UNB Alumni
Telling our #ProudlyUNB stories
Blazing trails for women in rugby around the world
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 14, 2023 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology , Inspiring Stories
Cristina Flores Justic (BPE’83) describes herself as a bit of a rebel. The daughter of a diplomat, Cristina attended a private French school in Mexico City, but, craving more action and adventure, soon found herself studying at Bishop’s College School in Canada. After finishing high school, she made her way to the University of New Brunswick for an undergraduate degree, flourished during her time in the physical education program. “I loved sports and biology, so it was good...
UNBers dominate Atlantic Business Top 50 CEO list
UNB Alumni
Posted: May 26, 2023 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Saint John , Law , Inspiring Stories , Kinesiology , Engineering , Computer Science , Management , UNB Fredericton
Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2023 Top 50 CEO Awards were recently announced, and 16 UNB alumni and alumni of the UNB Wallace McCain Institute’s (WMI) Entrepreneurial Leaders Program (ELP) made the prestigious list. In its 25th year, the Top 50 CEO Awards celebrate accomplished business leaders in the Atlantic region. Over the past 25 years, they have recognized 552 Top 50 award winners who have collectively created more than a million jobs and generated almost $1.9 trillion in...
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 for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) and their families on issues such as...
Sweat Club founder Laura Clendenning (BScKin'12) helps people fall in love with their health and fitness
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 25, 2022 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology , Inspiring Stories , Young Alumni
What began as a love for leading a healthy lifestyle and working one-on-one with clients in her apartment complex, has transformed into opening a boutique-style gym in the heart of downtown Fredericton. Sweat Club founder and head coach Laura Clendenning (BScKin'12) says that being a woman in business and a woman in the fitness industry is empowering, but it took her a few career changes to fall into her path as a gym owner. Now, nothing can stop Clendenning from growing and pursuing her...
Mike Wahl launches Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle show on NTV
UNB Alumni
Posted: September 14, 2022 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Kinesiology , UNB Fredericton , Inspiring Stories
It was 2009 when a tragic accident changed the course of Dr. Mike Wahl’s (BScKin’00) life. A routine flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland was headed offshore to the White Rose oil field carrying workers for the rigs when the helicopter when down. All but one person died on that flight, and the investigation later identified several variables that may have prevented the tragic deaths: one was the fitness of the workers. Mike – at the time a graduate student at...
Volunteer spotlight: Amber Corby (BRSS'12)
UNB Alumni
Posted: April 26, 2022 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Kinesiology , Inspiring Stories , UNB Fredericton
Amber Corby (BRSS'12) - Fredericton, NB What is your most memorable moment from your UNB alumni volunteer experience? I was able to share perspectives of both my student and professional experiences through a Ten Thousand Coffees Office Hour webinar on my career in the not-for-profit sector. I was so impressed with the thoughtful and relevant questions from those in attendance which made me so proud to still be a part of the UNB community. Why did you decide to become a first-time...
UNBeknownst Episode 16: Mike Harrison on emergency medicine during a pandemic, flight surgery and the long way to get to what you love
UNB Alumni
Posted: April 8, 2022 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton , Podcast , Kinesiology
Mike Harrison (BScKin’02, MScExSS’05) is a flight surgeon, as well as an emergency medicine and critical care physician at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He was recently one of the flight surgeons for SpaceX’s Crew-1 Dragon - which launched in 2020 and returned in 2021. Mike graduated from UNB with a bachelor of science in kinesiology and a master of science in exercise and sport science. We talk with Mike about his work as an ER and aerospace physician,...
Caitlin Doyle (BScKin’11) is supporting chronic health in the community
UNB Alumni
Posted: March 29, 2022 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Inspiring Stories , Kinesiology , UNB Fredericton , Young Alumni
UNB alumna Caitlin Doyle (BScKin’11) didn’t stray far after graduating from UNB’s Faculty of Kinesiology in 2011. As the Recreation Services’ (URec) Clinical Exercise Physiologist on our Fredericton campus, Doyle supports individuals with chronic health conditions in her community, while also collaborating with the faculty that impacted her career. In addition to performing occupational assessments, Doyle is responsible for running URec’s silver series and...
Emily Scott: Five ways to include your children in your exercise
Emily Scott (BsKin’12, BBA'21)
Posted: February 22, 2022 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Kinesiology , Insights , Management
Photo: Tori Claire Photography Emily Scott (BsKin’12, BBA'21) is a two-time UNB graduate, a kinesiologist, holistic nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. She's also a mom of two, a runner, weight-lifter, and health advocate. In 2014, as a woman who had been athletic my entire life, I approached my postpartum fitness intentions with a wildly optimistic plan. I was a personal trainer and had a home gym equipped...
Fine tuning resilience beyond neurosurgery
Cynthia Percival
Posted: January 13, 2022 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Kinesiology , UNB Fredericton , Inspiring Stories
Written by Cynthia Percival (BPE'78) After graduating from UNB with a Physical Education degree in 1978, I coached downhill skiing for 40 years. Living in rural Ontario I participated in ongoing outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and both XC and downhill skiing in winter. My lifestyle was (and is) about making healthy choices and enjoying vigorous social relationships. I never fathomed that at age 57 I would suddenly become gravely ill. During my...
