On May 16, the Access Program honoured its latest group of graduates. These 19 students from various Indigenous communities and Winnipeg earned degrees in Arts, Education, Kinesiology, Science, Health Science, Environmental Studies, Respiratory Therapy, Social Work, and Medicine.

Ashley Monture – MD

Ashley Monture always wanted to be a doctor, just like both of her parents. As a young girl, she would go with her mom to the nursing station in the northern communities where she worked.

“I would always try to follow her and help with patients,” says the Mohawk and Cree Access program grad who is now joining her parents’ profession with her own MD.

Monture started her university studies at McMaster but returned to Winnipeg and UM with her mother’s encouragement. She also joined the Access Program.

“It was really helpful,” she says. “After my father passed away, I appreciated the personal counselling. The academic advisors helped me to pick courses, guiding me in my options.”

With the Northern Remote Family Residency, Monture will start her residency in July.

“It still feels very surreal. It is very special. It took a long time, but it will be really nice to give back to the community. I always enjoyed my time when I lived in the North. It’s so peaceful. I had to leave to go to high school, but it was always my goal to go back to a Northern community.”

Her mom attended the Graduation Pow Wow with her and will also attend her convocation with pride. While Monture missed her Access Graduation dinner, she fondly remembers the one she attended to celebrate her undergraduate degree. “It is a nice way to celebrate and see everyone who supported you along the way.”

University can be intimidating and overwhelming at first, but Access helps students to navigate and adjust, she says. “They offer really good support and a great sense of community.”

Harrison Mason plans to build energy efficient houses using local resources.

Harrison Mason- Bachelor of Environmental Studies

Harrison Mason will return to Winnipeg for June convocation, to celebrate earning his Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a focus on Sustainable Building. The 39-year-old married father of four didn’t attend the Access Program dinner because the cost of travel to and from St. Theresa Point is prohibitive. But, he says, “Graduating is awesome. With my background, I didn’t think I would make it. I had a lot of doubt. There was my age, and my family. I thought many times about quitting. But people supported me. It took a while, but I did it.”

Just a few years ago, Mason was just getting by working construction in Winnipeg when he realized he needed to do something to earn more for his family and to inspire his children. His sister encouraged the Anisininew from St. Theresa Point to follow her to UM.

“I learned so many things. It was scary. I didn’t think I was smart enough. I wondered what I had got myself into. I thought I knew math and writing essays, but it was hard,” he says.

Mason started in Engineering but transferred to the Access Program to find his way. “When I needed help, they were there. They are one of the big parts of why I graduated. When I started paying attention, talking to the right people, they helped, and I realized I could do it.”

He discovered Environmental Studies and Sustainable Building. “I’m a carpenter and I want to help the environment. This is what I want to do,” he says. “There is so much we can do. I want to adapt to the local environment, build a house where the house is healthy as well. I believe it will take time.”

With his degree behind him, Mason is learning how to build log houses with a Saskatchewan training program in July and then he plans to build his own home as a prototype. “It will be a log cabin. My house will be energy efficient and use local resources.”

His construction process will also focus on waste minimization. “Why waste when I can reuse materials in what I am doing? I am renovating my mom’s home right now, using everything again. It’s going well.”

The Access Program taught Mason it is okay to go through hardship. “Just don’t give up. Work hard. They will provide tutors. You will make it. Just don’t give up. Push through. It will come.”

Learn more about the Access Program

Convocation Schedule

Graduates will check-in at the Joe Doupe gym, in the basement of the Brodie Building. We ask that graduates arrive at 1:00 pm in order to get their cap, gown and procession card. For some general tips on how to prepare for your Convocation, please review the emails that were sent to you in preparation of graduation.

Grad Photos

A UM photographer will be at the ceremony to take a photo of each graduate as they cross the stage and of the ceremony itself. Graduates will be able to order their photos through Artona.

Guests

Guests can attend in person or stream the ceremonies online.

For guests attending in person, the ceremony will be located in the Brodie Atrium, in the Brodie Centre at 727 McDermont Avenue. The doors will open at 1:00, and guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis.

You can view the ceremony schedules on our Convocation Dates and Times page.

We look forward to celebrating your graduation this Fall! Join the conversation online by using #umanitoba2023 to celebrate.

Parking

If you plan to drive to the ceremony, you will need to make your own parking arrangements. There are public parking garages and street parking available – you can view parking options on the Bannatyne Parking Map. There is no complementary parking provided.

The Bannatyne Campus is also well served by transit, you can visit Winnipeg Transit’s Website for details on bus routes.

