Forestell, and Provincial Court Judge the Hon. Nicole Angers (photos top to bottom) are this year’s recipients of the Carolyn LaydenStevenson Distinguished Alumni Awards.
At spring Convocation, honorary degrees were bestowed upon Dr. Mary McCarthy-Brandt and Maggie Paul
Dr. Mary McCarthy-Brandt is a Fredericton-based writer, educator, and historian dedicated to preserving the histories of Black New Brunswickers.
Maggie Paul is a Passamaquoddy elder, teacher, and song carrier. She is known for her beautiful singing voice, her work preserving traditional songs, and for using music to inspire and guide Indigenous youth.
STU Santas is an annual program for STU students with children (16 and under) who are in financial need during the holidays. Through the support of faculty, staff, and student donations, the program provides these students with financial assistance and gifts to bring a little extra joy to their holiday celebrations. This year’s STU Santas fundraising campaign raised $5,110 to support 48 children.
“These students are balancing school, work, parenting, and other challenges, and can use a helping hand. STU Santas has become known as a heartwarming way for our STU community to step up and demonstrate its typical kindness and generosity,” said Dr. Vivien Zelazny, BA’06, Campus Minister and organizer of the campaign.
STU commemorated Orange Shirt Day with activities and ceremonies. Orange Shirt Day is a national movement for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together in the spirit of hope and reconciliation to honour former residential school students whose families and communities have been impacted by the policies and actions of the Government of Canada and churches that operated the schools.
STU students studying human rights are part of a national research project examining local human rights issues in the context of international law. The project is led by Alex Neve, LLD’17 former Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, and Adjunct Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie. He is supervising research teams as they examine the outcomes of United Nations-level human rights reviews to identify locally relevant issues. The students will also examine what mechanisms are in place at the provincial/ territorial level to ensure compliance. The local component is coordinated by STU’s Atlantic Human Rights Centre and is
comprised of student research teams of Brianna Bourgeois and Elisha Gunaratnam who are studying New Brunswick, and Paytra Waibel and Graci Young who are studying PEI.
The work involves research on provincial government and UN documents, interviews with government officials, lawyers, and civil and Indigenous groups, access to information requests, and a review of media reports and other sources. Except for STU, all other student research teams are from law schools across the country.
Students in STU’s Mi’kmaq-Maliseet
Bachelor of Social Work Program held a Social Action Fair in Sackville, NB in December. Students presented on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people; suicide prevention; breaking down stereotypes against Indigenous peoples; Indigenous wellness for university students; and harm reduction.
“Without the education and guidance I received at STU, I would not have found a career in a field that suits my passions and abilities like recreation therapy. I use what my professors taught me every day.”
“My experience at STU not only opened my eyes to new perspectives, but also provided me with the tools to make a difference in our fast-paced world. STU prepares graduates to take on challenges and develop creative solutions to some of the social problems impacting communities around the world.”
—Emilia Gutierrez, BA ’21 Education Officer, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission
—Marissa Scott, BA ’17 Recreation Therapist and Behavioural Support Worker “STU taught me the importance of getting out of my comfort zone. While starting my career, I hold onto this lesson. I feel fully prepared to navigate all my current opportunities effectively and to achieve my highest aspirations.”
—Haley Brown, BA ’22
TD Bank’s Market Risk and Model Development
“STU prepared me by providing skills to adapt to any situation. By participating in extracurricular activities on campus, I developed the leadership skills that I use every day in my current position.”
—Roger Miranda, BA ’15 Government Economist
Most Rev. Christian Riesbeck, B.Soc.Sc, STB, MDiv
– Founding Member
Dawn Russell, BA, LLB, LLM
– President and Vice-Chancellor
Kim Fenwick, BSc, MA, PhD
– Vice-President (Academic and Research)
Tammy Augustine, BA, LLB
David Farrar, BA, LLB
David Ferguson, BA
Marlene Floyd, BA
Peter R. Forestell, KC, BA, LLB
– Chair
Krista Han, CPA, CA, FEA
Brent Henry, CPA, CA
Tom Isaac, BA (Honours), MA, LLB, LLM
Carolyn MacKay, BN, MBA
Daniel McCarthy, BComm, FCPA, DComm
Sister Mary Beth McCurdy, BA, BTh, MA
Graydon Nicholas, BSc, LLB, MSW
– Chancellor
Phillippe Ouellette, BA, MA
Stephen Ward, BA, MA, PhD
Bill Whalen, BA, APR, FCPRS
Michael Dawson, BA, MA, PhD
Matthew Hayes, BA, MA, PhD
Robin Vose, BA, MA, MMS, PhD
Don Bossé, BA, BEd, MMus
Stephanie Underhill Tomilson, BA, BEd, MEd
Catherine LaPrairie
Jeffrey Carleton, BA, MA
– Associate Vice-President, Communications
James Culligan, BBA, CPA, CGA
– Vice-President, Finance and Administration
Jodi Misheal, BA, BEd
– Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations
Alex Nguyen
– President, Students’ Union