Faculty of Arts: What degree and program are you graduating with?

Emma Winram: A Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in philosophy. I chose this program because I’ve always loved reading English literature and philosophical texts, and I wanted to improve my writing and argumentative skills at the university level. It also complements nicely with my wish to attend law school. One key piece of knowledge I will take away from my studies is learning to critically analyze texts, arguments and other forms of media I face in my everyday life.

Did you explore any writing opportunities outside of class?

I worked for The Manitoban as a copy editor this past year, working late nights preparing the paper for print and editing/fact-checking articles every weekend—it was an unforgettable experience. I also had the privilege of attending NASH87: Canada’s Largest Student Journalism Conference in Hamilton, ON in February where I met enthusiastic student journalists and professionals. It was an amazing networking experience. My time at The Manitoban improved my writing skills significantly, allowing me to formulate better essays for my classes and build communication skills that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Were you involved in any student groups?

I was involved with the University of Manitoba Pre-Law Society for a few years and served in multiple roles. This year I served as Vice President. Through hosting many events like law student/lawyer panels, networking events and free LSAT prep workshops, we were able to bring our membership up from 40 members in September to around 300 by April! The connections and the skills I have built from being a part of this club have made my undergraduate experience invaluable.

Describe a challenge you encountered during your undergrad?

A challenge I dealt with was making sure to manage my time efficiently while prioritizing my mental health. Being so involved on campus and juggling my schoolwork was a lot to fit into my schedule. I kept reminding myself that this work would pay off in the end and that my busy schedule was only temporary. It helped that I had good friends who were also a part of the teams I was involved in, and I had endless support from my family. I would not have been able to do it all without them.

Any big plans for after graduation?

I have been chosen as one of six people for the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Internship Program for the 2025/26 year, starting in September and running until June. My duties as an intern will be receiving assignments and direction from my assigned Caucus. Some of the tasks I may be performing are short and long-term research projects, writing briefing papers, handling constituency matters, writing questions for Question Period, and other clerical tasks. There is also an academic component where I will be attending seminars and writing a research paper. I hope to understand the process of passing a Bill more extensively and be involved with the process as that will only help me in my planned future legal career here in Manitoba.

Winram will convocate along with fellow Faculty of Arts undergraduate students in two ceremonies on June 4, 2025.

Learn more about the departments of English, Theatre, Film & Media and Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts.

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UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. 3058 degrees are being awarded at Spring Convocation 2025 (over 620 are from the Faculty of Arts), bringing the total number of UM graduates to 4200 so far this year. Many of these new alumni will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s $7.3 billion economic impact on our community.

Editor’s note: Faculty of Arts students have been selected for the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Internship Program almost every year since its inception. Since 1985, over 200 individuals have served as Legislative Interns, with many going on to careers in law, senior levels of the Civil Service, public advocacy groups, the business sector, NGOs, academia and elected officials.

“The behaviour of which he’s been convicted of in 2022, and the behaviour of which he’s now been accused — by a colleague rather than a patient — undermines a critically important requirement for medicine to be able to operate effectively on behalf of the patient’s health,” said  Dr. Arthur Schafer.

Schafer says Ames’s behaviour is “wildly inappropriate,” calling the quiet ban on Ames’s hospital privileges, and its subsequent reduction, “questionable.”

He says the medical profession has no room for repeated misbehaviour, and he wants to know if the matter is being handled by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.

The new fellows come from across UM, representing both the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts, and include a former Warden and Vice-Chancellor of SJC.

We caught up with them to see what joining the St John’s community means to them. 

Jenna Tichon: Faculty of Science, Department of Statistics

Dr. Jenna Tichon focuses her research on experimental design, where she looks to find optimal split-plot designs for industrial and agricultural experiments. Jenna uses programming and simulation to develop a deeper understanding of statistical concepts, data visualization, and creating accessible research.

Jenna shares her excitement about learning from other academics and making new connections.

