UNB Alumni
Telling our #ProudlyUNB stories
An unexpected career path for a mechanical engineering alumnus
UNB Alumni
Posted: January 11, 2021 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton, Engineering, Young Alumni
Who knew that a mechanical engineer could end up in an innovation role at one of Canada’s big banks? Malcolm Nwokotubo (BScME’16, DTME’16) sure didn’t when he first came to study at UNB. Growing up in Nigeria, Malcolm was always interested in problem solving, math and engineering. He decided he wanted to study in Canada because of the country’s reputation for being...
Read the full postVolunteer spotlight: Jennifer Forbes (BBA'12)
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 25, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: UNB Saint John, Young Alumni, Inspiring Stories
Among the 28 mentors who joined us this month on Zoom, for our annual Career Talks student alumni networking event, was UNB young alumna Jennifer Forbes (BBA’12). A remarkable alumna volunteer, Forbes leaves a lasting impact on students having volunteered much of her time and talent to supporting the next generation of alumni over the last number of years. Since her own time as a UNB...
Read the full postQ&A: Hanna Grossman, UNB Alumni Student Leadership Recipient
UNBSJ student, Hanna Grossman
Posted: November 24, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni, UNB Saint John
Recipient of a 2020 Alumni Student Leadership Award, UNB Saint John student Hanna Grossman shares how the award has positively impacted her UNB experience and how she contributes to student life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her time on campus, Hanna has been a proud member of the Seawolves women's basketball team, a tutor with the Promise Partnership, as well as president of the...
Read the full postLauren Holden: Holiday recipes
Lauren Holden (BSc'17)
Posted: November 24, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: UNB Fredericton, Insights
UNB young alumna Lauren Holden (BSc'17) is the face behind Lau's Healthy Life, a food and lifestyle blog featuring a healthy and delicious recipe index, as well as an e-cookbook. Originally from Prince Edward Island, Lauren later graduated from UNB's faculty of science and now lives in Toronto, where she is pursuing further studies. Passionate about living a healthy...
Read the full postNB Chiropractors Association recognizes UNB young alumna
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 24, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Young Alumni, Kinesiology, Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton
This month, UNB young alumna Dr. Maria Boyle (BScKin'16) was recognized by the NB Chiropractors Association with the Recent Graduate Award. This award recognizes the tremendous contributions of a recent graduate under five years, who has demonstrated success transitioning from school into practice, as well as a commitment and dedication to advancing the profession or their community. "I was...
Read the full postInnovating the restaurant of the future
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 19, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton, Management
Everyone knows restaurants are a tough business in the best of times. These are not the best of times. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the restaurant industry globally, and New Brunswick is no exception. When the lockdown happened in March of 2020, the owners of Pomodori Pizzeria in Saint John worked quickly and innovatively to be able to not only stay afloat but turn out even more of...
Read the full postReturning to New Brunswick to work from home
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 18, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories, Management, UNB Fredericton, Kinesiology
There’s an interesting trend happening these days. Real estate in New Brunswick is a hot commodity and there’s a migration of young people into the province instead of out. The COVID-19 work-from-home movement, along with the safe reputation of the Atlantic Bubble and housing prices that are affordable, have created the perfect storm that’s attracting many New Brunswickers...
Read the full postAlumni holiday gift guide
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 16, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: UNB Saint John, Insights, UNB Fredericton
Share your UNB alumni pride this holiday season! In the spirit of the upcoming holidays and supporting ‘local,’ we’ve created a gift guide to help you find unique gifts for the special people in your life. Along with UNB swag items, this list highlights exciting products and businesses by our very own #ProudlyUNB alumni. Around the world, UNB alumni are creating, innovating...
Read the full postVolunteer spotlight: Beverly Guimond
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 28, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Saint John, UNB Fredericton
For UNB Saint John alumna Beverly Guimond (BBA’04), volunteering time to her alma mater as treasurer of the Associated Alumni has been a positive and rewarding experience. A chartered professional accountant in Saint John, Beverly first moved to Canada from her home in Zimbabwe to travel and study abroad in the faculty of business at UNBSJ. Though there are many things she treasures about...
Read the full postQ&A: Brianna Forbes, UNB Alumni Student Leadership Recipient
UNB student, Brianna Forbes
Posted: October 26, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Young Alumni, UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories
UNB Saint John biology-psychology student, Brianna Forbes, is a strong leader on campus and in her community. She has served as student representative on the UNB Board of Governors, as well as SASE representative on the Students’ Representative Council, and has also been an active member of UNB MEDLIFE, UNB World University Service of Canada and UNB Global Brigades. A three year-member of...
