Alumni Profiles

See what the UBC Arts experience was like for our Arts alumni — including some helpful advice for current Arts students — and discover where they are now in their careers.

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Head of International Business Development

Program Officer, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

International Monetary Fund

Erica Chiaki Kawabe (Shimizu)

Director of Projects and Change Management Office, Latin America

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies

Role

Executive Director, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Teacher, Social Studies - Middle/Senior

Director of New Student Transition Programs and First Year Experience

Interdisciplinary Studies

Role

Executive Director, Head of Admissions, Co-Founder

Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology

Advancement Officer, Regional and Global Development

University of British Columbia

University of Alberta

Andrew Han

BA, 2014

Area(s) of Study

Economics | Philosophy

Role

Mobile Game Developer

Assistant Corporation Counsel

New York City Law Department

Desiree Adib

BA, 1997

Area(s) of Study

Geography | Political Science

Role

Senior Editorial Producer

ABC News

Jorge Izquierdo Salvador

PhD, 2018

Area(s) of Study

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies

Role

Dean of General Education and Professor

Universidad de las Américas (UDLA)

Manager, Operational Excellence

Communications Specialist

School of Population and Public Health at UBC

Saxophone Faculty / Instructor

Vancouver Academy of Music

Secondary School Music Teacher

Delta School District

Enterprise Account Executive

Professor/Director Emirata

Simon Fraser University

Carole Joling

BA, 1967; BLS, 1969

Area(s) of Study

Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies | French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

Role

Freelance Photographer

Founding Attorney / CEO

Volunteer and Stewardship Lead

The Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders

Christina Morrow

BA, 2021

Area(s) of Study

International Relations

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | Political Science

Role

Language Assistant

North American Language and Culture Program, US Embassy of Spain

English Tutor and Test Prep Instructor

Self Employed

Barbara Bernhardt (née Handford)

BA, 1969

Area(s) of Study

Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies

Art History and Visual Art

Role

Bank Officer

SPDB (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank)

Annika Steiro

BA, 2021

Area(s) of Study

Art History and Visual Art

Role

Business Support Administrator

Jules Arita Koostachin

PhD, 2021

Area(s) of Study

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

Role

Filmmaker

VisJuelles Productions Inc.

Senior Sales Operations Analyst

Dell Technologies

Gregory Tiersma-Woollgar

BA, 2017

Area(s) of Study

Art History and Visual Art

Role

Senior Specialist, Art Research Department

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice | Theatre and Film

Role

Actor, Producer, Scholar, Author

Asian Studies | International Relations

Role

Member Services Manager

Women’s Support Worker

Dixon Transition Society

Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General

Sania Chaudhry

BA, 2014

Area(s) of Study

Psychology | Sociology

Role

Conduct Counsel

Real Estate Council of Alberta

Coral Santana

BA, 2021

Area(s) of Study

Creative Writing | Theatre and Film

Role

Member Services and Equity Coordinator

Directors Guild of Canada

Cicely Belle Blain

BA, 2016

Area(s) of Study

Central, Eastern, and Northern European Studies

Role

CEO & Principal Consultant

University College London

Julianna Bouso Rodriguez

U.S. House of Representatives

Justin Tse

BA (Honours), 2007; MA, 2009; PhD, 2014

Area(s) of Study

Geography | History

Role

Assistant Professor of Humanities (Education)

Singapore Management University

Chief Strategy Officer

Inspire Image Picture Co.

Manager, Process Automation

Coast Capital Savings

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | Political Science

Role

Manager, Communications

Art History and Visual Art

Role

Founder and CEO / Landscape Painter

Director, Indigenous Student Recruitment & Admissions

Simon Fraser University

Avril Espinosa-Malpica

BA, 2018

Area(s) of Study

Economics | French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | Political Science

Role

Senior Analyst & Trade Commissioner

Global Affairs Canada

Ryan Cardwell

BA, 2004

Area(s) of Study

Asian Studies | History

Role

Executive Director, Kindergarten Programs

Concept Description Specialist

Regional Protection Coordinator

International Committee of the Red Cross

Spencer Lindsay

BA, 2011

Area(s) of Study

First Nations and Indigenous Studies

Role

Project Manager, Aboriginal Health

Vancouver Coastal Health

Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers

BA, 2011

Area(s) of Study

First Nations and Indigenous Studies | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

First Nations and Indigenous Studies | Geography

Role

Squamish Language Teacher, Kwi Awt Stélmexw

Founder, Indigenous Women Outdoors

Linguistics in the Wild

Various ventures / Entrepreneur

Environmental Management Analyst

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Bluebird Provisions inc.

Chiamaka Mọgọ

MPPGA, 2019

Area(s) of Study

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Founder and President of the Board

Initiative for Inclusive Dialogue in Nigeria (IIDN)

Aboozar Ahmadi

MPPGA, 2019; BA, 2019

Area(s) of Study

International Relations | Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Policy Officer

Department of National Defence

Michelle Ghoussoub

MJ, 2016; BA, 2014

Area(s) of Study

International Relations | Journalism | Political Science

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Policy Analyst

Natural Resources Canada

Brad Vis

BA, 2008

Area(s) of Study

Classical Near Eastern and Religious Studies | Political Science

Minister of Natural Resources Canada

Jill Slattery

BA, 2014

Area(s) of Study

Creative Writing | English

Role

Communications Specialist

Lauren Hamman

MPPGA, 2018

Area(s) of Study

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Intergovernmental Relations Advisor