“I’m most excited about meeting and working with new people, learning about their research, and contributing to making the University of Manitoba a more vibrant and friendly place to work and learn. Every fellow speaks about what a strong community they felt at the College and how much they learned by sharing experiences with colleagues from all around the university.” 

Aleeza Gerstein: Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology and Statistics

Before moving back to her hometown of Winnipeg, Aleeza studied in the Zoology Department at the University of British Columbia, where she focused on evolutionary genetics using the budding yeast, and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

Her research applies evolutionary principles and statistical methods to understand the factors that influence how and why fungal populations evolve.

About joining St John’s, Aleeza says, 

“I greatly welcome the opportunity as a Fellow to form additional relationships with others across the university community. Creating and fostering community is an overarching thread that has driven much of the service I have undertaken as a faculty member.”

Gregg Olsen: Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology and Criminology

As an esteemed sociologist, Gregg Olsen has spent over three decades researching socio-economic inequality and strategies to eradicate it. A recipient of the Arts Award in Internationalization, he has given public addresses and conducted research in over twenty nations. His cross-national approach has furthered his understanding of why inequality varies dramatically across countries and time.

Murdith McLean: Former Warden and Vice-Chancellor of St John’s College 

Murdith McLean is no stranger to St John’s College, having served as Warden and Vice-Chancellor from 1980 through 1997. He was also an adjunct professor in the UM Department of Philosophy and served in several important roles at the University. He was a Senate appointee to the Board of Governors, and member of the President’s task force on strategic planning. 

The former Warden returns to St John’s College as a retired fellow.

To learn more about St John’s College fellowship, visit our website. 

Led by moderator David Gerhard, Department Head, Computer Science, the panel represented a wide range of perspectives including Katie Szilagyi (Law), Neil McArthur (Philosophy) and Örjan Sandred (Music). The discussion explored the challenges posed by the rapid proliferation of AI technology in wide ranging fields where it has never before been tested, outside of science fiction.

“I thought that the future was gonna be robots doing all the manual labor while we wrote music and wrote poetry, but now it looks like it’s going to be the other way around and I’m not thrilled about that,” Neil McArthur mused.

Following their presentations, the panel took questions from the audience. Read more about Next Step with Generative AI in The Manitoban or watch the full after the 90-minute discussion on Youtube.

Join us for the upcoming Knowledge Exchange, Heart Health and You on February 28 at 7pm, where experts will discuss unique factors underlying women’s heart health and the future of treatments for heart disease.

Iqbal is a 2023-24 recipient of a Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics (CPAE) Graduate Fellowship. The centre offers annual fellowships to both academics, faculty and instructors, and graduate students at UM. CPAE’s mandate is to promote interdisciplinary research on applied ethics in all areas of practical and professional life. The fellowships are open to individuals from all fields and all faculties, and this year’s application deadline is February 28, 2024.

Nabil Iqbal

The fellowships aim to support researchers in the field of ethics and to encourage those in other fields to consider the ethical implications of their work, to integrate ethics into their research and to promote understanding of ethics as it relates to their areas of study.

Iqbal’s present research is his third exploration into the theme of climate refugees. Previously, he has looked at the lack of legal protections under human rights law for climate refugees in Kiribati, an island country in Micronesia that may potentially be the first country to be swallowed into the ocean as a result of rising sea levels due to climate change.  

Iqbal sees a gap in fairness and protection for people displaced by climate change. “Normally, refugees escaping persecution get protection under international law,” explained Iqbal. “Surprisingly, climate refugees don’t have that safety net, and they end up being sent back or put in detention camps, facing more problems and rights violations.”

The ethical piece of his research is “pushing for fair treatment and legal protection for these vulnerable individuals” by looking at “why the current international refugee and human rights laws aren’t protecting this group and what changes are needed to the laws so climate refugees can be protected.”

The $3,000 graduate student fellowship allows Iqbal to focus on his work without financial worries. But, just as importantly, he notes that it is the support from the researchers, fellow students and professional connections in the CPAE network that serve as a “crucial catalyst for my academic journey and career development.”

