Connections Winter 2020

STU Alumni & Friends

Winter 2020

President Dawn Russell, BA’77

The Campaign for St. Thomas How STU’s Capital Campaign Hopes to Transform the Student Experience

Call for Nominations for the Alumni Service Award STU Student Elizabeth Tuck Named Rhodes Scholar

Supporting the STU Fund makes an impact for students today.

Your gift helps to make possible such things as:

To mak a gift e

that will s visit ww upport students , w.stu.c a/givin g or call 506-45 2-2140

“I’m going to university because I want to be able to make the world a better place, but to make that happen I have to understand the world in its entirety. In my opinion, there’s no better way to do so than going on exchange, meeting new people from all over the world, and being a part of something that’s bigger than you are.”

– Elizabeth Polk, BA’21, who participated in an International Exchange at Örebro University in Sweden.

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St. Thomas University | Connections

Scholarships and Bursaries Travel Study Programs Experiential Learning Opportunities Mentorship, Tutoring & Writing Workshops

Thank You.

“Moot court has taught me the value of critical thinking and effective communication. I am now able to explore and appreciate both sides of an argument and articulate various perspectives on the same issue. I believe the skills acquired through Moot Court have equipped me to excel in any career I decide to enter.”

– Husoni Raymond, BA’20, who is part of STU’s Moot Court Team. He and his partner Elizabeth Tuck won the Regional Tournament in Orlando in November.

STU Fund impacts today’s students

d in Intereste a new hing establis rd or including our t awa studen s University in y ffice a O St. Thom s? Contact the i n la lumn estate p ncement and A 140 of Adva at 506-452-2 s Relation mni@stu.ca. or alu

Contents

We welcome your comments Phone: 506.452.0521 Email: alumni@stu.ca Website: www.stu.ca Facebook: St. Thomas University Alumni Twitter: @StThomasAlumni

4 Alumni Association 6 Alumni Events Recap 9 Reflections 10 Cover Story 14 Profiles 16 Campus Watch

Connections is a publication of the

24 New & Noteworthy

Publisher Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, St. Thomas University Editor Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08 Acknowledgements Wanda Bearresto, BA’87 Jeffrey Carleton William Cumming, BA’19 Ashlen Henry, BA’09 Dionne Izzard Kathleen Johnson, BA’13 Eric Lewis Jodi Misheal Photos Kyle Albright, BA’13 William Cumming, BA’19 Keith Minchin James West Design, Layout, Printing Karen Smith Design KarenSmithDesign66@gmail.com Taylor Printing Group Inc. Tpgi.ca

Alumni Association Board of Directors 2019-2020 Jane Abernethy, BT’73, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Don Bossé, BA’82, BEd’83 (Fredericton, NB) Steven Butler, BA’14 (Halifax, NS) Dr. Dawne Clarke, BA’95 (Fredericton, NB) Emily Cochrane, BA’11 (Fredericton, NB) Robert Fisher, BA’80 (Burlington, ON) Mary Beth Gorey, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Suzanne Lalla-Murphy, BA’88 (Fredericton, NB) Dennis Livingstone, BA’73 (Riverview, NB) Sheri Shannon, BA’00 (Sussex, NB) Margaret (Margie) Tracy, BA’75 (Fredericton, NB) Nora Valentino, BA’87 (Fredericton, NB) Melissa Wah, BA’10 (Fredericton, NB) Dolores Whalen, BT’70 (Fredericton, NB)

F E AT U R E S

Photo by: Keith Minchin

Connections

Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5G3. It is distributed free of charge to more than 12,000 St. Thomas University alumni and friends worldwide.

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Teaching

Excellence

Dr. Amanda

DiPaolo, BA’01, reflects on the importance of good university teaching.

Welcome St. Thomas University

from 10

President, Dawn Russell

O

ver the past few issues, we have shared highlights of our Campaign for St. Thomas. You will have noted that the cover of this winter edition of Connections also has a focus on the Campaign.

Our Campaign team is comprised of volunteers who are alumni and friends of St. Thomas, and who all have something in common: they believe in this university, and in our students. Each one of them has offered to help in whatever way they can, which they have been doing quietly and often behind the scenes. And their efforts have paid off, to date raising more than $12 million for STU. As you read through this issue, I would ask you to give some thought to your own time at St. Thomas, to the friends you made, the personal growth you experienced, and the academic foundation you received which paved the way for your future endeavours.

The Campaign for St. Thomas has a strong focus on enriching the experience of our students. A high priority is for increased scholarships and bursaries so that we may continue to offer a helping hand to our students, granting access to post-secondary education.

If you are already a donor, many thanks from all of us at STU, and in particular from our students. If it has been a while since your last gift to our university, I hope that you will take the time to consider making a thoughtful gift to St. Thomas, as have many of our classmates and friends.

Campaign for

St. Thomas

STU is launching

the most significant campaign in its history.

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Breaking Barriers

Through Theatre

Alex Rioux,

BA’17, produced a theatre festival to shine light on LGBTQ2+ playwrights, performers, and directors.

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Bringing a Global

View to a Rural

NB Farm

Farming is political activism for Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson, BA’11.

On the Cover: Dawn Russell, BA’77, President, St. Thomas University.

Photo by Keith Minchin

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Winter 2020

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STU Alumni Association

Upcoming Events W

atch for details on social media and you will receive an email with the details and how to register. Please feel free to share with your fellow alumni.

Save the Date

Alumni Women’s Hockey Weekend: January 11- 12, 2020

2020 Alumni Weekend:

June 19-21, 2020.

The Alumni Association Award for Service will be presented at the Alumni Women’s Volleyball President’s Brunch during Alumni Weekend. Nominations may be sent Weekend: February 15-16, 2020 at the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium. at any time to the Alumni Office. at the Grant-Harvey Centre.

Marg Tracy President of the STU Alumni Association

I

am always amazed at how much activity there is on this campus. From lectures to athletic events, to dramatic and musical performances, and so much more. As president of your alumni association, I attend and participate in as much as I can.

I would encourage fellow alumni to be engaged with St. Thomas. Attend an event, take in a play, go to a concert, or cheer on your favourite team. And if you have news to share with your friends at STU – especially those with whom you may have lost touch – send it in for the New & Noteworthy section of Connections.

It is still the first place many look in the magazine, to see what former classmates are up to. Please take the opportunity to stay connected.

