ubc virtual graduation spring 2021 june 2 Dear Graduate, Today’s virtual ceremony celebrates your very real accomplishment. Your graduation began long before this day. It began when you made the choice to study that extra hour, dedicate yourself more deeply and strive to reach for the degree you had chosen to fully commit your life to pursuing. Many of the people that helped you arrive here today— family, friends, classmates—are watching this ceremony with you. While they may not be physically next to you, they stand with you in spirit, take pride in your achievement and share your joy. We are honoured to have given you a place to discover, inspire others and be challenged beyond what you thought was possible. Yours, UBC TABLE OF CONTENTS The Graduation Journey 2 Lists of Spring 2021 Graduating Students Graduation Traditions 4 The Faculty of Graduate and Chancellor’s Welcome 6 Postdoctoral Studies 21 President’s Welcome 8 The Faculty of Applied Science 30 Musqueam Welcome 10 The Faculty of Arts 36 The Board of Governors & Senate 12 The Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration 47 Scholarships, Medals & Prizes 14 The Faculty of Dentistry 53 The Program of Ceremony 20 The Faculty of Education 54 The Faculty of Forestry 56 The Faculty of Land and Food Systems 58 The Peter A. Allard School of Law 60 The Faculty of Medicine 61 The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences 63 The Faculty of Science 64 Acknowledgements 70 O Canada 70 Alumni Welcome 71 1 SPRING GRADUATION 2021 THE GRADUATION JOURNEY The UBC graduation journey has been forged by the spirit of the university’s motto, Tuum Est, (meaning ‘it is yours’) since 1915. Today, you, the graduating class of 2021, now shape UBC’s history by making it your own. 1916 1920s 1940s One of the first graduating classes was The twenties saw the student-led Great The forties were an era of tremendous the Arts Class of 1916 pictured here at a Trek to UBC’s new Point Grey campus, change at the university as both students party at the home of Mary Wilons. In establishing the university as a place of and faculty embraced the war effort. UBC’s first year, there were only three mind for students the world over. The In 1943, new President Norman faculties: Arts, Applied Science and AMS incorporated as a non-profit society MacKenzie began in earnest to expand Agriculture with 379 registered students and the university began awarding its the university and new departments and 34 faculty members. first graduate degrees to students. In the were formed along with new buildings Ubyssey, published in September 23, 1925, to house them including Brock Hall, students described the new campus with the first student union building. By the a sense of wonder: “We are dazed with the 1950s, UBC had established itself appearance of architectural cleanliness as a comprehensive university and top and bewildered by our lineal freedom.” choice for students in BC and beyond. 2 SPRING GRADUATION 2021 1960s 1980s 2021 Student numbers continued to escalate With over 34,000 students registered at This year, we celebrate the 75th alongside the scholarly activities the beginning of the eighties, UBC began anniversary of the School of Kinesiology that began to define UBC as a leader in attracting scholars from all over the world. and its history of improving societal health research. The campus was alive with Engineering students were in the news through human movement and sport. sixties counterculture and a sixth frequently for their pranks, which included Overall, the year 2021 is notable for president of UBC was elected by the the famous Ladner Clock Tower stunt in extraordinary challenges. The global name of Dr. Walter Gage. New student which students pulled off hoisting a white COVID-19 outbreak dramatically altered residences were created to respond Volkswagen Bug onto the top of the tower. the socioeconomic landscape. From to the expanding student body as well as Dr. Martha Piper was elected President in students assisting frontline workers to a new student union building. Students 1997 and ushered in an era of international researchers developing potential gain influence at the university and engagement that saw UBC step onto treatments and vaccines, this year’s are elected to the University Board of the world stage as an educator and global graduates are making a difference by Governors for the first time. centre for research excellence. helping to combat the global pandemic. Their determination and resilience is helping them to achieve their goals and shape a better future for all of us. 3 SPRING GRADUATION 2021 GRADUATION TRADITIONS 4 SPRING GRADUATION 2021 The University mace is a symbol of the authority of the Chancellor. It is displayed on ceremonial occasions, most notably during graduation ceremonies but also during the installation of a president or chancellor. THE UNIVERSITY MACE CEREMONIAL REGALIA The 2021 grad class tree