Read the full postGinny Lawson: Five tips for a cozy winter home
Ginny Lawson (BA’04)
Posted: October 26, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Interior designer and UNB alumna Ginny Lawson (BA’04) of Virginia Ann Interiors has a passion for design and for nature. Inspired by the rich history and architecture of her hometown of Saint John, Ginny later started her own business in Halifax, NS, designing beautiful spaces. Here she shares her top tips for decorating your home in preparation for...
Read the full postOrganizational change boils down to three ingredients
Kevin Ferguson, BBA'92, BA'93
Posted: October 26, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights, UNB Fredericton
“Hey gang, before we break, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll miss our afternoon call today. A friend I’ve known for 25 years passed away yesterday from Covid and I have to go see his family. Please keep safe everyone – this is real.” Regardless of where we live or what we do, at some point in the past 7-10 months, any one of us could have been hearing...
Read the full postThe future of surgical robotics is here - and this alumnus is creating it
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 23, 2020 2:00:00 PM ADT
Category: Young Alumni, Engineering, Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton
Jason Currie (MSE’15) may be working from his San Francisco Bay Area home these days because of the pandemic, but he’s still hugely excited to log in each day and tackle his current project – a general-purpose surgical robot. Jason is a senior robotics and controls engineer with Auris Health, Inc., now owned by Ethicon, part of Johnson & Johnson’s medical devices...
Read the full postHow a UNB alumnus became the official rink engineering consultant of the NHL
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 23, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton, Engineering
When Ian Storey (BScME’96) left UNB with a mechanical engineering degree in hand, he never imagined he’d become an entrepreneur. Ian had developed an interest in energy efficiency and energy systems early on in his bachelors’ program and geared his courses toward a career at an energy utility. But after graduation, with few prospects for that kind of work available, he took a...
Read the full postThe fast-paced world of transportation cybersecurity
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 23, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Computer Science, UNB Fredericton, Engineering, Inspiring Stories
When we think about cybersecurity, we typically think of our phones, computers and personal data being hacked. But Mike Vanderveer (BScCMPE’02) says heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods are also a big cybersecurity concern. Mike, who graduated from UNB with a degree in computer engineering, is a transportation cybersecurity consultant with his own firm, Deep Micro, in Ottawa. He says...
Read the full postGreg Collins: Future of travel
Greg Collins (BA'99)
Posted: October 22, 2020 11:30:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
As President and CEO of Collins Tours & Consulting Ltd., UNB alumnus Greg Collins (BA'99) shares his insights into the future of travel amid COVID-19. As the global industry shifts, Greg provides his perspective on changes that have resulted from the pandemic, gives tips for travelling locally and shares his thoughts on places that may become travel destinations in 2021. When do you think...
Read the full postUNB Saint John data scientist pioneering in occupational health informatics
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 22, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Computer Science, UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories
UNB Saint John alumnus Hongchang (Gary) Bao’s (BScCS’19) undergraduate research in occupational health informatics has been published in a leading peer-reviewed journal for digital medicine and health, and has garnered interest from national organizations, such as CanPath and the National Cancer Institute. While a student in the computer science department, Bao collaborated on a...
Read the full postA rising star’s journey from Trinidad to Fredericton to Toronto
UNB Alumni
Posted: October 21, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton, Inspiring Stories, Management, Young Alumni
When Cilise (Legendre) Connell (BBA’12) made the move from her home in Trinidad and Tobago to Fredericton in 2009, her goal was to finish her business degree at UNB – (which she began through the UNB-ROYTEC partnership program) then return home to the small Caribbean Islands to find work. Eleven years later, she’s still in Canada. “I had such an amazing experience in...
Read the full postRenaissance College alumna advocating for post-secondary students amid COVID-19 pandemic
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 23, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton
UNB alumna Kalin McCluskey (BPhil’07) discovered her love for public policy through her education at Renaissance College. Since now working in the post-secondary space as Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) in Ottawa, she has applied the learning outcomes studied in the program to help her adapt as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically shifted the way...
Read the full postGreater Moncton's Top 20 Under 40 recognizes three UNB alumni
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 22, 2020 4:00:00 PM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton, Young Alumni, UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories
Three UNB alumni were celebrated virtually on Sept. 17 as winners of the 2020 Greater Moncton Top 20 Under 40. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton and the Hub City Young Professionals Network, the program highlights 20 individuals making a difference in the community. The winners were selected by an advisory board of judges from a list of 120 nominations.Meet...
Read the full postInternship program sparks strong mentorship between UNB student and alumna
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 22, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton, Young Alumni
When alumna Kate Ross (BPhil’05) first recommended Renaissance College to now-UNB student Callum Hunter, little did she know they would later become reconnected through the college’s Canadian internship program. Throughout the eight-week placement this summer, the two shared a positive learning experience and developed a strong mentor-mentee relationship that they look forward to...