Not Attending

If you are not coming to Convocation, you do not need to advise us. We will send your parchment through regular mail to your address listed in Aurora, two weeks after the ceremony.

Graduation Pow Wow

The Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow is held in the Spring. Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) graduates who participate in Fall 2023 convocation are eligible to participate in next year’s annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow on May 4, 2024. You are also eligible to receive an Indigenous Graduation Stole* to wear at Fall convocation.

*If you attended the Graduation Pow Wow on May 6, 2023, this is a reminder to wear your Indigenous graduation stole at your convocation ceremony. Due to limited stock, there may not be extras to give out if you forget yours. If one can be given out to borrow, it must be returned. A deposit of personal ID such as a license or credit card must be made to ensure return. Decisions will be made daily. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

More information will be sent out next term. Students graduating this fall can look for registration information next April on our Indigenous Student Experience page.

“This Management and Administration certificate will make a difference. Taking a program in English from a recognized university shows commitment and opens doors,” says the graduate from Columbia.

On Oct. 23, Extended Education celebrated our Fall 2023 Intensive Program Package Graduation recognizing 112 students including Marquez who completed these packages. We also congratulate our additional 83 Fall 2023 graduates from our part-time programs.

Marquez had two bachelor’s degrees, in economics and in business, and experience as a sales coordinator and sales administrator before she started her studies at UM. She found a similar role in her current job at Pattison Outdoor.

“I love it. I am a quick learner. I have worked in a sales-driven environment. I have the skills to perform well.  The culture and way of doing business here is similar.”

She says completing her program while she worked was a big accomplishment. “It was a pretty good thing to study, to apply my knowledge in Canada and make a smooth transition.”

She appreciated the tools her program gave her including a pronunciation clinic and writing and grammar workshops. “It can be challenging to think and express yourself in a proper way in a new language.”

And when she was about to say goodbye to her classmates by hugging and kissing them, as people warmly greet and say goodbye to each other in her native Columbia, some asked what she was doing.

“Personal space is more respected here. Especially after COVID. It is an unspoken rule,” says Marquez, who celebrated her graduation with her husband, Camilo, with plans to go out to dinner with his family afterwards.

Some of her fellow graduates were also from Columbia, and they will keep in touch, to share their common experience of things that differ compared to how they are done in Canada. For example, in Columbia, there is no Thanksgiving. They have Little Candles Day and Novena celebrations leading up to Christmas and they are a big deal in the offices.

“It is a time to feel homesick, so it helps to have them around,” she says.

Oluwapelumi Oyekunle celebrates her graduation from Applied Business Analysis with her parents: her mom’s friend and her husband.

Oluwapelumi Oyekunle, Applied Business Analysis

When Oluwapelumi Oyekunle was considering taking her career in a new direction by studying Business Analysis at UM, her friends asked her why she would not simply stick with what she knows. After all, with her accounting degree, she was good at numbers.

“No one understood,” says the Applied Business Analysis program package graduate. “But I am so excited about it. I feel like I have accomplished something different. When you set your mind to something, there is nothing you can’t achieve. Push your dreams. Do what you like to do. Just do it. Don’t wait.”

Oyekunle had been working for a global financial company back home in Nigeria when she found herself leading the introduction of a software system. “I was sort of doing business analysis. But I was not used to the terms. I was lost.”

Then she started her program.

“Now I have the terminology and I know when to use it. This program introduced me to lots of people from all over the world. It gave me this confidence. I am so grateful for this experience.”

Currently, she is working at Assiniboine Credit Union, and working on her BA certifications.

“I definitely want to go into business analysis. I like numbers but I also like people. I like to talk. I want to find solutions.”

Celebrating graduation with her will be her mom’s friend and her husband. Oyekunle stayed with them when she first came to Winnipeg. “They have been my biggest support system.”

She has also recommended her program to her boyfriend, in Nigeria.

Daiane Waldrich Barbosa celebrates her graduation from Applied Human Resource Management.

Daiane Waldrich Barbosa, Applied Human Resource Management

Daiane Waldrich Barbosa didn’t want to take another business course. After all, she had two university diplomas in business and related work experience in her native Brazil.

“I was trying to find something different. I had been working in banks. I had my own consulting company. But I was missing something, the people aspect. I am totally sure I took the right course,” says the Applied Human Resource Management program package grad.

“I learned lots about people and behaviour in the work environment. Here, people are more interested in the soft skills. Here is more respectful. Training and development were the most interesting to me. I learned how to develop people and make things better for them.”