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St. Thomas University | Connections

Alumni Men’s Volleyball Reunion: March 11-14, 2020

2020 Sports Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony:

at the Grant-Harvey Centre. This is in conjunction with the 2020 CCAA Men’s Volleyball Nationals. The Tommies are guaranteed their chance to play for a medal at Nationals.

June 19, 2020.

More details to come.

St. Thomas University Gala Dinner: October 24, 2020.

More details to come.

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Class of 1970 50th Reunion

T

he Class of 1970 will be celebrating their 50th year reunion in 2020, with their reunion organizing committee already working with the Alumni Relations Office in planning activities for their class to gather as a group. If you are a member of this class, and would like further information, please contact Wanda in the

Alumni Office. Phone: 506-452-0521 Email: wbearresto@stu.ca Planning Committee From Left to Right: Jim Burns, BA’70, BEd71; Richard Sullivan, BA’70, BEd’72; Gary Parks, BA’70; Jeannie Geldart Bentley, BA’70; Callum MacPhee, BA’70, BEd’72; Margaret Thorne, BA’70 and Bev Constable, BA’70, CSW’79, BSW’84.

Missing from the photo are Mary Bowes, BA’70, BEd’72; Ernie Doucet, BA’70, BEd’72; Allison Wrynn, BA’70, BEd’74 and Dolores Whalen, BT’70.

The STU Alumni Association

Who We Are and What We Do

The Board of Directors of the Alumni Association represents more than 17,000 STU alumni worldwide.

Representatives of the STUAA also sit on the STU Board of Governors, University Senate, and Board sub-committees.

Activities of Your Alumni Association Sponsorships – We sponsor events like Alumni Weekend, the Gala Dinner, student events, lectures, athletic teams, Welcome Week, Long Night Against Procrastination, Grad Dinner, and international student gatherings.

We offer T Rings to two graduating students each year. Last spring, graduating students Danielle Caissie (BA’19) and Sara-Jade RussellRichards (BA’19) were selected as the lucky winners.

We have affinity programs with TD Meloche Monnex, Saltscapes Magazine and Tempo Framing.

We wished first year students good luck in their hometowns before they left for STU at our annual Student Send-offs.

We select a recipient for the Father Tom Daley Scholarship. This year, we selected Husoni Raymond (BA’20).

Get Involved!

Want to get involved with your STU Alumni Association?

Email alumni@ stu.ca for more information.

Winter 2020

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STU Alumni Events Recap Harvest STU Alumni Pit Stop September 12, 2019 | Fredericton From Left to Right: Barb Whitenect, BSW’91 and Dolores Whalen, BT’70.

From Left to Right: Melissa Wah, BA’10; Cristina Montenegro, BA’10; Kyle Payne and Dan Leger, BA’99.

From Left to Right: Joe Monahan, BA’72, BEd’75 and President Dawn Russell, BA’77

From Left to Right Seating: Melissa Crosby BSW’18; Ashley Bearresto, BA’09; Chelsy Bowie, BA’09, BSW’11; Hailey Hughes, BA’16, BSW’18; Steven Butler, BA’14 and Kathleen Chiasson, BA’16, BSW’18.

From Left to Right Standing: Carolyn LaFrance, BSW’14; Katie Coady, BA’14, BSW’16 and Cristi Flood, BA’14.

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From Left to Right: Cheri HoveyGreen, BA’91 and Sandra O’Donnell, BA’92.

St. Thomas University | Connections

From Left to Right: Trish Seely, BA’81, BEd’82; Wanda Bearresto, BA’87 and Marsha McGarvie, BSW’87.

From Left to Right: Don Bosse, BA’82 BEd’83; Rob Fisher, BA’80; Trish Seely, BA’81, BEd’82 and Valerie DeLong, BSW’86.

Alumni Night at the Rink October 5, 2019 | Fredericton

R

ichard Alain (BA’73) won a T-Hoodie at Alumni Night at the Rink in October.

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BSW Mini Reunion Fredericton

F

ive BSW alumni from NL, NS and NB had a mini reunion in Fredericton, taking the time to visit their alma mater while they were here. It was a great weekend of reconnecting and sharing memories of their time at STU.

Left to Right: Kendra Fair, BSW’06; Kim Fewer, BSW’06; Kayla Purchase (nee Hayman), BSW’06; Kira Kelley, BSW’06, and Erica Coy (nee Robinson), BSW’06.

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Winter 2020

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STU Alumni Events Recap Alumni Basketball Reunion October 18, 2019 | Fredericton

B

asketball alumni got together during the annual Ken Gould Invitational to cheer on the current teams, and reminisce about their time on the court.

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Left to Right: Fred Connors, BA’00; Nicole Angers-Langis, BA’96; Alan Doucet, BA’85, BEd’88; Kathleen Johnson, BA’13; Ashley Bawn, BA’13, BSW’15; Cara Sparks, BA’94 and John Hickey, BEd’10.

M

embers of the class of 1969 celebrated their 50th reunion.

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First Row Left to Right: President Dawn Russell, BA’77; Irene Lydon, BA’69, CSW’77; Vally Persello Szammer, BA’69, BEd’75; Anne Doyle, BA’69; Dianne Lepage, BT’71 and Beth McCann, BA’69.

Second Row Left to Right: Bob Steele, BA’69; Fr. John Carten, BA’69; Peter Donovan, BA’69

BEd’72; Rev. Frank Morin, BA’69; Patricia Murray, BA’69, BEd’72; Patricia Ellsworth, BA’69; Margaret Simon, BA’69, BEd’69 and Gary Thorne, BA’69, BEd’70.

Third Row Left to Right: Larry Batt, BA’69; Rod Brideau, BA’69; Ed Lester, BA’66, BEd’69; Harold DeCourcey, BA’69, CSW’79; David Cole, BA’69, BEd’75; Barry

Class of 1969 50th Reunion 8

St. Thomas University | Connections

Left to Right: Pam Underhill, BA’08, BEd’10; Fred Connors, BA’00; Alicia Sterling, BA’09 and Hayley Doney, BA’09.

Lydon, BA’69, BEd’70; David Pye, BA’69; Larry Sheehan, BA’94 and Nelson Cyr, BA’69. Fourth Row Left to Right: Roger Richard, BA’69; Richard McDaniel, BA’69; Nicole Steele, BA’69; Don Albert, BA’69, BEd’71; Bill Richardson, BA’69, BEd’71; William Hay, BA’69, BEd’71; Robert Constable, BA’69 and Doug Richards, BA’69, BED’70.