Iqbal hopes that his research will raise awareness of the challenges climate refugees face, as well as ultimately contribute to making the rules fairer and more protective for those displaced by climate change. “I hope my research can help others by showing them how they can be legally protected,” he shared. “For example, someone in Kiribati might learn from my work how to successfully move to a new country for safety and support.” Iqbal also hopes his research can influence future policy, strengthening refugee and human rights law to better address the specific challenges faced by the growing number of climate refugees across the globe.

Applications to the CPAE Ethics Graduate Fellowships and Research Fellowships for faculty are due February 28, 2024.

Written by: Neil McArthur is a professor of philosophy and ethics at the University of Manitoba.

Read here

The Ethics Bowl encourages students to teach and learn from one another as they take part in courageous conversations about ethical issues. Students are given case studies that present various ethical dilemmas and must craft a response by looking at all sides of the question. Though it is similar in some ways to a debate competition, it is meant to provide a positive alternative to debates. It prioritizes careful argument, understanding and collaboration over confrontation. The Bowl encourages deeper critical thinking by examining Canadian and international issues, with the aim of finding the best solution possible. This process emphasizes skills such as critical thinking, active listening, articulation and expression, open-mindedness, respectful dialogue and disagreement. Students engage actively with peers as they share diverse views, challenge ideas and assumptions and deepen understanding. 

The incredible students that participated in this year’s event collectively put together thousands of hours of research and dedication to preparing for the competition, culminating in three matches in front of a panel of esteemed judges.

The excitement was palpable as students excitedly mingled amongst themselves, getting to know new friends and faces while discussing the findings of their research throughout the afternoon. Mr. Sokalski, a former teacher, and Ethics Bowl coach at Kelvin High School mentioned feeling elated to see two students pushing to connect and continue their conversations about Emmanuel Kant and his works after a match. Such a feat wasn’t possible last year due to a Zoom only competition because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Across the board, students agreed that there was so much more life to having the competition in person in contrast to the previous two years. In an interview with a few students (Jai, Rory and Gabriel), Gabriel, an aspiring law student and competitor, said “The University (of Manitoba) is the best place to hold events like this because it really feels like a place of education when I’m competing and having these conversations in the lecture halls”. Additionally, both Rory and Gabriel mentioned that they were excited to have the opportunity to broaden their perspective and expand their worldview, as well as to develop their critical thinking skills in a safe and collaborative setting. Rory, who is from Fischer Branch, exclaimed that the Ethics Bowl “was a fantastic way to get insights into philosophical viewpoints of those that live within the city as well as to hear about the different lives that they experience”.

The students weren’t the only ones excited to feel the buzz in the air. Several judges and moderators, who ranged from University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg students to professionals from education, law, health care and the social sector, expressed how heartwarming it was to see the students so engaged in an active learning process. From displaying eloquence, great sportsmanship, collaboration and more, each and every student put their best foot forward in furthering their development as a morally engaged citizens.

This year’s winning team was from Miles MacDonell Collegiate. The École secondaire Kelvin High School team finished as runners-up. Both teams will now represent Manitoba at the national competition in May 2023.

The Manitoba Ethics Bowl would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to all of the participants, teachers, volunteers and organizations for their time, resources and effort in putting the 2023 Ethics Bowl together. Without them, students like Rory, Jai, and Gabriel wouldn’t be able to experience these types of extracurricular opportunities.

Over time, he found he was most drawn to the content taught in moral philosophy and ethics classes. He became particularly interested in human rights, the nature of rights and the justification that humans have for the existence of rights considering rights seem to be immaterial or intangible entities.

Dimitar Tomovski

Tomovski is a 2022 recipient of a Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics (CPAE) Graduate Fellowship. The centre offers annual fellowships to both academics, faculty and intructors, and graduate students at UM. CPAE has a mandate to promote interdisciplinary research on applied ethics in all areas of practical and professional life. While Tomovski is a philosophy graduate student, the fellowships are open to individuals from all fields and all faculties.