Now she is working at RBC Dominion Securities, in the Operations department.

“I understand employment standards because of the program. It helped me to know how to behave here. It was an intense experience, but it was definitely worth it. It was so rewarding to get to the end and think, I made it. I really made it.”

Her husband, Cleber Barbosa, will celebrate graduation with her. “He was super supportive while I studied and worked full-time. He suffered everything with me.”

Graduation is a special milestone, she says. “No one in my family has experienced anything like this. My parents are very proud. This was something I was dreaming of a few years ago. You just need to believe and dream about it and things will work out for you.”

Waldrich Barbosa plans to keep learning.

“I am not sure of my next steps. Maybe financial certifications, or another course. I believe we can never stop learning. We have to keep updating ourselves.”

Learn more about programs and courses from UM Extended Education

In anticipation of this once-in-a-lifetime moment, here are the top 10 ways to have a great convocation experience.

1. Arrive on time. The Fort Garry ceremonies will be held in the Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC). Graduates should report to the James Daly Field House in the Max Bell Centre 60-90 minutes before their ceremony. View the Convocation Day Schedule.
2. Plan ahead and take everything you will need with you. Bring your photo ID, so you are able to pick up your procession card, gown, hood, and mortarboard at the Gaspard table. We recommend leaving other valuables with a friend or family member.
3. Look your best. Convocation is a formal occasion, meaning dress clothes are recommended even if under your gown and hood. Please avoid wearing corsages and boutonnieres, fraternity or sorority adornments, or flowers. Indigenous students can wear traditional Indigenous attire in addition to or in lieu of the other approved academic regalia (gowns, hoods, etc.). You can also pick up an Indigenous graduation scarf at the James Day Field House on the day of your ceremony.
4. Know where to park. Complimentary parking is provided in the U Lot and Q Lot (as seen on the Parking Map) on the Fort Garry campus. Please note that complimentary parking for Fall Convocation will be available all day on October 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th parking will be complimentary until 4:30 PM.  Accessible parking will also be available in the P lot.
5. Make any necessary arrangements for accessibility support. Everyone deserves to have a memorable experience! Contact Student Accessibility Services if you require assistance with seating, sign language interpretation, or other accessibility support.
6. Take graduation photos! Have something to remember this day. Photographers will be present for individual and family photograph sessions before and after the ceremony. A photographer will also be capturing the moment you are handed your parchment.
7. Visit the Alumni photo booths! You’re officially an alumni now! Stop by and capture all the moments at one of two digital photo booths in the Fieldhouse after the ceremony (we’ll send you links to the pics!). Use our photo backdrops to take your own, and chat with Alumni staff, Board and volunteers to find out all the cool perks and opportunities available to you as new UM alumni.
8. Include family, friends and loved ones no matter how far away they are. We encourage graduates to invite guests, but we kindly ask that you limit your in-person guests to five people. Guests should enter the IGAC and take their seats before the ceremony begins. If you have a guest with mobility issues, they should talk to an usher at the door for seating accommodations. Those unable to attend in person are welcome to tune in virtually by accessing the immersive virtual platform and joining the live stream component.
9. Share the experience on social media. Post your pictures and videos using #UManitoba2023 and tag @umanitoba and @umstudent in your Instagram stories for your fellow graduates and the UM community to see!
10. Celebrate! Convocation Day is meant to honour you and your accomplishments while looking forward to the future ahead of you. Join up with family and friends in the James Daly Fieldhouse to enjoy one of the best memories of your lifetime at the ceremony after party. Hosted by the Alumni Association, the celebration will include a DJ, lots of fabulous photo ops, an audio booth to record your alumni advice for others, refreshments and more!

To stay up to date on what to expect on convocation day, visit umanitoba.ca/convocation.

NAVIGATING THE PLATFORM

On the day of the ceremony you’re attending, visit umanitoba.ca/convocation where you’ll find a link to enter the virtual ceremony. We highly recommend logging in 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. This will give you some time to explore the platform, get familiar with how it works and access all the fun Convocation features and activities.