Reflections

by Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, BA’01

The Importance of Good University Teaching A

friend sent me a meme she saw on Facebook. It said: “No matter how many degrees we have, unless our students know we care, they will not learn from us.”

We show we care by finding out how to best help them learn. We need to see the world through their eyes and adapt our teaching styles to meet the students

where they are at. This encourages greater curiosity among both students and professors as we learn from those we teach. As much as I have learned from colleagues, I have improved my teaching by seeing it as a conversation with students.

Good teaching relies on a willingness to test best practices and make them our own. I am often nervous as I enter a classroom because I am always trying new things.

Despite the failings, I constantly try out new types of assignments, discussion strategies, topics, and different ways of lecturing. I also open myself up to feedback, regularly taking suggestions from the students sitting in front of me.

My classes have changed as a result of listening to my students.

I now offer mid-semester evaluations. Six weeks into each semester, I ask students to assess if the class is meeting their learning needs.

The next time I deliver the same course, the

delivery has improved because of the cohort enrolled the year before.

I allow students to practice an assignment before being assessed grades. To help students learn, we need to give them the time necessary to figure out the new and difficult concepts before them.

Finally, course participation has progressed to engagement with the material. I no longer include participation as part of my grading. Engagement grades can be earned in multiple ways. For students comfortable in class discussions, they have the option to do so. Now added to this, students will email questions about readings that I may not have thought about or send links to articles that make case studies for a class topic. Another way students earn engagement grades is by attending guest lectures, seminars, and conferences. They will then often engage in discussions regarding how these events relate to our course.

By showing interest in the course material outside the classroom, students are required to critically think in a way that is not required through speaking in class alone. By changing participation to engagement, the classroom experience is no longer about the individual student, but rather a community of learners.

When I see students engaged with the material, I get excited. And then they get excited. That loop of energy and passion for the material between student and professor is what good teaching is all about.

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Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, (BA’01) was recently awarded the Atlantic Association of Universities Teaching Excellence Award. She is Chair of the Department of Human Rights and co-ordinator of the Moot Court Program.

Winter 2020

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Cover Story

The Campaign for St.

Supporting the Small University of Big Opportunities

W

e are launching the most significant campaign in St. Thomas University history – and we need your help to achieve our goals.

35%

Transforming the Student Experience – scholarships and bursaries, emergency aid, Indigenous programming and support, experiential learning, civic engagement, and study abroad opportunities.

30%

Academic Excellence and Leadership in Liberal Arts – undergraduate research, a research chair, an endowment for undergraduate moot court, and funding for faculty professional development.

20%

Campus Stewardship – renovation, refurbishment, and upgrades to Harrington Hall and Vanier Hall, as well as updates to the Black Box Theatre and Psychology Labs.

15%

President’s Initiatives Fund – to take advantage of unexpected opportunities and special projects; and the David Adams Richards Artist in Residence for visiting artists who will enrich the campus by sharing their talents and expertise.

of our total

of our total

of our total

of our total

Student Financial Aid is our Top Priority

T

hrough The Campaign for St. Thomas, we will help our students by expanding financial aid opportunities, increasing access to education, and removing barriers to success.

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

How Your Gift Will Help:

“Our family struggled financially, never able to rise above the poverty line. Finding money for university was a real obstacle. Receiving a bursary changed everything; it made the impossible, possible. Now that I am here, I could not imagine being any place else.”

— Samantha Arthurs, BA’20

We have outstanding volunteers who have offered their leadership and commitment to help. In the silent phase of our campaign, this team has helped us raise more than $12 million for STU. Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, HS’55, LLD’18 • Hon. Frank McKenna, LLD’96 • John Bragg, LLD’16 • Hon. Graydon Nicholas • Ann McCain Evans • Family of Arthur and Sandra Irving, LLD’17 • President Dawn Russell, BA’77 • Peter R. Forestell, QC, BA’73 • Vaughn Sturgeon, BA’91 • Bill Whalen • Chuck Firlotte, BA’76

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St. Thomas University | Connections

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

A Welcoming Place for our Students

– Hon. Graydon Nicholas, 30th Lieutenant Governor of NB, Endowed Chair in Native Studies.

veys, nal sur io t a n In the among sity STU is univer n a i d a t Can studen in s r e mni lead ent, alu and m e g a g g, en learnin t. , n io t c men satisfa environ s u p m ca

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Thomas

“This is a welcoming place. Regardless of who we are or where we come from, we know St. Thomas to be a place where we are encouraged to celebrate our differences and to create new communities of understanding.”

Mental Health Matters

“We have a responsibility to take care of one another and investment in mental health is vital. This cause is already well supported among students: 72% of voters in our referendum favoured the Mental Health fee, showing that there is a need for this type of funding, now more than ever.”

— Katie MacDermaid, BA’19, led the YES campaign in support of a mental health student fee donation of $300,000 to The Campaign for St. Thomas.

Developing Engaged Citizens

S

t. Thomas educates informed, engaged citizens who are involved in their communities. STU grads are more likely to support community causes and to become involved in social justice and human rights issues.

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Help us achieve our goals: STU.ca/donate Winter 2020

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Cover Story

O

ur exceptional students are well-prepared for remarkable achievements. Our environment promotes preparedness in liberal arts, so inquiry, communication, debate, critical thinking, creativity, and discipline are staples in every student’s ‘toolbox’.

We offer opportunities for research and hands-on learning at the undergraduate level, where the theoretical is put into practice, and lessons are realized through collaborative community engagement and service.

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“I learned a lot from working with Dr. Gül Çalıskan. This project has given me a new standard for how I do things.”

– Kyle Reissner, BA’21, who worked with Professor Gül Çalıskan on book reviews of Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor’s From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation and How We Get Free, which have been published by Ethnic and Racial Studies – a top journal in the field.

STU’s Moot Court team – one

ts tuden STU S t National #1 a Placed ational Moot ern lson and Int ns: Ne io it t e p Com uman Court orld H W a l e n in Mand petitio m o C e Rights 2017) and th ( a v p in Gene de Cu Osgoo (2019) Toronto

of the only Canadian teams to compete in the American Collegiate Moot Court Association – consistently wins bids to nationals, as well as speaking and briefwriting awards.