is an American Elm (Ulmus americana), located on In the fall of 1957, the University The hoods, gowns and hats worn by those the north side of University Boulevard com missioned Haida carver Bill Reid to participating in the academic ceremonies by Main Mall. undertake the project. Owing to Reid’s are lined with colours to indicate the heavy workload, he suggested that George degree they have been conferred, a The gift to the University serves as a Norris be asked to help design and carve tradition dating back to the Middle Ages memorial to the outgoing class, a token of the mace. The planning of the mace when the first universities were founded. appreciation to the school and a reflection took some time and a final design was on time spent as students at UBC. In 2019, UBC approached the not approved until 1959. xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Syilx This year’s class finished their time Norris carved the mace from a block of Okanagan Nation to collaborate on studying at UBC physically separated due yew and it included a stylized thunderbird a project that would add Indigenous to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite on the thick upper portion. The mace symbols of host nations of each respective this challenge, students persisted and also featured the use of copper that was campus to the academic regalia of thrived. As a reflection of these unusual prominent in Northwest Coast native art. senior administration. circumstances, the AMS is presenting This copper trimming was designed and a gift of an outdoor pavilion for use by all Chrystal Sparrow, a third-generation prepared by Bill Reid. Norris completed future students as a place of gathering, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm artist and carver from the the mace in 1959 and it was first used at communal learning and inclusion. xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Indian Band, was selected the fall graduation ceremony where the by a committee with representatives The class has enlisted members of Director of Ceremonies, Malcolm from each campus and host nation, the School of Architecture to assist in the McGregor, carried it for the first time. and she designed the new regalia for the design and construction of the pavilion. Chancellor, members of the Board of It will be built sustainably using novel Governors and the President and materials and methods and will address Vice-Chancellor. These new regalia were comfort and energy efficiency through introduced to the UBC community state-of-the-art heating and cooling and worn for the first time at UBC's fall techniques. The structure will be erected 2020 academic ceremonies. on the Point Grey campus, providing shelter, seating and a place for outdoor GRAD CLASS LEGACY student gatherings for generations to come. UBC students have a rich legacy of giving gifts and donations to the UBC Vancouver campus. Since 1919, there has been a tradition of gifting and/or dedicating a tree in honour of the graduating class. 5 SPRING GRADUATION 2021 CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME On behalf of more than 370,000 UBC alumni from around the world, it is my pleasure to bring greetings and congratulations to members of the graduating class. At the same time, the occasion is My challenge to you as UBC graduates is admittedly bittersweet, for nothing would to continue to be truth seekers on the have been more enjoyable than to be journey ahead, and to continue to refine to be together with friends and families your research skills as you navigate what to celebrate your achievements. may at times seem to be a turbulent world. You may pleasantly discover that Indeed, the completion of degree these modern challenges can have a requirements exemplifies intelligence, unique way of fostering greater measures discipline and resourcefulness. But beyond of much-needed prudence and gracious- these traits, my greatest hope is that ness. But only if we are relentless in your university experience has taught you the pursuit of truth, and of corresponding new ways of thinking, and specifically actions that serve the greater good of a greater understanding of the importance humankind. Only then can our spirit and of reliable evidence in the pursuit of truth our character truly prevail. and informed opinion. I also encourage you to regard your UBC Irrespective of what program or degree graduation not as the end of a journey but you have completed, you have invariably as the beginning of a new one, as alumni been asked to examine divergent theories of one of the world’s most renowned and then present your own conclusions centres of learning and research. We hope along with evidence to support them. that you remain engaged with your Indeed, the ability to find and present university and your fellow alumni, and reliable evidence is the most important that you will work together with them to outcome of a university education.