• Once you log in, you’ll land in the event lobby; think of this as the reception hall. From here, you can find links to anywhere you’d like to go in the event space. If you ever get lost, you can always return to the lobby by clicking the University of Manitoba logo at the top left of your window.
• Start by watching the “Welcome to Convocation” video. Look for the screen that says “Start Here.”
• Then, start exploring by using the navigation boxes at the bottom of the screen or the small menu at the top right of your window.
• To connect with fellow attendees in real time, use the yellow chat button at the bottom right of the screen. To find someone, click on their name or type their name in the chat’s search bar.
• The ceremony program can be found on the poster board in the centre right of your screen. The program contains a list of all graduates, award winners, Honorary Degree recipients and messages from UM’s President and Chancellor.
• The live stream will change in real time before each ceremony, so if you log in to the virtual space before or after your event, another ceremony may be streaming. To replay a ceremony after the fact, all ceremonies will be archived after Convocation concludes.
• Above all, don’t worry about missing the start of the ceremony. When it’s about to start, a banner will appear on the screen prompting you to head to the main stage. Once the ceremony has started, you can pause it, but you cannot start the ceremony before the posted time.

ENGAGING WITH THE CONTENT

Convocation’s virtual component isn’t just a live stream; it’s an interactive experience! Here are some of the things you can explore on the platform:

• Take a selfie at the virtual photo booth! Add stickers and a graduation cap, then share the picture on social media. Don’t forget to tag the UM social media channels (@UManitobaand @UMStudent) and use #umanitoba2023.
• Visit the awards gallery to see the medal winners and teaching award recipients.
• Get to know Honorary Degree recipients by reading their citations.

If you have trouble navigating any part of the virtual platform or experience any technical difficulties, don’t hesitate to ask a question in the live chat and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Congratulations to this year’s class of UM graduates and enjoy your day!

Emma Gatrell

The completion of my BSW program is bittersweet. While I welcome the end of trying to balance working full-time, school, practicum, and a social life, the education that I received throughout these last three years was life changing. Despite working in the social services field for 8 years before I started my BSW, I learned so much more from this program than I could have imagined. I enjoyed each and every class and took something meaningful away that will most certainly enhance my future practice. 

I started this degree program to help me realize my goals of moving back to my home province and working in an inpatient acute care setting. I am excited to say that this all became a reality shortly after completing my degree requirements largely because of my journey to obtain my BSW. 

I chose this career path because I want to make a difference in the world, and I whole heartedly believe this program will help me achieve that. I am very grateful for the education it provided me. Congratulations to my fellow BSW graduates! 

Sima Chowdbury

A friend of mine suggested that I apply to the University of Manitoba Distance Social Work program, so that we could go to school together. 2020 was a difficult year given I had lost my mother weeks before starting, but it all turned out well in the end. I made the Dean’s List and am looking forward to graduate from school. 

The highlight of the program was the library. As a disabled student, I relied on the librarians for access to many of the course readings that were not optimized for my reader. They were always able to acquire all the resources I needed, effectively reducing the stress of doing course work with a brain injury. I was also able to publish a book in 2021 Mindful Meditation https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09NF87WTB, which discusses the benefits of mindfulness through academic research studies. It’s great that the new curriculum added a mindfulness course. 

Because about 30% of the program is from Alberta, I have made new friends from the program and hope our friendship will continue now that the program is complete. 

Charlene Nichol

It has been an exciting journey towards earning my Bachelor of Social Work degree. I moved back to Nunavut from Manitoba in February 2020 with a set goal in mind that I was going to go back to school to finally pursue my dream of earning my B.S.W. degree.

Studying late into the night, writing papers, exams, and doing practicums, sometimes through cold and snowy blizzards, I am thrilled to now be able to say I am finally finished!

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2023! 

Kaitlyn Skinner

My name is Kaitlyn Skinner (Ahola) and I am happy to announce that I have completed the Distance Delivery Social Work program through the University of Manitoba and I can now refer to myself as a Registered Social Worker in the province of Ontario. The completion of this degree is a huge accomplishment for me as I was able to complete the program while working full-time and raising three young children, who along with my husband, have been my inspiration through it all.  I have met some great classmates as well as instructors along the way who have provided me with great support and educational/experiential knowledge that I will hold with me through my future endeavors.  

Thank you and congratulations to all of my graduating classmates!

Sharri Edmunds

Although my journey to becoming a social worker began many years prior to September 2009, my dream was realized when I took and completed my first course in the Distance Delivery BSW program at the University of Manitoba. While my journey has lasted longer than most for many reasons including the births of children, the passing of parents, changes in professional roles, and even struggles with my own health and mental health, I am proud to say that I finally got here, and my dream is now my reality. The journey to this day was not solely about joining a profession but through the anti-oppressive approach embedded in the material, this degree has also been about personal healing and further enlivening my inner resolve to help others find their own power and healing. I am deeply grateful to my family and friends for all of the support and encouragement, to my peers and colleagues for their time and investment and to my instructors and classmates at the U of M for fostering my learning. I am honoured to have studied here!