Investing in Faculty Research

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

Academics in Action

“Our faculty are hard at work addressing many of society’s most pressing issues and contributing to the communities we serve.

Our students are securing valuable research experiences in the lab, visiting archives, or conducting interviews. And our focus on undergraduate research ensures that our students gain access to experiences and mentoring opportunities that are often reserved for graduate students at larger institutions.”

— Dr. Kim Fenwick, Vice-President (Academic & Research)

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St. Thomas University | Connections

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN LIBERAL ARTS

The C ampa for St . Thom ign suppo as wil rt up l Black grades to th e Box and re Theatre sid renov ence ations .

— Matthew LeBlanc, BA’18,

was a member of Theatre St. Thomas.

A Space for Community

CAMPUS STEWARDSHIP

“Theatre is special at STU. The quality of the productions instills pride in our actors and our audiences.

The camaraderie formed from collaboratively working towards a common end forges life-long friendships.”

O

ur extra-curricular and residential experiences play a vital role in fostering a strong sense of community.

Theatrical, musical, and sporting events are pillars of campus life, and the base of partnerships in the city of Fredericton and New Brunswick.

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Funding Unexpected Opportunities

T

he President’s Initiatives Fund allows us to take advantage of unexpected opportunities: to launch special projects, to meet pressing needs as they arise, and to capitalize on emerging opportunities to strengthen academic and student-life programs.

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nallyernatio t in ear n e Wh Ned B r o t lp ed scu nce at renown rtist in reside nd log, a pou was an 1,700 , a d e v al storm car ic e p h , o r t U ST ra w ed afte Pole. It is no salvag n a awak garet into a P outside Mar w all, belo planted H in a McC Norrie s of the w o d in the w ffice. ent’s O id s e r P

The David Adams Richards Artist in Residence Program

C

elebrating one of Canada’s greatest writers, this Artist in Residence Program will become an essential part of a student’s artistic development, whether in literature, arts, photography, music, or theatre.

Visiting artists will enrich the campus by sharing their talents and expertise.

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PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES FUND AND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES FUND AND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

CAMPUS STEWARDSHIP

Winter 2020

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Profiles

by Eric Lewis

Breaking Barriers Through Theatre A

lex Rioux wanted to fill a void he saw in Fredericton’s theatre scene. In October, the STU alumnus and local theatre artist produced The Plain Site Theatre Festival on campus with the aim of providing an outlet to LGBTQ2+ playwrights, performers, and directors.

“I really haven’t seen much live, queer performance,” he says. “Live performance is really important for me because it’s storytelling,

and we need to continue to tell stories and see different stories being told. Theatre is a great tool for the under-represented to shine a light on their individual stories.”

Rioux – whose resume includes shows with Theatre New Brunswick, performing improv with the Hot Garbage Players, and working with renowned local troupe the Calithumpians – said he knows many talented queer and trans artists in the region who weren’t being afforded the same opportunities as straight performers.

It was his first time organizing and producing a festival, and he leaned on expertise and support from Lisa Anne Ross, STU professor and Solo Chicken Productions producer; Tania Breen, professor of musical theatre; Ben Smith, president of Theatre St. Thomas; and Chris Saad, technical director at Theatre St. Thomas.

“Without them, this festival wouldn’t have happened,” Rioux said.

Plain Site included workshops, panels, and staged readings. Rob Kempson, NotaBle Acts Theatre Festival’s 2019 artist in residence, was brought in to offer professional dramaturgy services for the two plays written by current STU students that were selected by Rioux for staged readings. Those works will be presented in full stage productions at the next edition of the festival in fall 2020.

“It was well-received; we had a really good turnout,” Rioux said of the festival’s inaugural year. “I just want to know that whatever I made mattered to someone, helped someone, or was important to someone.”

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St. Thomas University | Connections

OCT. 5 Craftin g Narrat Queer ive W – 11:30 orkshop

10am

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FREE Please email alexan der.rio ux94@ to sign gmail. up as com space is limite d

He was pleased to see local high school students taking in festival events. He is involved in the creation of Solo Chicken Productions’ LGBTQ2+-inclusive theatre education program for local high schools.

For someone who wasn’t considering seriously pursuing theatre, Rioux has stayed busy with theatrical pursuits. Despite performing in high school theatre productions and having a passion for the art, the Fredericton native assumed that success as an actor meant performing at Stratford in Toronto, on Broadway in New York, or landing television roles.

“I just didn’t think that was doable for me,” he said. “But there’s actually a lot of arts and community work that I discovered through working with Lisa Anne Ross. And in Fredericton, you actually have a lot more opportunity to fund your own work and your own projects and not have to worry about getting casted by another company… you can make your own things happen here.”

Rioux planned to pursue an education degree, but STU professors urged him to follow his passion. Ultimately, he graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in drama and a minor in history.

He credits his STU professors with helping him hone his writing ability and apply critical thinking skills to his theatre work.

Rioux is considering graduate school, but says he hopes to continue building The Plain Site Theatre Festival for the foreseeable future.

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OCT. 4 Provid in LGBTQ g Platforms for 2+ Ar 8pm PW tists Pane l YC The Pl ai Staged n Site Festiva Readin l 8:15p gs m – 9p * m 7pm –

by Eric Lewis

Bringing a Global View to a Rural NB Farm

R

ébeka Frazer-Chiasson didn’t plan to follow the farming tradition on land that had been in her family for more than a century.

Active in sports and school activities while growing up in Rogersville, NB, Frazer-Chiasson was mindful and appreciative of her family’s deep history in agriculture but not necessarily interested in being a sixth-generation farmer.

She left Rogersville for St. Thomas University, enrolling in an Aquinas program and uncertain where the future would take her. Soon, she was making connections between her passion for global issues like social justice and food sovereignty to her farm and community back in Rogersville.

“Most people don’t go to university to become a farmer, even though we should, since both practical and critical thinking skills are needed (in farming),” she said. “STU and the professors that pushed my thinking – in terms of social justice and food sovereignty – definitely brought me back to the farm and continued to frame agriculture as part of a much larger political landscape.

“I am linked to peasants growing food all over the world as well as

to the community that continues to support my everyday work because of the simple idea that ‘another world is possible,’ something that was discussed from day one in my Aquinas program.”

