Distinguished Alumni

Program:

1999 Design Studies

Year Awarded:
2011

Amanda Woodward is a positive and enthusiastic individual who has excelled in her career as an illustrator and designer.  As a professional in the design industry,her peers and colleagues respect her. She is a member and holds an executive position on the board of the Graphic Designers of Canada - Alberta North chapter.  Since graduating from MacEwan and starting her own firm, Woodward Design, Amanda has served a lengthy list of clients including the Edmonton Journal, ATCO, City of Edmonton and Cricket magazine.  In addition to her graphic design work, she continues to exhibit illustrative artwork locally and internationally, from coffee shops in Edmonton to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City. 
She is dedicated to serving the community and has worked on fundraising and awareness events for organizations such as Edmonton Women's Shelter, United Way, Doctors and Derrieres, Homeward Trust Edmonton and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Her support of the art includes pro bono work for the Brian Webb Dance Company, Northern Light Theatre, International Street Performers Festival and North Country Fair.
Amanda is committed to enabling future designers.  She lectures at post-secondary institutions and offers internships for new graduates.  Whenever opportunity presents itself, Amanda credits MacEwan for providing her with the foundation upon which she has built success.

Program:

1984 Rehabilitation Practitioner

Year Awarded:
2011

Barb Reid has worked in the field of supporting families and children with disabilities for over 25 years.  Her professional practice is grounded on values of community inclusion, family-centred practices and early childhood development.
As Executive Director of Getting Ready for Inclusion Today (GRIT), a non-profit early childhood program, Barb provides leadership in best teaching practices for children with disabilities.  For families, she supports their journey, helping them to envision a future for their children that integrates families' hopes and dreams for an inclusive community life.
Barb began her relationship and service to GRIT shortly after her graduation from MacEwan in 1982.  She was also an instructor with MacEwan from 1990 to 1996 in the Rehabilitation Practitioner and Early Childhoodm Development programs.

Program:
1999 Arts and Cultural Management

Year Awarded:
2011

Alexandra’s first position upon graduating from MacEwan was as an executive director which in itself exemplifies her potential and her ambition. Since then she has gone on to complete her Masters degree in Public Administration and was one of a very few Canadians selected to attend the J. Paul Getty Trust Museum Leadership Institute in Los Angeles. Her drive and ambition is matched only by her intense vision for arts and culture. All who know her agree – Alexandra Hatcher is a dynamic force in our community. Her most recent accomplishment was the recognition given her by Avenue magazine which named her one of 2010’s Top 40 under 40. In every area of her professional life, Alexandra has continued to distinguish herself in the 12 years since graduating from MacEwan. Alexandra is currently the Executive Director of the Alberta Museum Association.

Program:

1980 Arts Administration

Year Awarded:
2011

Mark Sirett is an award-winning conductor and composer with 100 published choral works.  His works have been perfome by some of Canada's leading choirs, heard on CBC radio and television, and he is frequently in demand as a guest conductor, choral clinician, and adjudicator.
Mark holds both masters and doctoral degrees in choral conducting and pedagogy from the University of Iowa. He has taught at the University of Alberta, the University of Western Ontario, and Queen's University. For six years he served as Organist/Music Director at St. George's Cathedral in Kingston.  Under his direction the Cathedral Gril Choristers won first prize in the 1996 CBC Choral Competition for amateur choirs. 
His recent work, The Stars Point the Way, was honoured as "Outstanding Choral Composition" by the Association of Canadian Choral Communities.