A June 12 afternoon celebration, held in University Centre, marked the Spring 2023 graduation of 89 students from the Applied Business Analysis, Applied Human Resource Management, and Applied Business Management intensive program packages offered by Extended Education. An additional 188 students also graduated from Extended Education’s part-time programs including our first micro-credentials.

Salas holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management and an MBA. “Applied Business Management complements the MBA. This program is very Canadian-focused. It’s a very good review of what I learned in my MBA, in English, with a Canadian perspective. It’s the perfect program for me to adapt and make the necessary changes to be successful in the Canadian workplace.”

Her hotel management experience took her to several countries. Then she completed her MBA in Spain and went home to Peru to have her first child and work as a facilities manager. Then she decided to come to Canada. “Life is so different here. I wanted to give my kids a better future.”

Now working as a customer success manager for Manitoba tech-based company, Vexxit, a job that also served as the Industry Placement component of her program package, she says, “I took all my skills and what I learned in my program and it worked out great. I recommend everyone do the placement. It was a great experience. It’s different than being in the classroom. Being in the field, you see how things work.

“An industry placement is an opportunity. You don’t know what will happen next. Put your passion into it. You will see results. It works out. Take advantage of it,” she advises.

Mefua Jemima Lere-Adams (centre) and her fellow grads celebrate their achievement.

Mefua Jemima Lere-Adams

Mefua Jemima Lere-Adams started her intensive program package focused on its practical aspects. “I would say my goal was not to have As. My instructors were amazed and amused. They were vastly experienced. I focused on gaining experience and connections. I would have liked to have done even more teamwork, presentations, practical things,” says the Applied Human Resource Management grad from Nigeria.

As part of the package, Lere-Adams did her Industry Placement with Cisco Canada and says it was “quite an experience” with the Winnipeg and Canadian team, learning with the support of her manager.

“My career goals are to keep growing as a person, to offer value to the community. An HR professional who is well-rounded is more valuable. I think we can leave footprints.”

Lere-Adams hadn’t heard much about Canada before she came to Winnipeg from her native Nigeria. But she was used to finding her way. Her parents had always encouraged her.

“I am very curious as a person. I like to ask questions. I was really hungry to learn what I wanted to do,” she says, noting she had earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, taken human resources courses, explored LinkedIn, conducted informational interviews, and even completed an unpaid internship before a fellow student told her about the UM opportunity that brought her to Canada.

“It was a one-year HR intensive. I didn’t want to go back for a three-year program. I am very excited to have completed it. It’s been a long time coming. I am happy with the support I received. I had great instructors, helpful colleagues (fellow students).”

Her younger brother, Jafe Lere-Adams who is working on his computer science undergraduate degree at UM, and friends will celebrate her graduation with her.

“I recommend the program. It’s good to have some work experience first. That helps so much. It is intensive and you should know the basics.”

Sekinat Mustapha-Sagaya

For Sekinat Mustapha-Sagaya, the highlight of her Applied Business Analysis intensive program package was her Industry Placement. At Loblaw Companies Limited, she says her manager was a really great person who played a huge role in her finally being hired by the company as a financial analyst. She starts soon.

“That’s connection,” says the married mother of two young boys from Nigeria, noting how excited she was to complete her studies and attend her grad.

“It’s very exciting for me. The courses were packed with lots of information. It was nice to get it done.”

Mustapha-Sangaya discovered Extended Education’s intensive program packages thanks to a Facebook ad. She emailed UM for information and chose Applied Business Analysis to complement her economics and MBA degrees and banking work experience. As branch manager, she had to do many things including managing staff, meeting sales targets, and ensuring quality customer service.

“This was a way for me to specialize in just one thing. I wanted a particular role to grow in, to become a resource person advising how to be more efficient. It was a perfect fit for me.”

She’s recommended her studies to friends, noting “It’s called APPLIED Business Analysis for a reason. My previous experience played a strong role in my understanding the information in context, the ways to get things done more efficiently, and get stakeholder support.”

While she didn’t make it into the program the first time she applied, she says everything has worked out for the best. “I love working in the financial industry. I have worked with figures for all of my career. The Business Analysis path is unlimited. I am preparing to take a certification exam and develop to become a financial business analyst. I believe I am right where I am supposed to be.”

Learn more about our intensive program packages

When did you know you wanted to study Education?