After graduating with an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in justice and globalization in 2011, Frazer-Chiasson returned to Rogersville, opened her own organic strawberry u-pick, and began integrating herself into her family’s farm.

Today, she is the sixth-generation farmer she wasn’t expecting to become.

“I like the work involved in farming but not enough to dedicate my life to it unless it’s part of a larger strategy of social transformation,” she said. “Food sovereignty is the vision for a society connected and driven by food, and peasant agroecology is the how-to.”

Frazer-Chiasson believes we can “change the world” by recognizing how food is produced in much of the world – by peasant farmers (mostly women) growing most of the food they consume in a manner that is respectful of the land and communities surrounding them – and by arming ourselves with the tools to grow food for each other “rather than a select handful of industries growing for the masses.”

“We are far from that reality in North America but I think that if we want to have any hope of a society that grows what it eats and where people feel connected economically and socially to the food they are eating, we need to embrace an agriculture that is much different from the faceless, industrial, export-driven models that we have been subsidizing.”

Two years ago, Frazer-Chiasson helped turn the family farm into a workers’ co-op, Ferme Terre Partagée Cooperative (fermeterrepartagee. org). The cooperative is built on the common objectives and values of peasant agroecology and food sovereignty. It produces a wide variety of produce and meat products.

For Frazer-Chiasson – a business owner, mother of two, wife, and president of the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick – farming is a community economic development project and a form of political activism.

“In a society where we outsource the nourishment of our bodies and instead use agriculture only as a method of economic growth, it is definitely political to stand firmly on a piece of land saying that your main goal is to ensure its well-being through time while producing food that has social and community economic value.”

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From left, the farmers of Ferme Terre Partagée Cooperative, Jean-Eudes Chiasson, Kevin Arseneau, Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson, and Pierre Olivier Brassard.

Winter 2020

15

Serving Others Gives Us Life:

STU Celebrates Summer Convocation

L

ife is about more than a lengthy list of accomplishments on a CV. It’s about embracing humanity and serving others.

This was the message Rev. Dr. Carol Finlay delivered as she spoke to the more than 100 graduates who were receiving a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Social Work, and Certificates of Native Language Immersion Teaching at Summer Convocation.

“The secret is that serving others is also a gift to oneself. It fills one with a bubbling-up sort of joy. It gives us life,” she said.

“Don’t be too eager to embark on plans for a lifetime career. Or writing up that CV to get

ahead. Take time to ask, ‘what is the meaning of my life? What purpose do my few short years here on planet earth have? How can I best use these years – and how can they be used in service to others?’ Ponder these questions.”

She added that the graduates should still aim to excel professionally in whatever field they pursue, but that they should not forget their humanity.

“Go and be the very best in your field but the question is, ‘how can I use this work, the gifts I’ve been given, to serve others? Will I be the businessperson who puts people ahead of profit; will I be the teacher who stays behind

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lass valedictorian and education graduate Kayoe Stewart also spoke about the importance of serving others.

“We have all become professionals with values and goals that, without a doubt, will inspire and influence others in our communities. We have found our true calling. We are where we belong and the work that we do is going to help countless individuals find their own voice,” the Fredericton, NB native said.

“We now have the skills to play an essential role in guiding others to discover their own potential. To be their compass when the future seems hazy. To be their anchor when they are pulled in all directions within their schools, families or communities.”

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St. Thomas University | Connections

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Honouring Faculty

Helping Countless Individuals Find Their Voice

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to give extra help, or the doctor who lingers by the bedside’,” she said.

Dr. Finlay received an honorary doctorate from STU for her work as an educator and advocate for marginalized people. She founded the Book Club for Inmates which puts books in the hands of prisoners who, in small groups facilitated by volunteers, discuss the ideas, themes, and messages of the books. BCFI operates 33 French and English language book clubs for thousands of incarcerated individuals in minimum, medium, and maximum-security facilities from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

t. Thomas University honoured Education professor Dr. Sharon Murray with the University Service Award, which recognizes contributions to the university, professional field, the faculty association, or the community.

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he University Medal for Academic Excellence in the Bachelor of Education Program was awarded to Stephanie Ferguson, who is from Fredericton, NB.

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Campus Watch Orange Shirt Day

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t. Thomas University commemorated Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30. The event included a smudging ceremony, a performance by the Sisters of the Drum, a traditional luncheon of Bannock and Corn Chowder, a screening of We Carry Each Other’s Memories: Residential School Survivors, and a ceremony that included tobacco offerings, closing prayers, and a snake dance.

Orange Shirt Day is a national movement in Canada 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.

Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, BC in 2013 at the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event and has spread across the country. The name honours survivor Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of school at the Mission.

The date of the annual event was chosen because it is the time of year that children were removed from their families and forced to attend residential schools.

Orange Shirt Day seeks to inspire Canadians to initiate anti-racism and anti-bullying initiatives in schools and the workplace.

The residential school era began in the 1870s, with the last school closing in 1996. More than 150,000 Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit children attended these schools, with an estimated 80,000 survivors living today.

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Elizabeth Tuck, BA’20 Named Rhodes Scholar

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ourth-year student Elizabeth Tuck has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarships and provides recipients funding to study at Oxford. It is awarded annually to only 11 students across Canada.

Tuck is completing a Bachelor of Arts with an honours in Human Rights and majors in Political Science and Great Books. She plans to continue her research on how different social identities – particularly gender – affect policy during her studies at Oxford.

“I’m excited to keep learning and researching, because I am so passionate about what I study,” she said. “I think it’s going to change me and open me up in ways that I can’t comprehend right now.”

Tuck, a Deans’ List student and recipient of many STU and external scholarships, is currently co-captain of the university’s highly successful Moot Court team. She has been one of the most successful mooters in program history, earning a bid to the national competition in each of her three years as a participant.

In addition to her academic success, Tuck’s community and leadership involvement on and off campus has also been extensive.

She has served as a conversation partner at STU, meeting with English Second Language students to help them develop skills and confidence in English, is a residence coordinator, and has been on the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee.

Tuck has held leadership roles in national organizations and was awarded the Chief Commissioner’s Award from Girl Guides of Canada, where she currently serves as a special events coordinator.

She also serves on the national animation team for the YWCA, and is a Young Director with Girls on Boards, a program that challenges low female representation on governance boards by placing participants on non-profit governance boards in their communities.