Read the full postUNB alumni recognized by Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2020 Top 50 CEO Awards
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 21, 2020 12:00:00 PM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton, UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories
The Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2020 Top 50 CEO Awards recently recognized seven UNB alumni. Since 1999, the Top 50 CEO Awards celebrates accomplished business leaders in the Atlantic region. Nominations are submitted by the magazine’s readers and nominees are judged according to corporate, community and industry involvement, as well as company growth and response to various...
Read the full postYoung alumna brewing a new marketing strategy at Picaroons Brewing Company
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 17, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Management, Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni, UNB Fredericton
Experience counts when you’re developing growth and marketing strategies for companies. Kate McPherson (BBA’19) has it – even though she’s only 23. Kate graduated with a business degree from UNB’s Faculty of Management in 2019 with a ton of experience under her belt. First, she opted to take advantage of the exchange program and studied at Nanyang Technological...
Read the full postKim Osepchook: Top 5 tips for growing food at home
Kim Osepchook
Posted: August 5, 2020 10:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
As the owner and founder of Axil Gardens, UNB alumna Kim Osepchook (BSc'03) has over 15 years of organic gardening experience. Kim's passion is growing beautiful food and she has always firmly believed in using natural and sustainable methods. Located in Quispamsis, NB, Axil Gardens provides culinary and teaching gardens as a space to help clients learn the...
Read the full postJulie & John: Principles of Financial Management
Julie and John Fitzpatrick
Posted: July 20, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
UNB Saint John graduates and siblings, Julie Fitzpatrick CPA, CA (BBA'10)and John Fitzpatrick CIM (MBA'12), are both Investment Advisors with TD Wealth. The two young alumni share their insights into the important principles of financial management. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stock market had been on ten-year plus rally. While experienced investors have lived through...
Read the full postUNB alumna Jordyn Chevarie receives award of excellence
UNB Alumni
Posted: July 17, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni, UNB Saint John
UNB young alumna, Jordyn Chevarie (BHS’19), has received an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) for achieving the highest aggregate mark in Canada on the 2019 certification exam for radiological technology. CAMRT is the national professional association and certifying body for radiological, nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance...
Read the full postNew UNB grad offers help to Saint John students during pandemic
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni
Clariza Bergeron (BBA’20), moved to Saint John from the Philippines six years ago to live with her Canadian boyfriend and become a part of the nursing community. With a master’s degree in nursing in hand, she unfortunately found that the process to become qualified to practice in Canada was too long and cumbersome. So, she switched gears to take advantage of having UNB in her...
Read the full postErgonomic considerations for working from home
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Wayne Albert is the dean of kinesiology at UNB and specializes in ergonomics and occupational biomechanics. He says that any UNB alumna or alumnus who has further questions about the ergonomics of working from home can reach out to him at walbert@unb.ca. The goal when working from home is to arrange your workspace to avoid neck, wrist and back pain that can result from make-shift...
Read the full postSustainability and Economic Opportunities Post COVID-19
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Engineering, Insights
Eric Cook on The Sixth Wave COVID-19 is punishing the economy at a level beyond any crisis in modern times. Shutting down our economy will result in business failures, high unemployment and permanent changes in the economy. It is natural to focus on the negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, however, there will be opportunities for those with the foresight, agility and resources to pursue...
Read the full postEngaging in family leisure during a new normal
All Things Leisure
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Dr. Charlene Shannon-McCallum is a professor in the faculty of kinesiology at UNB who researches family leisure, as well as the relationship between leisure/recreation and health/illness. She explains why families that regularly participate in different types of activities are more likely to become a healthy, stable family and individuals - and what considerations we should take during the...
Read the full postRecognizing the 2020 UNB Saint John Graduating Student Leaders
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni
Eighteen graduating students from the UNB Saint John campus have earned Graduating Student Leadership awards for the remarkable initiative they’ve taken during their time at UNB. The award recognizes students in their final year of studies who have made outstanding voluntary and extracurricular contributions to the campus, their academic program, and the university community. Although we...
Read the full postCould Manufacturing save New Brunswick?
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Herb Emery, UNB's Vaughan chair in regional economics, gives us insights into N.B.’s manufacturing strengths, and what it will take for that sector to lead the province’s economic recovery. In March 2016, right after I had resigned my tenured professor position after more than 20 years at the University of Calgary to move to UNB to take up the Vaughan Chair in Regional Economics,...
Read the full postBack to work in the COVID-19 era: What will it look like for you?
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights, Management
Dr. Jeffrey J. McNally is an associate professor in UNB’s faculty of management who studies human relationships with work and learning organizations. As Canadians and employees around the world start packing up their home offices and heading back to work, they have one big question: "What is going back to work in the age of an unprecedented global response to the novel coronavirus going...