My experience in Nigeria is in the education sector. I realized that I have passion to speak with people, I always want to encourage people. I always believe in people, even from when I was young. Nigeria public education is nowhere to be fine, if you want to have good education parents have to send their children to private school. I was working as an educational administrator, I know that is not enough for me and I started talking about it. But there are some very brilliant students in public school that don’t have it set out, and they need people like me to talk to them. I started volunteering through Rotary Club. Some of my friends have NGOs, they invite me, I talk to students, mostly girls. My first degree was in business administration, so I thought, I have to go for a Master’s of Education with a specialization in Educational Administration.

Abiola Olowolagba, MEd Graduate

What is the most exciting part about your field of study?

That I work in a sector that can make an impact, I realize that it’s about those little impacts. That child that maybe believed that cannot achieve this and I’m able to talk to that child. So for me, education, even here in Canada, education is supposed to be a social item. We have injustice everywhere. So for me, the fact that I’m in that sector, that I can have impacts on people’s life, maybe through my research, it might be through my work, my social services or something. For me, it’s just that impact.

What is the best advice you have received that has helped you in your studies?

Might not be really an advice, but maybe something that a lecturer said or how a lecturer taught me. Last Summer I took the course Indigenous Research Methodology with Dr. Jennifer Brant. Because as an African person, the way we preserve our knowledge despite civilization and everything is through story, poem, and all that. My research area is lived experiences of international students of color. The test we use, the way she shared experience in class, it just got me hooked. And I really enjoyed the class, it just gave me an assurance that I can do my research in this particular research methdology. You can do your research as an auto ethnography. You can do it as a narrative inquiry, and you can still do a very good research with that.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time and the faculty?

Lots. I have beautiful memories both online and offline. I was able to meet with wonderful people, sincerely. One is Dr. Merli Tamtik. She is my supervisor, I’ve taken two classes from her as well. Dr. Robert Mizzi, Dr. Jennifer Brant, and also Dr. Nathalie Piquemal. They were all interesting classes for me, and that is the kind of thing that gets me. My class should be enriching studies and education should be be an avenue for us to express ourselves and call it the way it is. And those are classes that are really part of my favourite memories.

What’s next for you after graduation?

I tend to go home after my graduation. Maybe next year I’ll take a break and come back for Fall ‘25 for my PhD.

Nardos Ghebremeskel [BComm(Hons)/23]

“Even though I have done a lot for Asper, it does not compare to how much Asper has done for me.”

Nardos Ghebremeskel receives her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Asper this June. Majoring in Leadership and Marketing, she reflects on her involvement at Asper during her undergraduate degree and considers what is next in her career journey.

Ghebremeskel kept busy during her degree. She was co-chair of the 55^th annual Commerce Students’ Association Business Banquet and VP of Events for JDC West. She also competed in multiple national and international case competitions, landing on the podium with her team at Creative Shock, UBC Impact and the IG Case Competition.

As she moves into the next chapter of her professional life, she hopes to pursue her passions for event planning and entrepreneurship. Ghebremeskel is moving to Toronto to set up an event planning business with a friend and will look for online learning or even graduate opportunities to bring a competition pitch idea to life—an app she pitched at a University of Winnipeg competition earlier this year.

“There are so many opportunities out there, and I believe we need to be proactive in taking advantage of as many as we can. It is never easy at first, but I know taking one step at a time will help me achieve my goals,” she says.

Arifin Zaman [MBA/23]

After completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, Zaman came to Winnipeg in 2021 to pursue his MBA at the Asper School of Business with a focus in Marketing.

Zaman led the Asper Professional Graduate Student Association (APGSA) as president. In collaboration with APGSA director of finance Stéphane Lacroix-Pouliot [MBA/22], he took an organization previously open only to MBA students and expanded its scope to welcome all Asper professional graduate programs including the Master of Finance and Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics.

“I am driven by change and improvement, and I strongly felt the need to create an inclusive association that represents all the programs and gives students a voice. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, I embarked on the journey to establish APGSA,” says Zaman.

Though he is graduating, Zaman will hopefully stay in the Drake Centre as a business/professional development consultant at the Asper Career Development Centre, a position he started during his MBA.

“My commitment to Asper and my desire to make a meaningful impact drives me to stay engaged and continue giving back to the institution that has provided me with so many valuable opportunities,” he says.

Lianne Huberdeau [MBA/23]

Huberdeau graduates this spring with an Asper MBA. Beginning in Winter 2019, she focused her coursework on Leadership and Organizations while also becoming a star on the graduate case competition circuit.

Huberdeau worked frequently with fellow students Daniel Kokan, Elliot Codispodi and Kaushal Patel, typically under the team name Vanguard Consulting. Together, they brought home multiple first-place victories including Asper’s first international graduate case competition win.