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Welcome Week at STU W

elcome Week consisted of activities and events that helped incoming students adjust to life on campus, make friends, and prepare to begin university. The week included a paint fight, casino night, the Cheer Off, inflatable games, Shine Day, and the Commencement Ceremony, among other events.

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TU alumnus Sawyer Hannay (BA’17) spoke to first-year students at the Commencement Ceremony. Hannay, who created his company Country Liberty while still a student at STU, says STU gave him the tools he needed to succeed in the business world.

“STU allowed me to think critically.

STU isn’t going to give you every single answer you’ll ever need in your career. No university will.

It won’t give you all the answers, but STU taught me to figure it out on my own. It didn’t give me the solutions to the problems I have in my business today, but it gave me the tools to figure out the solutions to these problems,” he said.

“In everything you do in life, there will be problems, and you need the ability to think critically and problem solve. That’s probably the greatest thing I learned at STU.”

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St. Thomas University | Connections

Campus Watch STU Global Brigades in Honduras

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tudents traveled to Honduras as members of the STU chapter of Global Brigades, the world’s largest student-led movement for global health. The STU team was a part of a public

health brigade and spent time in Honduras building hygiene stations in family homes. They also dug trenches that will hold water pipes and educated children on the importance of dental hygiene.

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Husoni Raymond Named NB Multicultural Council’s International Student Champion

H Student Ben Smith brought Matilda the Musical to the Fredericton Playhouse

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ine Arts student and aspiring theatre director Ben Smith pitched the idea of directing a musical as part of his honours thesis to his professor. One year later, Matilda the Musical hit the stage at the Fredericton Playhouse.

Originally, Smith thought the show might find its home on campus. However, along the way, he decided to try for something bigger.

“On a whim, I walked down to the executive director’s office of the Fredericton Playhouse and pitched the show to him,” Smith said. “After several meetings and reaching out to local artists, the whole idea grew from just my thesis project to a massive community project with industry professionals.”

The production had a 30-person cast, including 11 children.

Smith credits Fine Arts Professor Tania Breen, who has been his mentor – first at TNB and now at STU – for encouraging him to pursue directing.

usoni Raymond has been recognized by the New Brunswick Multicultural Council for his outstanding leadership and promotion of cultural diversity within the St. Thomas community.

The fourth-year student from Kingston, Jamaica, received the Council’s International Student Champion award, which is presented to an individual who is actively involved in their community, offers support to their peers, and promotes and celebrates the contributions of

international students.

Raymond has been involved in the STU community through Moot Court – representing the university at national and international competitions – and has been active in the Students’ Union, serving as the VicePresident Administration before becoming the first black student to be elected President. He’s also spearheaded Black History Month events on campus, which included panel discussions, poetry nights, and documentary screenings.

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Alex Cunningham Selected for Summer Program for Women in Philosophy

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lex Cunningham was one of 14 women from across North America selected to participate in the Summer Program for Women in Philosophy in San Diego. The event seeks to empower and prepare women – who are historically underrepresented in Philosophy – for graduate level studies in the field.

“My goal is to earn a Masters and PhD in Philosophy, and I believe this program will help me get accepted into graduate school and succeed once there,” said

Cunningham, who has a double major in Philosophy and Great Books. “It will be really beneficial to engage with a group of women in Philosophy in order to solidify my belief that we have a place in the field.”

In May, one of Cunningham’s essays was published in the Compass Rose, a peerreviewed undergraduate journal published

by Vancouver Island University’s Liberal Studies program. Three of the other four essayists published were also students from St. Thomas University’s Great Books Program.

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Seeing Representation in Art: Social Work Students’ Experiential Learning Trip to Art Gallery

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tudents in Dr. Raluca Bejan’s class, “The Profession of Social Work in Context,” visited the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to explore how ideas about race, gender, and Indigeneity in works of art were used to depict vulnerable people in society.

The purpose of the visit was to examine time-specific and spacespecific representation imagery. The students were asked to reflect on how certain ideas found in the paintings were contributing to stereotypes about groups of people with whom social workers engage regularly.

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Dr. Bejan and some of her students pose with artwork by STU alumnus Percy Sacobie (BA’11).

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St. Thomas University | Connections

Campus Watch MMBSW Student Nicole Augustine Awarded National Scholarship

N

icole Augustine has been recognized for her work supporting Indigenous children by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

Augustine, a third-year student in the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work (MMBSW) program, was one of three recipients of the Jordan’s Principle Scholarship. The national award is given annually to individuals who have made contributions to ensure best outcomes for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children and young people.

Augustine has been working for Jordan’s Principle – which ensures First Nations’ children can access public services when they need them – as a services coordinator but began there as an intern through the MMBSW program.

“I never expected to be able to do an internship with Jordan’s Principle and to be able to use what I know in order to benefit children while I’m still a student,” she said.

“I was able to develop a holistic framework that they’re looking to go national with. It represents the medicine wheel and we use it as an intake assessment tool which makes it different than any other program because we’re looking at substantiated equality. This means there’s an understanding that when we request services not all children start from the same position.”

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Ryan Sullivan Named Associate Vice-President (Enrolment Management)

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t. Thomas University has named Ryan Sullivan (BA’00) Associate Vice-President (Enrolment Management).

“STU offers the quintessential undergraduate experience which is why students from around the world and across Canada choose to come to Fredericton. As an alumnus, with deep family ties to STU, I look forward to being part of the team that continues to ensure that we are recognized nationally and internationally for the high quality liberal arts programming and the important role this plays in preparing our leaders of tomorrow.”

While at STU from 20002014, Sullivan was an Admissions Counsellor, Director

of Student Life, Director of Residence Life and Conference Services, Director of Recruitment, Director of International Recruitment, and Director of International Student Enrolment and Initiatives. At NBCC, he originated the role of Director of International Education and created an international strategy that led to a significant enrolment increase, negotiated international agreements for student exchanges and program delivery, and facilitated multipartner projects. He has also played a leading role in the International Association for College Admission Counselling and was awarded NBCC’s Excellence in Leadership Award (Management).

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Faculty Receive Social Innovation Fund Grants

Campus Watch

Faculty Success

Award-Winning Documentary Looks at European Refugee Crisis

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ocial Work professor Raluca Bejan is examining the European refugee crisis in her new award-winning documentary film, Trace.

