Each year, members of our graduating class generously share their stories of finding their passions and their hopes for the future in our Meet the Class series. Many of them also discussed fond memories of the people on campus who made a difference along the way.

Read through the kind words and shout-outs to MacEwan faculty from some of our most recent alumni.

A woman wearing a black sweater smiles to the camera

“Dr. Michael Lahey encouraged me and told me I possess the skills of a successful person. Cody Esih made quantitative and statistical concepts easy to learn. Dr. Bruce Thomson was supportive and invested in my success, which made my capstone experience less stressful.”

– Topaz Davis, Bachelor of Commerce ’26

 

“I’ve had many incredible professors, but Dr. Bruce Thomson, Dr. Marielle Papin and Dr. Jeffrey Rice had a profound impact on my journey. Dr. Thomson constantly pushed me beyond my comfort zone. As his research assistant, he encouraged me to present at Student Research Day, an opportunity that eventually led me to present my research in Montreal. Dr. Papin transformed the way I think about environmental policy and believed in my community initiatives from the very beginning. Even during the early stages of her pregnancy, she supported my work and always made time to encourage me. Dr. Rice sparked my passion for international relations and never stopped believing in me. Before an exam that would shape my future in Canada, he simply said, “I know you’ll do well.” Later that evening, he emailed to ask how it went. I’ll never forget that.”

–  Mabel Adesopo, Bachelor of Arts ’26

 

“I really loved studying NURS 426 with Dr. Morgan Wadams. His class was very fun, engaging and interactive. He cared about students’ feedback, and the contents of his class were very educational and thought-provoking, which I believe are important components of successful lectures.”

– Soohyun Kim, Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’26

Dr. Leslie Dawson was my thesis supervisor, and she really inspired me as a researcher and as a person. She always made me feel capable when I was dealing with imposter syndrome, and her encouragement and advice helped me grow academically. She also created a very engaging and welcoming classroom environment. I really felt like her assignments helped me build actual transferable skills.
Jordan Laframboise, Bachelor of Arts ’26

“Paul Johnston was a major influence during my time at MacEwan. His guidance and support played a big role in keeping me engaged and passionate about recording and production. He advised me to make decisions that challenge me as an artist, rather than always choosing the easiest path. I often came back to that idea when deciding on projects, and it pushed me to take on more demanding and rewarding work. It shaped how I approached my studies and helped me get the most out of my experience.”

– Leili Rastad, Bachelor of Music ’26

 

“Joanne Loh taught a lot through her own professional experience and shared real-life examples that made the concepts easier to understand. I also remember working on an audit project in her class, where her guidance helped connect what we were doing to actual audit work. Her teaching style made the course more practical and engaging.”

– Jashan Ghuman, Bachelor of Commerce ’26

 

Kyana holds a giant cockrock and smiles at the camera

“I have had so many excellent professors! Chelsey Campbell is such a lovely person. They are a huge cheerleader for their students and really go above and beyond. I remember when working on projects for their classes, they were always pushing me to go deeper, but also encouraged me to take time to rest. They always come in with so much energy and passion; it's contagious!”

– Kyana Gormsen, Bachelor of Fine Arts ’26

 

“Dr. Randi Guest mentored me for two independent study projects and helped me to improve not only in the laboratory by teaching me new techniques, but also in my writing and presentation skills. I worked with Dr. Joshua Miller and Victoria Bowles on a project genotyping ostriches for a community partner, which, through performing hundreds of polymerase chain reactions, taught me troubleshooting skills and allowed me to develop protocols for a student laboratory. In my field placement as an assistant laboratory technician, I worked alongside Shawna, Jen, Pam and the other laboratory technicians, who are so knowledgeable and amazing to learn from. They taught me fundamental skills I can carry with me to any laboratory setting.”

– Haley Irwin, Bachelor of Science ’26

Robin Cooper stands out in my mind. She’s incredibly supportive, which is perfect for her role during leadership and preceptorship. I was very fortunate to have her for both and felt incredibly supported when I went to a rural community for my last placement.
Elena Yoon Yeena Fraley, Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’26

“I was privileged to have some of the most amazing professors. However, my special shout-out goes to Meredith Porter, my second-year med-surg clinical instructor. When I doubted myself, Meredith challenged me to think critically, encouraged me and reminded me that becoming a nurse is as much about character as it is about knowledge. This particular encounter helped me push through difficult moments in my entire nursing school journey and believe in my abilities.”

– Modupe Elizabeth Olumilua, Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’26

 

“In my first semester, I had MGTS 113 taught by Allan Wesley. I am not very good with numbers, but Allan made the class easy to understand and was very welcoming. He made me think I could actually do it and inspired me to finish assignments ahead of time. Frank Saccucci's personality made ACCT 322 bearable. The course was hard for me personally, but Frank was very patient and understanding, and he offered multiple ways to help students understand the material. Most students’ fear comes from failing or having a tough professor, so finding a professor who is passionate about their course and teaching is an amazing experience in itself.”

