UNB Alumni
Telling our #ProudlyUNB stories

Q&A: Emma Stephen, Alumni Legacy Award recipient

UNB Alumni

Posted: March 3, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Fredericton, Young Alumni, Inspiring Stories, UNB Saint John



Reflecting on two years as the Alumni Legacy Award recipient, what has been most rewarding or exciting about your time at UNB? As I reflect on my time as the Alumni Legacy Award recipient, I think about how it has influenced my personal and professional growth. My participation in different organizations has helped me build new connections and develop valuable skills that will serve me in my...

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A leader in supply chain contributing to community growth in New Brunswick's Port City

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 22, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Saint John, Inspiring Stories



Shannon Blanchard (BBA’00) grew up in the New Brunswick city built around its harbour and port. Now she goes to work every day as a leader in the supply chain sector, contributing to the community through her role at Port Saint John, one of the primary catalysts for economic development in the region. As Director of Supply Chain Innovation, Blanchard’s responsible for Port Saint...

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From experiential learning at UNB to San Francisco startup success

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 20, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Fredericton, Computer Science, Inspiring Stories



When Spanish-born-and-raised Mikel Cármenes Cavia (BCS’09) landed in Fredericton to begin his undergraduate studies in Computer Science at UNB back in 2005, he probably didn’t realize just how much the experience would influence his life. Mikel had graduated from an American high school in Dubai and got the itch to go to university in North America. But his mother was having...

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The mindset shift needed for an inclusive community

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 20, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Fredericton, Kinesiology, Inspiring Stories



Sarah Wagner (MASRS’11) has leaned into a big challenge in New Brunswick. As Executive Director of Inclusion NB, her task is to take the lead in creating opportunities for people with an intellectual or developmental disability to live full and valued lives in all aspects of society. Sarah says that the non-profit organization is a one-stop-shop in providing support and advocacy...

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A second career uncovering and retelling history in Atlantic Canada

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 14, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Fredericton, Engineering, Inspiring Stories



Graham Nickerson (MScEng’02, MA’22) is passionate about researching untold Black history in the Maritimes and hopes that one day, “Black history will simply be history.” Nickerson, a native of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, came to UNB for a master’s degree in survey engineering and geology after having graduated from Saint Mary’s University in the same field. After...

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UNBeknownst #26: Deborah Lyons on being an Ambassador and UN representative in Afghanistan – and why education for women is critical for global stability

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 8, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: UNB Fredericton, Podcast, Inspiring Stories



Ambassador Deborah Lyons (BA’71, DLitt’15) is a diplomat with 21 years of professional experience in political affairs, international cooperation and economic development. Her most recent assignment was as Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, having served prior to that as Ambassador of Canada to Israel and before that as...

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Q&A: Houda El Hajjaoui, UNB Alumni Student Leadership recipient

UNB Alumni

Posted: February 1, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: Young Alumni, UNB Fredericton, Inspiring Stories



Recipient of a 2022-23 Alumni Student Leadership Award, Houda El Hajjaoui is an international student, studying chemical engineering, who has been actively involved on campus and in the community. She is the Communications Director for Shades of Change, an organization designed to advocate for a kinder and more respectful environment for people of colour. Houda has also taken on many...

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A community forest of the past and future

UNB Alumni

Posted: January 23, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton



Chris Gruenwald (BSF’04) grew up in the forest. Now, he gets to work in one and manage it every day. Chris is the Director of Forestry for Mission Municipal Forest, a community-managed forest that was the first of its kind in Canada. Since 1958, the City of Mission, British Columbia – about an hour east of Vancouver - has managed its forest resources for the benefit of the community...

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Relationships and hard work led to success for this SIF alum

UNB Alumni

Posted: January 22, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: Management, Inspiring Stories, UNB Fredericton



Sean McNulty (BBA’07) is principal and co-founder of XIB Financial Inc., a Toronto-based capital markets advisory and asset management business. A BBA graduate member of the Student Investment Fund (SIF) program at UNB’s Faculty of Management, Sean says that his career path was both serendipitous and the result of hard work and building good relationships. “I had top...

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UNBeknownst #25: John Leroux on what it means to love a place and why architecture and art are so important in attracting and inspiring people

UNB Alumni

Posted: January 10, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST

Category: Podcast, UNB Fredericton, UNB Saint John



John Leroux (PhD’20) is an architect, art historian and currently Manager of Collections and Exhibitions at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick. John has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of art history, architecture, visual art, curation, and education. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from McGill University, an M.A. in Art History from Concordia...

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