The film, which she codirected with Ioan Cocan, was awarded the Best Feature Documentary prize at the Santorini Film Festival in Greece this summer.

Media coverage of the 2015 European refugee crisis showed the issue through an individualizing gaze placed on the refugee subject. Images of crowded tents, boats overflowing with people, children dying on Mediterranean shores, to name a few media

Lectures at STU Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, of Memorial University, and Dr. Michael Weinrath, STU’s Endowed Chair in Criminology & Criminal Justice, participated in a symposium as part of the Endowed Chair in Criminology & Criminal Justice Lecture Series. Dr. Ricciardelli spoke about “Correctional Officers, Wellness and PTSD”, and Dr. Weinrath spoke about “Prisoners and the Prison Environment.”

In his talk, “Laughing in Church is a Difficult Virtue,” novelist and professor Dr. Randy Boyagoda spoke about the stakes of writing comedy in times of tragedy.

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St. Thomas University | Connections

examples, have sensationalized the experience of suffering refugees. The crisis was witnessed as a distant spectacle that seemed to end almost as suddenly as it began.

Trace turns the gaze outwards, scrutinizing the “space” of the crisis in which people seek refuge.

“Our film aimed to reverse and challenge this gaze, by using imagery that structurally maps the symbolic landscape of the refugee crisis and juxtaposing it to narrative accounts shared by those involved in the crisis – in detailing issues related to asylum, resettlement and deportation faced by service providers, and the refugees themselves,” Bejan says.

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Dr. Bill Randall delivered “The End of the Story? Narrative Openness in Life and Death” as part of the John McKendy Memorial Lecture Series.

T

hree St. Thomas University professors were awarded Social Innovation Fund grants by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation for their research.

Dr. Susan Reid (Criminology) is exploring the benefits of video conference play dates between incarcerated mothers and their preschool children.

Dr. Michelle Lafrance (Psychology) will look at information and system navigation for older adults and their caregivers in NB. Dr. Gül Çalıskan (Sociology) will conduct a communitybased narrative inquiry into economic immigrant retention in Fredericton.

•

During the Dalton Camp Lecture in Journalism, acclaimed British academic and journalist Emily Bell spoke about how independent, civic-minded journalism can survive in a world dominated by corporate media takeovers and fake news, among other threats.

Award-winning author Marina Nemat spoke about her arrest, torture, and imprisonment in Iran when she was a teenage prisoner of conscience, as part of the Vigod Memorial Lecture in Human Rights.

Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents the more than 60,000 Inuit people living in Canada, presented “Advancing Inuit self-determination amidst growing international interest and activity in our homeland” as part of the McKenna Centre Distinguished Speaker Series.

Alumna Dr. Erin Crandall (BA’05) spoke about “Courts and Canadian Politics: Why Diversity on the Bench Matters” in the Annual Political Science Lecture.

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U Sports Academic All-Canadians

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t. Thomas Athletics Director Michael Eagles joined Ron McLean and Tara Slone during Rogers Hometown Hockey in Fredericton.

The segment, which aired on a national broadcast, spoke about his professional hockey career and his current role as athletics director at STU.

CCAA National Scholars

17 student athletes from St. Thomas University were recognized by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association for their efforts in the classroom for the 201819 season, by being named CCAA National Scholars.

Men’s Basketball Omer Hassan Women’s Basketball Kiandra MacMullin Madison Owens Leila Rashid

Women’s Soccer Moira Kinney Melanie Laplante Katie MacDermaid Men’s Volleyball Christian Christie Ryan Dickson Adam Hamilton Nicholas Jackson

Women’s Hockey Florence Awde Abigail Clarke Lauren Henman Paige Jackson Kristina Kocsis Emily Oleksuk Megan Pardy Alexandra Swift Alexandra Woods

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Women’s Volleyball Hailee Fleck Jenicca Jean Lauren MacDonald Mija MacDonald Veronique McGrath

STU National Scholars Men’s Soccer George Tzimas

St. Thomas University will be hosting the 2020 CCAA National Men’s Volleyball Championships from March 11-14.

Women’s Track Grace Baker Kelly Brennan

Tommies Academic All-Canadians

Photo: Rogers Hometown Hockey

20 student athletes from St. Thomas University have been named Academic All-Canadians

by USports, doubling the number from last year. The recipients of the Academic All-Canadian award maintain a high grade point average during the academic year.

Men’s Track Patrice Cammarano

Women’s Cross Country Abby Donnelly Jensen Elliott Hilary McAllen Men’s Cross Country Mark Bartlett Harry Scarbro

Women’s Cross Country/Track Alaina Mejia Kassidy Richard Men’s Cross Country/Track Lars Schwarz

Winter 2020

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New & Noteworthy

D

r. Joan McFarland has retired from STU after a long career spanning more than five decades. She was an a Economics professor and a co-founder of the Women Studies and Gender Studies Program. She and Kate Strouch (Driscoll) taught the first women’s studies course, Woman in Society: A Socioeconomic Perspective, in 1973-74. Having contributed since then with her steady presence and the creation of such courses as the Political Economy of Women, Women in the Third World (now Gender in the Global South), and Gender and Society, the WSGS Program owes a lot to her dedication to see it succeed.

The WSGS Program owes a debt of gratitude for her many contributions. Thank you, Joan!

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News from classmates and friends around the world

1960s

Mike McKee (BA’62, LLD’12) recently received the Order of Moncton for his contribution to the social well-being of the community.

1970s

Peter Forestell, QC, (BA ‘73) was named Saint John’s “Lawyer of the Year” in Corporate Law by Best Lawyers™.

Not only is Peter a proud STU alumnus, he is also the Chair of the STU Board of Governors.

In Memoriam

Professor Allen Bentley 1932-2019

P

rofessor Allen Bentley passed away Nov. 14, 2019. Allen spent his early life in Grimsby, Ontario and moved to Fredericton in 1965 when he accepted a position as Professor of English at St. Thomas University. He had a deep love of his subject and over his life, he generously shared it with students and the community.

He was devoted to the fine arts, loved music and visual art, and believed in preserving and promoting the cultural underpinnings of our society. He had a tremendous love for nature woven with a faith–filled fearlessness that led him and his family on great adventures in travel and experience. He was a longtime volunteer with the Fredericton Arts Alliance, and his gifts of wisdom and time will be remembered by all who knew him.