Government of British Columbia

Creative Writing | Psychology

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Public Management Consultant

UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Director of Operations

Vancouver Premier College

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Associate, China

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

Danielle Bicknell

BA, 2008

Area(s) of Study

International Relations | Political Science

Langara School of Management

Liesl Lafferty

MFA, 2019

Area(s) of Study

Creative Writing | Theatre and Film

Role

Story Editor, Dramaturg and Playwright

English | Theatre and Film

Role

PR & Community Liaison

Conservation Program Coordinator

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Aaron Chin

BA, 2012

Area(s) of Study

Economics | Political Science

Role

Chief Executive Officer

Organika Health Products Inc

Communications Coordinator

History | International Relations

Role

Mental Health Clinician

Vancouver Coastal Health

Verna Yam

BA, 2018

Area(s) of Study

Asian Studies | International Relations

Role

Trade Policy Analyst

Global Affairs Canada

Digital Communications Manager

Co-Founder & CEO, Foodee

Co-Founder & Owner, Tacofino

Claire Seaborn

BA, 2010

Area(s) of Study

Geography | Political Science

Role

Lawyer

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Leah Clark

BA, 2004

Area(s) of Study

Art History and Visual Art

Psychology | Sociology

Role

Author & science journalist

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.

Faisal Paktian

BA, 2017

Area(s) of Study

Geography | Political Science

Role

Junior T-JAG Analyst

Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Yulanda Lui

BA, 2017

Area(s) of Study

Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

Role

DTES Chinese Seniors Outreach Worker

Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice

Victoria & Albert Museum

International Relations

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

Role

Communications Consultant and Storyteller

Lawrence Book McKnight

BA, 2015

Area(s) of Study

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | Geography

Role

Counter Trafficking Unit Intern

International Organization for Migration

Head of Programming and Education

Burnaby Village Museum

Siena Wood Hutton

BA, 2017

Area(s) of Study

Classical Near Eastern and Religious Studies

Role

Assistant Mosaic Conservator

National Institution Stobi

Economics | Political Science

Director of Choral Studies and Associate Conductor of Orchestras

Vancouver Academy of Music

English | Journalism | Sociology

Role

Journalist and Editor

Art History and Visual Art

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice

Role

Founder

The Survivor Dream Project

Global Managing Partner

Chinese-to-English Translator

Indigenous Relations Specialist

Asian Studies | Economics | Political Science

Role

Senior Vice President

National Accounts, Speakeasy Inc.

ConsultingSuccess.com

Documentary Radio Producer

Cited Media Productions

Aaron Ames

BA, 2014

Area(s) of Study

Political Science | Sociology

Role

Coordinator

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Chris Freek

BA, 1997

Area(s) of Study

Classical Near Eastern and Religious Studies

Role

Senior Manager, Communications & Marketing

UBC

Lesley Duncan

PhD, 2009; MA, 2005; BA, 2002

Area(s) of Study

Psychology

Role

Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer

Director of Alumni Engagement

Set and Lighting Designer

East Asia Business Development

Hussein Janmohamed

BMus, 1996; MMus, 2014; MMus, 1998

Area(s) of Study

Music

Role

Composer, Conductor and Teacher

Information & Cultural Officer

Consulate General of Japan

Foreign Service Officer

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Great Pacific Television

Community Investment Portfolio Manager

International Relations | Political Science

Role

Director, Access and Government Relations

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies

Role

Career Advisor

Faculty of Law, University of Calgary

Carmen Lee

BA, 2001

Area(s) of Study

International Relations | Political Science

Role

Global Alliance Marketing Lead

Workday / Deloitte Canada

David Michael Fonseca

Senior Content Developer (Learning)

Heritage Program Manager

Michelle Kim

BA, 2002

Area(s) of Study

Asian Studies | Canadian Studies

Role

Novelist, Filmmaker, Actor

Co-Owner, Vice President, HR and Recruitment

English Schools Foundation

Recruitment Specialist

Eagle Professional Resources

Communications Coordinator

BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit / UBC

Transportation Planner

WATT Consulting Group

Darlene Munro

BA, 2015

Area(s) of Study

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | History

Marketing Production Coordinator

Nintendo of Canada

Rosalyn C. RainDancer

BA, 2006

Area(s) of Study

Interdisciplinary Studies

Role

Founder & CEO

The Conscious CEO Experience Training & Consulting

Tomo Yamaguchi

BA, 2018

Area(s) of Study

Economics | Political Science

Role

Talent Acquisition Partner

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | Psychology

Interdisciplinary Studies

Role

English Language Remedial Learning Specialist

Fraser Academy

Cristina Blanco Iglesias

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards

Institute for Future Legislators at Ryerson University

Astghik Hairapetian

BA, 2017

Area(s) of Study

French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies | International Relations

Public Policy and Global Affairs

Role

Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives

Westcoast Family Centre Society

Mackenzie Macht

BA, 2012

Area(s) of Study

English | Interdisciplinary Studies

Role

Registered Midwife

Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice | Sociology

Role

MA Student

University of Toronto

Hi Q Training, Morneau Shepell, Vancouver Community College

MLAIS, 2017; MA, 2006

Area(s) of Study

Classical Near Eastern and Religious Studies | Library, Archival, and Information Studies

Role

Librarian and Poet

Burnaby Public Library and Surrey Public Library

English | Theatre and Film

Role

Specialist, Casino Marketing Communications

Director of University Affairs

Communications Manager

UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Thompson Rivers University

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