CONVOCATION SPRING 2021 JUNE 25 CONVOCATION CONTENTS 2 Greetings to the Graduates 3 Alumni Speakers 4 Honorary Degree Recipients 8 Conferring of Degrees 9 Order of Online Convocation 10 Our Graduates 10 Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences QUAECUMQUE VERA 12 Arts 20 Augustana 20 Business 25 Centre Collégial de L'Alberta Campus Saint-Jean WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE 25 Education 32 Engineering 40 Faculté Saint-Jean 40 Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation 42 Law 43 Medicine & Dentistry 44 Native Studies 45 Nursing 46 Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 47 Public Health 48 Rehabilitation Medicine 50 Science 61 Certificates 65 Je te retrouve — I Remember You ON THE FRONT COVER THE UNIVERSITY COAT OF ARMS In June 1994, His Excellency the Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Governor General of Canada, presented the University of Alberta with its Coat of Arms. The full Coat of Arms is displayed at ceremonial occasions such as Convocation, and is used by the Chancellor, the titular head of the University. On the shield is a representation of the topography of Alberta rendered in the colours of the University. At the base is a prairie wheat field symbolizing Alberta’s agricultural industry. The wavy gold line above suggests the hills and rivers of Alberta and, in particular, the setting of the University campus. The top of the shield is in gold and separated from the rest of the shield by a line suggesting the Rocky Mountains. The book of learning dominates the design. On the crest is a Grand-Duc d’Amérique, or Great Horned Owl, the provincial bird and an accepted symbol of knowledge. The pronghorn, taken from the Provincial Coat of Arms, and the golden bear, mascot of the University, support the shield. Both wear collars of the University colours, as does the owl. At the base of the Coat of Arms is a grassy mound with wild roses, the floral emblem of Alberta with the University’s motto: Quaecumque Vera (Whatsoever things are true). The list of candidates for degrees, diplomas, and certificates appearing herein is subject to such corrections, with respect to additions, deletions, and changes, as may be necessary. The information presented is current as of the program printing deadline. SPRING CONVOCATION 2021 1 GREETINGS TO THE GRADUATES ALUMNI SPEAKERS ADRIEN CHO Mr. Adrien Cho is a University of Alberta Alumnus who received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree in 1998 and a Master of Design degree in 2004. He is an experienced game developer who began his career at Bioware in Edmonton as an artist and was the lead technical artist for their acclaimed Mass Effect series. He has also been featured on What The Job? Podcast, earning the most listens for 2020. He is currently working for 343 Industries, the developers of the best-selling Halo franchise. Congratulations, you did it! Congratulations, Class of 2021! On behalf of the Government of Alberta, You are the first University of Alberta Today, we celebrate a milestone that marks congratulations to the University of Alberta graduating class in more than a century the completion of years of hard work and Class of 2021. NISHA PATEL to have spent the final year of your studies dedication. Successfully achieving that goal is I know this is probably not the ceremony Ms. Nisha Patel is a University of Alberta Alumna who received a Bachelor of Commerce during a pandemic and without the familiar only one chapter of your story, and we at the you imagined when you began your studies; degree and a Leadership Certificate in 2015. Nisha began writing poetry at the age of 23, and connection to campus, with professors University of Alberta look forward to seeing however, each one of you must be savouring just released her debut poetry collection, Coconut. She is the City of Edmonton's Poet Laureate, and your fellow students, exploring ideas, your future success. a tremendous sense of accomplishment. and co-hosts 70percentcoverage podcast illustrating the challenges people with disabilities reading in the library, sharing a coffee and And rightly so. Not only have you dedicated As you convocate, you join the university's and chronic health conditions face. Nisha is a Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion and conversation. Simple but significant things years of hard work to pursuing your dreams, community of over 300,000 alumni worldwide, mentor, teacher, and Masters Candidate pursuing her goals of telling truthful stories. we all have missed. and with them, you hold the power to change but you have also had to complete this effort At the same time, the pandemic has taught the future. Consider the opportunities that lie under incredibly difficult circumstances. us many valuable lessons. Our ability to adapt ahead to start new industries and businesses, Your resilience is extraordinary, and I have and