– Kimberly Espartero, Business Management Diploma ’26

 

A man stands in front of a blossoming tree holding his hands up on either side of his face

“I first met Andrea Chute when I took her professional communications course, and I couldn’t picture anyone better fit to teach it. Not only does she invite interesting guest speakers, but she genuinely cares for her students both in and out of the class. She’s always available to help students in any way she can, whether that’s through extra guidance for assignments or directing students to different services.”

– Joen Ray Zaldivar Pedregosa, Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’26

 

“Dr. David McFadyen consistently went the extra mile to ensure we understood the material and challenged us to think critically. He expected a lot from his students and that motivated me to push myself further. Looking back, I can honestly say that his classes helped me become a stronger student and gave me the confidence to tackle difficult material. David also has the ability to make even the most complex topics engaging. He has a great sense of humour and always found ways to keep us involved during lectures.”

– Meadow MacDonald, Bachelor of Science ’26

Nicole Pawlick and Ann-Renée Shirjang stood out to me. Nicole was incredibly knowledgeable and created a supportive, engaging classroom where I could connect course material to real-world practice. Ann-Renée was a mentor throughout my degree, offering encouragement and support that inspired me to continue my studies and pursue my future goals.
Alyson Grace Makowichuk, Bachelor of Child and Youth Care ’26

“Anatomy can sometimes feel overwhelming because of how detailed and content heavy it is, but Gail Amort-Larson has a way of making the class engaging, approachable and even fun. One thing that always stood out was her sense of humour or, as she would probably say, how ‘humerus’ she was. She would often incorporate anatomy-related jokes and playful moments into both lectures and labs, which really helped lighten the atmosphere and make the material more memorable.”

– Fatema Zahraa Ehmid Zouzoo, Therapist Assistant Diploma ’26

 

“Dr. Mike Perschon was a major supporter in my academic journey, from teaching me how to write academic papers that actually resonated with my audience and interests to giving me the final push that led me to apply for the Library and Information Technology diploma. His classes got us invested in the conversation surrounding literature, inspired us to reach for connections and encouraged our growth as explorers. I will carry the skills and feedback from his classes for my whole life.”

– Jess Zdril, Library and Information Technology Diploma ’26

Rayanne Fuhr is the lead professor of our program and she has been our cheerleader, encourager and instilled confidence in us. When we started our field placements, she sent an email acknowledging how hard we had worked to get to that moment and how proud she was of us. I am forever grateful for her and how much she helped and supported me over the past year.
Haven Garth, Emergency Communications and Response Certificate ’26

“Not only is Allan Wesley incredible at breaking down insanely complicated statistics concepts, but he also goes out of his way to make sure each student in his class is having an enjoyable time. He puts effort into getting to know everyone to create a class that is engaging and makes a dull topic surprisingly fun. His actions show how much he cares for his students, and I admire and appreciate him a lot for being one of the reasons I kept pushing myself to try my best and not give up.”

– Minaal Masood, Bachelor of Commerce ’26

 

A man holds a guitar on his sounders on a golden background
Photo: Raquel Affleck

“​​One of the best things about MacEwan was learning from working professionals in my field. John McMillan, Olivia Street, Mallory Chipman, Devin Hart, Dr. Emilie Lebel, Dr. Allan Gilliland and so many others have all been such an inspiration.”

– Ryder J. McGinnis, Music Diploma ’26

 

“Stewart Callioux was always supportive of the entire cohort, and truly showed that he cared about our success. At the end of first year, just before finals season, I was feeling extremely burnt out. I had pushed myself too hard, and was beginning to question whether this was the right path for me. I asked Stewart if he had any availability for office hours in the coming week. Since it was the start of finals, he did not; instead, he made time directly after class. He listened to my concerns and related to my experience with his own, and after an hour of heartfelt conversation, which involved reminiscing, future planning and good laughs, I once more felt a sense of purpose and motivation regarding my time in university. I cannot properly put into words the depth to which he took the time to truly understand me and my concerns, and I will be forever grateful that I was fortunate enough to have him as my professor.”

– Dylan Bramer, Police and Investigations Diploma ’26

 

“My professor, Dr. Yang Hoong for INTB 320: Regional Perspectives of International Business, truly stood out. The course was interactive in a way that many theoretical classes aren’t, and Dr. Yang consistently made an effort to connect with each student individually and with the class as a whole. We also participated in a collaborative online international learning (COIL) project, working with students from universities around the world, including the University of Navarra and the University of South Wales. It was an engaging experience, and I even made friends with students from different parts of the world.”

– Sairah Mohammad, Bachelor of Commerce ’26

 

“Rayanne Haines was an important professor through many of my studies here at MacEwan. I was overly ambitious with many of my papers, and overlapped with my workload outside of school – I often found myself burnt out from the self-imposed feelings of stress and anxiety.  I appreciate her patience and willingness to listen to my ramblings as I sorted out my busy mind and know that I probably wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today without the lessons I learned in those classrooms.”

– Daniel Larry Anderson, Bachelor of Fine Arts ’26

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