The fellowships aim to support researchers in the field of ethics and to encourage those in other fields to consider the ethical implications of their work, to integrate ethics into their research and to promote understanding of ethics as it relates to their areas of study.

After taking a human rights seminar in the first year of his master’s program, Tomovski began to wonder which non-human beings could also have rights.

“The focus of my thesis is to understand in what ways non-sentient beings can have rights and what these rights tell us about human rights,” explained Tomovski. “While it is widely accepted that sentient beings such as humans and most animals have rights, it seems less intuitive that beings without sentience can possess rights as well. I hope to show how we can intuitively assign rights to organic non-sentient beings such as the Great Barrier Reef, inorganic non-sentient beings such as the Mona Lisa and immaterial beings such as endangered languages. My hope is that more people will recognize that certain entities have value outside of the benefits that they bring upon people and that certain non-sentient beings ought to be treated as bearers of rights.”

Tomovski was grateful to receive the $3,000 graduate student stipend. “The fellowship has allowed me to pursue my research with a lot more financial freedom,” he shared. “Thanks to the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, I have been able focus a lot more of my time and attention on doing research and actually writing my thesis. This year, I did not have to worry about the costs of textbooks or sources and I was able to purchase all of the texts that would be relevant to my research topic. I thank CPAE for this wonderful opportunity and for their confidence in me and my research topic.”

Applications to both the CPAE Ethics Graduate Fellowships and Research Fellowship for faculty are due February 28, 2023.

University Gold Medal
Karlynne Sagert
B.A. General (Psychology)

Karlynne Sagert

The University Gold Medal is an opportunity to honour the best in the undergraduate graduating class of each faculty. A gold medal is awarded to the undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts who has achieved the highest standing. This year’s recipient is Karlynne Sagert. Karlynne is graduating with a B.A. General degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Family Social Sciences.

Karlynne has a passion for working with children. Her academic and work choices so far are leading her toward a long career in a helping profession. During her undergraduate degree, Karlynne took courses in psychology, anatomy and family social sciences to learn more about how to help children with their reading, writing, gross and fine motor skills and self-regulation. She didn’t hesitate to list her favourite course as PSYC 2290 Child Development. “I enjoyed learning about the developmental milestones throughout childhood,” said Karlynne. “We had the opportunity to raise a virtual child which was really fun and an interesting way to comprehend the course content.” While working as an educational assistant with the Swan Valley School Division, she saw the need for occupational therapy services in rural areas and felt her bachelor’s degree choice would help her reach her goal. She plans to continue her studies with the Masters of Occupational Therapy program at UM. Karlynne would like to thank her “family, friends, professors and peers for their support and guidance” throughout her undergraduate studies. “I also want to thank the Faculty of Arts for granting me this award. It is a true honour and I am forever grateful for this recognition.” We congratulate Karlynne on her outstanding academic success.

Faculty of Arts Honours Medal
Volodymyr Shevchenko
B.A. Honours (Philosophy)

Volodymyr Shevchenko

Volodymyr Shevchenko is this year’s recipient of the Faculty of Arts Honours Medal awarded to the student with the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Honours Degree Program. Volodymyr is graduating with a Philosophy major and a Religion minor. 

During his degree, Volodymyr was encouraged by how much the Philosophy faculty and staff genuinely care about their students and noted how that bond boosts the overall university experience. “Each of my professors was willing to take time to meet with me, answer my questions, review my grad school application and just connect with me on a human level,” he shared. Volodymyr will begin a PhD in Philosophy studies at the University of Toronto this fall. He applied to the masters program only to have them reach out to him with a spot in PhD studies – a credit to his past academic success and future potential. At the same time, Volodymyr plans to write the LSAT this summer and apply to U of T’s school of law so that he can pursue a joint JD/PhD. Volodymyr would like to thank “God, my wife Caitlyn, and my family for being my support during my studies.”