Program:
1979 Travel Consultant

Year Awarded:
1986

Program:
1983 Volunteer Management

Year Awarded:
1987

Program:
1976 Youth Development

Year Awarded:
1988

Program:
1984 Volunteer Management

Year Awarded:
1989

Program:
1988 Arts Administration

Year Awarded:
1990

Program:
1981 Accounting

Year Awarded:
1991

Program:
1979 Occupational Health Nursing

Year Awarded:
1992

Program:
1982 Native Communications

Year Awarded:
1996

Program:
1995 Music Major

Year Awarded:
1997

Program:
1983 Arts Administration

Year Awarded:
1997

Program:
1978 Law Enforcement

Year Awarded:
1997

Program:
1989 Arts Administration

Year Awarded:
1998

Program:
1988 Teacher Aide

Year Awarded:
1998

Program:
1991 Social Work

Year Awarded:
1998

Program:
1997 Child and Youth Care

Year Awarded:
2000

Program:
1980 Interior Design Sales, Retailing Program

Year Awarded:
2000

Program:
1981 Nursing

Year Awarded:
2000

Program:
1973 Early Childhood Development

Year Awarded:
2001

Program:
1985 General Administration, 1981 Advertising and Public Relations

Year Awarded:
2001

Program:
1973 Social Work

Year Awarded:
2001

Program:
1981 Arts Administration

Year Awarded:
2002

Program:
1991 Legal Assistant

Year Awarded:
2002

Program:
1984 Journalism

Year Awarded:
2002

Program:
1994 Theatre Arts

Year Awarded:
2003

Program:
1990 Voluntary Sector Management

Year Awarded:
2003

Program:
1988 Info Management and Library Technology

Year Awarded:
2003

Program:
1992 Rehabilitation Practitioner, 2001 Management Studies

Year Awarded:
2004

Program:
1976 Law Enforcement and Corrections

Year Awarded:
2005

Program:
2000 Social Work

Year Awarded:
2005

Program:
1982 Advertising and Public Relations

Year Awarded:
2005

Program:
1988 Fine Art

Year Awarded:
2006

Program:
1992 Insurance & Risk Management

Year Awarded:
2006

Program:
1989 Arts and Media

Year Awarded:
2006

Program:
1998 Arts and Cultural Management

Year Awarded:
2006

Program:
1999 University Transfer

Year Awarded:
2007

Program:
1980 Advertising and Public Relations

Year Awarded:
2007

Program:
1993 Theatre Arts

Year Awarded:
2007

Program:
1996 Management Studies/University Transfer

Year Awarded:
2007

Program:
1984 Native Communications

Year Awarded:
2008

Program:
1997 Public Relations

Year Awarded:
2008

Program:
1998 BA University Transfer

Year Awarded:
2008

Program:
1981 Early Childhood Development

Year Awarded:
2009

Program:
2000 Volunteer Sector Management Program

Year Awarded:
2009

Program:
2004 Music

Year Awarded:
2009

Program:
1984 General Arts and Science

Year Awarded:
2009

Program:
1974 Library and Information Technology

Year Awarded:
2010

Jean Crozier graduated from MacEwan’s Library and Information Technology program in 1974, a goal she accomplished as an adult, part-time student while working part-time and raising a family. Over the next decade Jean served on several MacEwan advisory councils and was a frequent speaker with the program. Between 1975 and 1984, Jean completed a Bachelor of Science degree through the University of Alberta – again she studied part-time and raised her family but she worked full-time.
For almost 20 years, Jean owned and operated one of the largest and most diverse information management companies in western Canada. Jean and her staff received numerous awards for the historical projects they completed for clients in all sectors: business, government, and nonprofit. Jean has also been recognized as an entrepreneur, a writer, and a volunteer within a broad spectrum of our community – from women’s advocacy organizations to literary festivals and museum societies, international sporting events, as well as arts and culture organizations.

Program:
1991 Journalism

Year Awarded:
2010

From an early age, Andrea Engel’s first love was reading and telling stories. It was a fitting career choice when she decided to pursue journalism, graduating from MacEwan in 1991. For the better part of two decades, Andrea has been reporting and anchoring radio and television news in Alberta. In 2007, Andrea received the Consumers Choice Award for “Woman of the Year” ased on the organization’s annual survey of Edmontonians.
Recently, Andrea shifted her career in a new direction into the field of residential real estate. This allows her the flexibility she needs as a busy wife and mother of two young children as well as a dedicated volunteer in our community, where she blends her media expertise and love of literacy with causes that focus on children and youth.
Andrea often remarks that she feels privileged to “walk with one foot in two worlds” – as a mother to both a typically-developing nine year old son and a seven year old son who has autism. In addition to being a hockey and snowboard cheerleader, Andrea is very involved with delivery of special education for her younger son. She has translated her experiences as a parent of an autistic child into a passion for raising public awareness about the ‘extraordinary world of autism’.

Program:
2002 Social Work

Year Awarded:
2010

A graduate of MacEwan Social Work program in 2002 and recipient of the 2009 “Top 40 under 40” award, Cheryl Feldstein credits most of her success as an educator and facilitator to her desire to make a difference in her community.
After volunteering and being an active board member with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton, Cheryl became its executive director. Through Cheryl’s leadership and passion for the environment, the fledging society has grown substantially, increasing its public profile and annual budget. Overcoming financial hurdles and the loss of the land the organization was originally built on are experiences which have served to strengthen Cheryl’s resolve.
Cheryl also serves as the spokesperson on air quality for the Lung Association (Alberta and North West Territories) and as president of the board of the youth-driven media initiative, Active Citizens Television. Much of Cheryl’s time is spent as an environmental spokesperson helping people of all ages and sectors see how our natural surroundings are connected to every component of our lives and our community.

Program:
1997 Theatre Arts

Year Awarded:
2010

After graduating from the Theatre Arts Program in 1997, Ryan Silverman quickly showed how hard work, training, education, and talent combine to create success. Ryan has carved out an impressive career on some of the world’s most famous stages as well as regional stages, concert halls, and in film and television.
In addition to being a talented performer, Ryan has another quality that is of special note. It is his commitment to reaching out to youth and young performers through Talkback sessions and theatre tours, where participants have the opportunity to ask questions of the performers. Ryan encourages these young people to believe in themselves and what they can achieve – he speaks from experience that they can relate to.
Ryan is currently living in New York and starring as Raoul in the Broadway Production of Phantom of the Opera.