persevere in spite of stressful times. renew public services, expand the creative no doubt that your creativity and innovation The importance of connections with people arts, explore new research areas, and lead will become a driving force behind recovery in we love. The need for kindness, empathy social, cultural and economic change. Each communities here in Alberta and elsewhere. and respect to bridge increasingly polarized of you will play a role in shaping the world for Graduates like you are our greatest asset views. The speed at which new discoveries your fellow graduates, your families and your as we address the current challenges and can be transformed into life-saving solutions. communities. prepare for those yet to come. These are lasting lessons I hope you will This institution was founded on the promise The knowledge and skills you have gained remember as you take your next steps of “uplifting the whole people.” I invite you will serve you well in the future, and I hope beyond university life. to dedicate the knowledge and skills you you will reflect on your time at the U of A with We are incredibly proud of all of you, our developed during your time at the U of A to pride. Enjoy this opportunity to celebrate what STEPHANIE LIU newest graduates. You bring us hope for pursue that noble aim and to continue to you have achieved with family and friends, the future. You inspire us with your energy, make your alma mater proud. and to anticipate the adventure ahead. Dr. Stephanie Liu is a University of Alberta Alumna who received a Doctor of Medicine degree enthusiasm, skills and ideas. Whatever Congratulations again, and best wishes for in 2013. She is also a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Calgary. Stephanie path you choose, you can make a positive success in all you do. Stay well, practices community family medicine and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University difference in our world. The University of of Alberta. She is founder of parenting blog Life of Dr Mom — where she discusses her Alberta will be here, cheering you on from experiences as a first-time mom and provides evidence based child and maternal health the sidelines, as each of you pursues your BILL FLANAGAN information. Her goal is to provide families with credible medical information so they can make next hopes and dreams. President and Vice-Chancellor informed decisions about their health and the health of their loved ones. She is also the author of three popular children’s books, Madi Monkey Learns the Body, Georgie Shark and COVID-19, HON. JASON KENNEY and Madi’s Mom Goes to Work. Premier of Alberta PEGGY GARRITTY Chancellor 2 UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA SPRING CONVOCATION 2021 3 CONVOCATION SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS RUTH L. COLLINS-NAKAI HONOURABLE SALMA LAKHANI, AOE, B.SC. Ruth Collins-Nakai is a cardiologist and physician leader. In addition to serving as the first female president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Collins-Nakai influenced research The Honourable Salma Lakhani was installed as Alberta’s 19th Lieutenant Governor on and clinical practices worldwide as the first Canadian to head two of the leading bodies in August 26, 2020 — the first person of Muslim faith and South Asian descent to be appointed to her field: the American College of Cardiology and the Inter-American Society of Cardiology. the position. Her long standing service as a community leader and volunteer has been guided Born and raised in Pincher Creek, Alberta, Dr. Collins-Nakai completed her undergraduate, by her deep commitment to the values of pluralism and inclusion and her dedication medical school, and postgraduate education at the University of Alberta, McGill, and to championing those who face barriers in life. Harvard, respectively. An internationally respected pediatric and adult congenital Her Honour was born in Kampala, Uganda. She is a proud Ismaili Muslim who inherited her cardiologist, she spent over 30 years at the University of Alberta in various roles, including devotion to giving back from her parents, Abdul and Malek Rajabali. A keen student with a Full Professor and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. “Dr. Ruth”, as deep-seated love of education, she attended the Aga Khan School in Kampala before pursuing she was known to her patients, established the Heritage Pediatric Cardiology Program, post-secondary studies at the University of Manchester, England. the precursor to the successful congenital heart program at the University of Alberta. She introduced ultrasound of the heart there more than four decades ago and helped establish After the government of her home country of Uganda expelled all people of Asian descent in an infant heart surgery program. 1972, it was her family's focus on education and her post-secondary studies in Britain that gave her a future.