Faculty of Arts Advanced Medal
Taleah Taves
B.A. Advanced (Psychology)

Taleah Taves

The award for the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Advanced Degree Program goes to Taleah Taves. During her undergraduate degree, Taleah majored in Psychology and minored in Sociology. 

The transition to virtual learning during a large portion of the degree was difficult for many students. Taleah credits her fellow classmates, peers and instructors for showing compassion to each other and for working together to help students like her not only make it through the degree, but also complete it with such success. “In my last term, I took SOC 3720 Criminal Law and its Procedure with Jodi Koffman, and it was by far my favourite course I have ever taken,” she said. “I looked forward to the course each week despite it being over Zoom. (Koffman) created a safe and relaxed environment for us, which allowed us to get to know each other better and feel comfortable sharing our experiences and thoughts. I could not have asked for a better instructor and group of classmates to end my degree with!” Taleah plans to go on to an education degree, with a desire to teach history (including Indigenous perspectives) at the high school level. “My experiences coaching, tutoring and mentoring helped me decide to pursue a teaching career,” she shared. “I believe teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs one can have. I am so excited for the future!”

Faculty of Arts General Medal
Delaney Fehr
B.A. General (Psychology)

Delaney Fehr

Delaney Fehr is the 2022 recipient of the Faculty of Arts General Medal, awarded for highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts three-year General Degree Program. Delaney completed a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology.

At the beginning of her degree, Delaney struggled with deciding on her path because she had too many interests. She knew she wanted to work with people and needed variety. The courses taken in her Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree will provide a fantastic base as she begins the Masters of Occupational Therapy program at UM. “I love that OT focuses on all aspects of an individual’s health, such as physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual,” said Delaney. She reminds us that getting a degree isn’t just about the studies. One of her favourite moments came from her UM intramural soccer team Neymar Mr. Nice Guy. “I played in my first year and again in my final semester. We won the Winter 2022 tournament which was an awesome way to end my three years at UM!” Delaney would like to thank her family and friends for their support during her studies.

Congratulations to the Arts medal winners.

At its 2022 UM Convocation, the University of Manitoba will confer degrees, diplomas and certificates on 2,835 graduates.
Visit the UM Student Instagram  and Faculty of Arts Instagram to learn more about some of the students graduating in 2022. You’ll find congratulations messages from fellow graduates and professors, stories about fellow graduates, more information about convocation and tips for new alumni. You can also join the ‘Convocation conversation’ on social media by following #umanitoba2022.

She never expected to work for an establishment law firm in Calgary and no one could have guessed that she would eventually lead a yet-to-be-dreamed-up national museum back in her home town.

Khan joined the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as chief executive officer last year during a moment of reckoning, after simmering complaints about racism, homophobia and sexual harassment boiled over.

“The work to build relationships or to repair relationships is going to take time because it involves trust and true, meaningful partnerships and friendships,” said Khan, who considers it a huge privilege to share that work with her team.

Human rights experts are optimistic that the museum might fulfill its potential now that it is finally led by someone with solid human rights experience, including nine years with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

However, Khan advises students that the best preparation for a human rights career might not be what they expect.

“Sometimes it’s the experiences that don’t really look like they’re lining you up for a human rights job that actually do,” she said. “If you have a retail job or you work in a restaurant, that’s a great job in terms of meeting people who you might not normally interact with.”

Khan is often questioned about her plans for training and hiring to improve diversity. However, she said transforming museums and arts institutions that evolved from a colonial history of collecting artifacts and telling stories about other people’s cultures requires deeper change.

She is proud of the work done to protect the Witness Blanket art installation through a unique agreement that recognizes the museum and artist’s shared responsibility to care for something no one should own.

“That’s a model for other work that we might do together.”

A video interview of Khan by Dr. Adele Perry, director of the Centre for Human Rights Research, can be viewed online.