Read the full postJulia Hurst: Buying or selling a home in today’s market
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Since graduating from UNB with honours in marketing, young alumna Julia Hurst (BBA’11) discovered her passion for real estate and has been working as a Realtor ® in Saint John, New Brunswick for six years. Named the 2018 Faces of Fusion Business Entrepreneur Of The Year, Julia brings creativity, innovative strategies and an eye for detail to a career she loves. Here she...
Read the full postVolunteerism and finding the right opportunities for you
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Young Alumni, Insights, UNB Saint John
Three-time UNB alumna Katelyn Hunter (BA’10, BEd’12, MEd’16, fourth from the left) is the recipient of the 2020 YMCA of Greater Saint John's Leader to Watch Award. She devotes many hours to being a coach, mentor and advocate for women’s rugby, providing development opportunities for female athletes, coaches and referees with funding from the government of New Brunswick....
Read the full postLuminUltra to supply COVID-19 test chemicals across Canada
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Engineering, UNB Fredericton, Inspiring Stories
New Brunswick’s LuminUltra Technologies, headed by Patrick Whalen (BScChE’03, left), is increasing its production to supply chemicals for essential COVID-19 testing across the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on April 15 that LuminUltra is one of the companies that has signed a contract with the Canadian government to provide supplies needed in all provinces. Many...
Read the full postManagement students hitting experiential learning out of the park
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton, Inspiring Stories, Management, Young Alumni
It may have been one of the strangest and most challenging semesters at UNB because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the winter 2020 term ended with some good news for students in the Master in Quantitative Investment Management (MQIM) program. Just as exams were ending, they learned two of their teams placed high in two global competitions: one team tied with Rutgers for third place out of 58...
Read the full postUNB mental performance coach says to choose 3 things each day
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights, Kinesiology, Arts
Ryan Hamilton (BA'00, MScExSS'03, PhD'11) spends the bulk of his time teaching psychology at UNB Fredericton, but he’s also a mental performance coach, having worked with Canada's junior men's hockey team and as an advisor to an NHL franchise. He’s a sport psychology consultant to the UNB Reds, and is also with the Canadian Sport Centre in NB, offering mental performance coaching to...
Read the full postTom Liston: The impact of COVID-19 on your investments
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights, Management
Tom Liston (BBA'96) is one of the most sought-after minds in Canada's tech investment sector and has offered his insights into the current market. Large declines in your investment portfolio often bring an understandably emotional response. Many investors’ first thoughts are to ‘protect’ their portfolios by selling. Others look at these market moves as an opportunity to...
Read the full postTracy Palmer: Five tips for eating well at home
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Before becoming a naturopathic doctor, Tracy Palmer (BN’06) was a registered nurse in internal medicine and oncology. Since experiencing her own health challenges and discovering naturopathic medicine, she has been practicing as a Naturopathic Doctor since 2012 and is founder of Roots to Branches Whole Health Clinic. We are all having to adjust to a new normal during COVID-19 and social...
Read the full postTips for supporting your child's learning at home
UNB Alumni
Posted: June 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
It can be hard to keep kids motivated and focused on continued learning while at home due to COVID-19. We asked our UNB-educated K-12 teachers to chime in with their top tips to help parents and kids during this time. We received responses from across Canada and around the world. Here’s what they had to say. Patti Melvin–Doyle (BA’98, BEd’00, MEd’09), elementary...
Read the full postUNB young alumna supports local businesses impacted
UNB Alumni
Posted: March 30, 2020 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories, Young Alumni
Even in a time when we are physically separated from our families and peers, many people are bringing their communities closer together through support and acts of kindness. UNB young alumna, Niki Burnham (BBA ’15), is one of those people. When she saw how small businesses in the Saint John region have been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak, she looked for a way to...
Read the full postSarah Birch: Working from home and staying motivated
Sarah Birch
Posted: March 25, 2020 11:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Insights
Sarah Birch (BBA'01, LLB'04) is a proud UNB alumna and a member of UNB’s Associated Alumni council. A former lawyer, and current content creator and blogger, she recently moved ‘back home’ to the East Coast with her family. You can find her on Instagram at @littlesarahbirch or on her blog www.littlesarahbirch.com. This article is part of a series of guest...
Read the full postA life in service to vulnerable children
UNB Alumni
Posted: January 16, 2020 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton, Management
James Gitau (BBA’87,MA'89) has never been one to shy away from a challenge. In 1982, Kenya was embroiled in an attempted coup, which led to the indefinite closure of the sole University of Nairobi. James’ high school advised students who could afford it to seek further studies abroad. He was given a list of potential universities in Canada, the U.K and the U.S: James and his...
Read the full post