Allen will be greatly missed by his loving spouse, Jeanne (Geldart) Bentley; sons, Daniel (Debbie), Adam (Ann) and Benjamin (Stephanie); grandchildren, Rebecca, Kathleen, Elliot, Eric and Lauren; sister, Elizabeth Heim; nieces and nephews, Patricia, Patrick and Matt; in–laws, Patsy, Steve and Jane Murray. Allen was predeceased by his first wife, Helen (Cleary) Bentley and infant daughter, Sarah Bentley.

If you would like to contribute to the Allen Bentley Memorial Fund, please contact Advancement at 506-452-2140.

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St. Thomas University | Connections

1990s

Moyra Jean (Wallace) Francis (BA’92) is currently teaching visual arts at St. Theresa Point First Nation High School in Manitoba. After graduating from STU, she went on to get an education degree from the University of Maine, Presque Isle.

She has three children: Zackary Lizotte, Adrian Lizotte, and Morgan Wallace-Martial.

Nicole Angers (BA’96) has been appointed a provincial court judge.

L

auren York (BA’13) didn’t plan to end up in the Information Technology sector after she graduated, but the interpersonal skills she gained at STU have been an asset in a field dominated by Business and Engineering degrees.

As an Enterprise Account Executive at the Toronto office of TIBCO, her liberal arts background allows her to offer a different perspective with her customers.

“Software sales is a highstake world where effective communication is a critical skill, and this is a skill that is seldom taught outside of Liberal Arts degrees. My degree gave me a strong understanding of people, interpersonal relationships and helped me to succeed in this role.”

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In Memoriam The St. Thomas University Alumni Relations office, STU Alumni Association, and the university community extend condolences to the family and friends of the following alumni who passed away recently:

2000s

Daphne Noonan (BA’01) and her team at the Nashwaak Villa in Stanley were awarded a gold certification by Planetree International, a nonprofit group that sets guidelines for care in nursing homes.

Amy Whytewood Hughes (BA’03) has become the first female president of the Fredericton District Soccer Association.

Three STU BSW graduates who are now living and working in Fort McMurray, Alberta recently connected during a community Meet & Greet. (Left to right: Janene Hickman (BSW ’03); Brenda Smith, BSW’03; and Jordan Tibbo (BSW’05).

December 1, 2019

Prof. Allen Bentley, former faculty member November 14, 2019

Pamela Marie French, BSW’89 November 9, 2019

Ashley (McCabe) Hudson (BA’07, BEd’08) co-created The Adventure Therapy Project with her husband and brother-in-law.

The Adventure Therapy Project was created to bring awareness to the mental and physical benefits of chasing adventure.

They have created an Adventure Therapy clothing line and will also be designing, organizing and putting on programming that will get people, young and old, to be adventurous in nature. For each purchase of Adventure Therapy Project apparel or programs, $1 will be donated to three different charities that support people in living healthier, better and more adventurous lives.

Rothesay High school has 32 teachers. Of those, 10 are alumni of St Thomas University. Pictured here: Front (L to R): Michelle Standring (BEd’06); Jeff Ashe (BEd’05); Stephanie Underhill Tomilson (BA’95, BEd’96); Kathy Wilson (BEd’04). Back (L to R): Patrick McIntyre (BEd’18), Brittany Arsenault (BEd’15), Debbie Smith (BEd’93); Nicole Erving (BEd’19); Ginette Cyr (BA’88, BEd’89).

2010s

Thomas MacDougall (BA’19) won Outstanding Original Script at the 2019 Fundy Fringe Festival for The Host.

Wei Qing Tan (BA’19) received the J. Patrick Clark Award (Design, Stage Management or Technical Production) from the TNB Foundation. Wei Qing was an integral part of Theatre St. Thomas during her time at STU.

in memoriam

Jennifer Crawford (BA’03) won MasterChef Canada. Crawford and other top amateur chefs from around the country competed on the weekly television series.

In each episode, the contestants competed in challenges where one or more cooks were eliminated, until only one remained. Crawford was crowned the champion and earned the title of MasterChef Canada.

Sister Helen Burns, BA’69

Nadine Adèle (Amizial) Lamontagne, BA’01, BEd’02 October 30, 2019

Greg Thompson, BA’74, BEd’75 September 10, 2019

Judith Ann Mullin, BA’75, BT’75 August 13, 2019

Michael Anthony Nicholas, STU ’89-’95 August 9, 2019

Charlotte Marguerite Celestine Gervais, BA’19 July 30, 2019

Terry Pond, BA’74 BEd’76 June 18, 2019

Helen (MacRae) Patterson, BT’75, BA’78 June 18, 2019

Edna Barker, BA’74 April 24, 2019

Gerald Gaudet, Board of Governors Member from 1972-1994 November 26, 2018

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Winter 2020

25

The best advice a student can get usually comes from someone who’s been in their shoes. And the best way to enhance your career development is to help someone else grow theirs.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Ten Thousand Coffees to create STU Connects, a networking platform that matches alumni with students and recent grads for career inspiring conversations, either online or in person.

All you have to do is meet a student once a month. Grab a coffee in person, chat on the phone or exchange emails. Answer their questions, share your experience and provide insight.

Join today: stu.ca/stuconnects/alumni

26

St. Thomas University | Connections

stu.ca/stuconnects/alumni

STUdents are asking for your perspective.

Join friends and former classmates back on campus during Alumni Weekend this June.

Registration will open in the new year at stu.ca/alumniweekend.

For more information, please call 506-452-0521 or email alumni@stu.ca.

STU ALUMNI AWARDS

Alumni Weekend June 19-21, 2020

STU’s Alumni Recognition Program acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievements and contributions of our alumni.

Call for Nominations

Alumni Association Award for Service The St. Thomas University Alumni Association Award for Service recognizes the exemplary engagement of St. Thomas alumni in helping to advance the aims and objectives of the Alumni Association and the overall reputation of the University. This outstanding record of service has been both dynamic and instrumental in strengthening the Alumni Association and thereby contributing to the betterment of our alma mater.

Deadline: February 14, 2020 The award will be bestowed at Alumni Weekend, June 19-21, 2020.

4, Feb 10 202

Visit STU.ca/alumniawards for more information about the award guidelines and to download the nomination package.

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