Kinesiology alumnus part of recovery crew for returning astronauts
UNB
Posted: January 13, 2022 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories , Kinesiology , UNB Fredericton
When a student graduates from UNB, the world is truly in the palm of their hands. Where a UNB grad may end up can stretch far across the globe and out of this world. This is the case for kinesiology alumnus, Mike Harrison (BScKin'02, MSESS'05), who had the opportunity to be part of the SpaceX recovery team monitoring the physical health of four astronauts once they landed back on earth and stepped out of their space capsule for the first time after a five-month long space mission. The...
UNBeknownst Podcast Episode 8: Samantha Stewart on competition, mental fitness and developing a growth mindset
UNB Alumni
Posted: December 2, 2021 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Kinesiology , Podcast
UNBeknownst Podcast Episode 8 Samantha Stewart: Competition, mental fitness and developing a growth mindset Samantha Stewart (BRSS'13, BA'14, MEd'19) moved to Fredericton in 2009 to study Recreation and Sport Studies, and during that time, began competing internationally as a member of Team Canada’s wrestling team. Since then, she’s become a ten-time national medallist, been named Most Outstanding Female Wrestler in Canada twice, was the Rio 2016 Olympic alternate,...
From exercise science to habit-forming tech, Darren Steeves is committed to helping people
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 18, 2021 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Kinesiology , Education , Inspiring Stories , UNB Fredericton
Darren Steeves (BEd’94) never imagined when he graduated from UNB with an education degree majoring in physical education and minoring in mathematics that he’d end up as an entrepreneur in the tech arena. But that’s exactly where he is now, as co-founder and CEO of JackHabbit, a Growth Management System that he calls “the next evolution beyond learning management.” Based in Halifax, Darren wanted to take his years of experience and success in sport science and...
Meaghan Donahue Wies shares her path to Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic
Meaghan Donahue Wies
Posted: November 17, 2021 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Management , UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology
SPOTLIGHT SERIES: WOMEN IN KINESIOLOGY, RECREATION AND SPORT MANAGEMENT Written by Meaghan Donahue Wies (MBA'11) My name is Meaghan Donahue Wies and I am the Athlete Services Manager and Game Plan Advisor with the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic. The path that led me to this role is a winding one, but it comes as no surprise to those who know me that I have landed in the sport sector. I have always been a sport person - playing, watching, managing fantasy...
UNBers inducted into New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame
UNB Alumni
Posted: November 15, 2021 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Inspiring Stories , Kinesiology , UNB Fredericton , Law
The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame Inc. was established in 1970 to recognize and honour those athletes, teams and builders who have achieved outstanding success, and those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of competitive sport in this province. On October 15, 2021, seven UNBers were inducted into the NB Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021. Mike Flannery (BSc’74) and Chuck Kingston...
Overcoming illness to shine in the fitness and sport industry
UNB Alumni
Posted: April 21, 2021 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology
Jane McKeown's (BPE’99) life ever since she was young revolved around sport and fitness. She came by it honestly, coming from a family of athletes that included her parents as well as her brother Mark Jeffrey (BBA’86), who played for and coached UNB hockey, and her sister, who coached Saint Mary’s University basketball. So, when she graduated from Fredericton High School, Jane wanted to continue with her own basketball career. But after returning from a year at...
UNB Women in Sport conference ‘first of many’
UNB Alumni
Posted: April 19, 2021 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology , Young Alumni
This story was first published in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner on April 12th, 2021, written by attributed to Bruce Hallihan. The UNB Alumni Association was a proud sponsor of the UNB Women in Sport Conference. Mikaela Dodig hopes the first UNB Women in Sport Conference “proves to be the first of many.” The former UNB Reds women’s basketball all-star planned to launch the conference in 2020, as an in-person event, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced its...
Maria Boyle: Five reasons to move your body
Maria Boyle (BScKin'16)
Posted: March 19, 2021 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Young Alumni , UNB Fredericton , Insights , Kinesiology
Photo: Lilian Archer Photography A chiropractor at Town Health Solutions in Saint John, N.B., and at Align KV Wellness in Quispamsis, N.B., Dr. Maria Boyle (BScKin'16) has been very engaged in her community and in the profession since joining the NBCA in 2018. She currently serves on the NBCA external affairs committee, and maintains a prominent and active social media presence promoting self-management and health. In 2020, she was recognized with the NB Chiropractors Association's Recent...
Community fuels great projects and even greater dreams
Thandiwe McCarthy
Posted: February 16, 2021 12:00:00 PM AST
Category: Young Alumni , Inspiring Stories , UNB Fredericton , Kinesiology
My name is Thandiwe Jelani McCarthy and I graduated from UNB in May 2020 with a degree in Recreation and Sport Studies with a major in Community Wellness. I think my graduation was unique in that due to the pandemic outbreak myself and many other students didn’t get to have one. Not only that but moments after finishing my degree in recreation and community wellness the entire recreation sector was shut down. Communities were being fined hundreds of dollars if they were caught...
NB 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 shocked and honoured to get recognized this early in my career," says Dr. Boyle. "When I first...
Returning 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 back home again. One of those is Nathan White (BBA’05). Nathan grew up in Fredericton as a big...
UNB 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 both elite athletes across Canada and young athletes in the Maritimes who are coping with...