Her experience with case competitions brought more than accolades. She reflects on the opportunity to grow with and learn from her team members and to be coached and mentored by talented leaders. Saying goodbye to the team is bittersweet, she says, but the trust and flow they developed was invaluable and unforgettable.

Huberdeau now hopes to continue growing as an HR executive focused on transforming the employee experience.

“I’m excited to take my broad business and strategic education to add more value and support business transformation and organizational development. Case competitions and the MBA provided me with this foundation and the ability to think critically and solve some of the most common and complex business challenges.”

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Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023!

More Asper convocation stories:

Jamie Theroux, MBA – MBA grad champions Inclusion and strives to create more opportunities for women

Andrew Hogan

Andrew Hogan

Governor General’s Gold Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the PhD level

Growing up in Newfoundland, Andrew Hogan has always had a fascination for all-things nature. He looks back on his childhood and remembers watching nature documentaries, always drawn to living organisms, especially the smallest ones, and understanding how they function. In 2023, Hogan is graduating from UM with a PhD in microbiology from the Faculty of Science.

After graduating from Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Hogan made his way to UM to earn his graduate degrees. During his time at UM, his research allowed him to take part in interdisciplinary collaborations, working on samples from a laboratory group in the Czech Republic to study the mechanisms of a new antibiotic and developing new genetic tools for another group in the United States. For 6 years, Hogan also served on the Microbiology Graduate Students’ Association, holding every position including President at some point.

He is proud to be a part of the only stand-alone microbiology department in Canada, noting how special it is to be able to explore all multifaceted components of microbiology within the same walls yet have profound implications on every aspect of living around the world.

“Being surrounded by experts who were always happy to share their diverse knowledge and equipment was very important to my success and made me realize the value of cooperation and collaboration,” says Hogan.

The world hasn’t forgotten the impact of infectious diseases, putting him in a crucial position to direct future research. He is energized by the potential to change our understanding of infectious diseases, and to reveal the weaknesses in bacterial physiology that can be used to our advantage in new therapeutics.

As Hogan nicely puts it: “Science is connected. Questions and answers spread across disciplines, regardless of country borders. When we make new connections of ideas, we also make new connections and collaborations between like-minded people. These connections are vital to solving the biggest issues of our day.”

Shayna Pierce

Shayna Pierce

Governor General’s Gold Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the master’s level

Graduating with a master of arts in psychology, Shayna Pierce’s future lies in advocating for and informing the development of medical practice guidelines and policies for perinatal mental health. This will prioritize the integration of prevention, screening and perinatal mental health services into primary prenatal and postpartum care.

Pierce’s extensive volunteer work has helped many communities in Winnipeg and around the world, yet she never fails to credit these communities for their impacts on her own life. “Of all my university experiences, being able to learn from women in leadership across the country who bring their intelligence and lived experience together to create systemic change has had the most impact on me,” says Pierce.

During a volunteer trip to Salabwek, Kenya when she was 16 years old, she helped build a local school and learned about the communities’ access to healthcare. She was inspired to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg, where she directly learned about the lasting impacts of traumatic birth experiences, uncertainty around infant health, as well as the relationships between postpartum physical health and maternal mental health.

At once, Pierce was driven to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist with a life-long goal of improving access to mental health services and credible health information through clinical research. She also hopes to focus helping populations of pregnant women and those within one year postpartum.

Even as a student, Pierce has always dedicated her time and energy to advocacy roles within the UM community and beyond. “I’ve learned that students are the future and so while we are learning, one of the most important things we can do is to question the way things are and be willing to bring our ideas and perspectives to the table,” Pierce adds.

One of her most notable roles is serving as co-chair on the advocacy board of the Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, where she collaborates with women, perinatal researchers and clinicians across Canada to advocate for unmet mental support needs of women and call upon the Canadian government to take action.

Andrea Sutherland

Governor General’s Silver Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level

Andrea Sutherland

Andrea Sutherland has always had a passion for helping others. While there are many career options to fulfill this passion, she decided to pursue a bachelor of environmental science, recognizing environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss as the most important challenges facing our world today.

“The actions of my generation will be critical in charting the course for the future of environmental management. Recognizing this fact, my academic success has been driven by the belief that I should do everything that I can do to understand and address environmental issues,” says Sutherland. “I’ve been graced with a disposition that has allowed me to enjoy learning to its fullest, and a wonderfully supportive network of friends and family, and these have been central in enabling me to work hard in my academic pursuits.”

She has been the secretary and board member of a local greenspace, the former Bishop Grandin Greenway, and played a role in the recent change of the trail’s name to Awasisak Mēskanow. She also took on a virtual internship for a Fijian charity, where she developed a climate change policy for the organization. Her research position with Environment and Climate Change Canada provided an opportunity to review forestry regulations and international protocols to offset carbon, both of which help develop the Federal Greenhouse Gas offset system.

“I wanted to join all of the dedicated, like-minded people working to address these issues. I believe that this is a critical way to help others, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities that are experiencing environmental issues most prevalently,” she adds.

Sutherland hopes to pursue a law degree to advocate for change. Regardless of whether she ends up in environmental law or a different field, there is no doubt that Sutherland will help build a better world with a stronger sense of environmental stewardship.

Shelia Le

Sheila Le

Governor General’s Silver Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level

Sheila Le is making it her career mission to help break barriers to accessing health care. Her interest in science started in middle school, where she was drawn to the human body and pathophysiology of different diseases. With a particular fascination for molecular processes, she has earned a bachelor of science in biochemistry.

“I hope to make an impact on the broader community through the medical field as a future physician who will strive to provide quality, equitable care and help reduce the barriers that various people encounter when accessing health care,” says Le.

She volunteered at Victoria General Hospital throughout her studies, helping patients connect virtually with their family members during the time of the pandemic when visitors weren’t allowed in facilities, and helped facilitate recreational activities when patients’ mental well-being was historically challenging.

Le participated in the Multidisciplinary Health Research Experience program where she attended health science seminars and professional development activities, as well as the Language Exchange program involving an exchange of language and cultural practices with an international student at UM. With her education and compassionate nature, her experiences and expertise in biochemistry will set her up for success in her studies to become a physician, after which she will surely make a difference in the field of health care.

Le credits her dad who has always emphasized the value of education and hard work: “Seeing how hard he’s had to work to raise me and my sister motivates me to stay committed to my education and to work harder for a better future.”

Jamie Chi Yan Wan

Jamie Chi Yan Wan

Governor General’s Bronze Medal – Awarded for highest standing in the two year Diploma course in Agriculture

Before moving to Winnipeg in 2021, Jamie Chi Yan Wan grew up in Hong Kong and earned her first bachelor’s degree in geography and resource management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“It became clear to me that agriculture offers a significant entry point for addressing sustainability issues since food production is a fundamental aspect that allows everyone to participate in different ways,” says Wan.

She worked at a university farm in Hong Kong where she developed a viable sustainability model that could be replicated in other rural areas of the region, allowing her to collaborate with ecologists and landowners on farming practices rooted in ecological conservation initiatives. This experience not only introduced her to farming activities for the first time, but it also convinced her to further explore her interest in the agriculture industry.

Truly committing to her goals, she made the move to Canada and knew she belonged in UM’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Despite the significant shift in the university experience during the worst of the pandemic, Wan stayed persistent and resilient. She then faced another barrier – her lack of familiarity with North American agriculture, especially in comparison to her peers. These challenges only pushed Wan to work harder and she eventually grew more confident in herself. Receiving this award fills her with well-deserved pride and serves as the ultimate recognition of her abilities and potential.

“Learning is a lifelong journey where age and background do not determine what you can achieve,” Wan adds. As her next step, she looks forward to contributing to the industry as a researcher who can shape the future of agriculture for better, more sustainable communities.

Rovielle Rantael

Rovielle Rantael

Governor General’s Bronze Medal – Awarded for highest standing in a diploma program of at least two years other than diploma Agriculture

After graduating from W.C. Miller Collegiate in Altona, Manitoba, Rovielle Rantael was inspired to study Dental Hygiene by family members who are also in the dental profession. While taking an Oral and Dental Anatomy course, she realized how intriguing the dental field is and discovered that she loves how her studies and future career path allow her to incorporate aspects of art and creativity into the health sciences.

During her studies, she helped raise awareness of the School of Dental Hygiene and the General Dentistry Clinic to students and the public. She plans to continue being an advocate for her profession and showcasing the significant role dental hygienists play in preventative health care.

A highly accomplished student, Rantael won scholarships throughout her academic years, including the Dr. A.W. Hogg Scholarship, handed out for highest standing in the second year of the dental hygiene program, and the Isbister Undergraduate Scholarship in Dental Hygiene, awarded based on eligibility for the dean’s honour list and for the highest average standing in years one to three. In addition to winning the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, she also received the University Program Medal for Dental Hygiene, the Manitoba Dental Association Gold Medal and the Manitoba Dental Association Prize at her convocation.