Dora Leigh Bjornson, program director of distance education for the School of Social Work, has spent the last 20 of her 34 years at UVic in the same building. Her office, located in the sunny, brick-and-mortar Human and Social Development Building, has a stunning view鈥攁nd a resident hummingbird visits Bjornson鈥檚 window on the third floor to say hello, just quickly, before darting back down to one of the many flowered bushes below.
Paul Nicklen鈥檚 first words to a packed audience at UVic鈥檚 Farquhar auditorium on Feb. 6 were 鈥淚 am incredibly honored to be here, and in fact I鈥檓 in utter disbelief, given my track record here at this university 23 years ago.鈥� Nicklen was invited to speak for UVic鈥檚 Alumni week, which honors everything UVic鈥檚 grads do for their communities, and as a 1990 grad and Canada鈥檚 only photographer for National Geographic, he certainly fits the bill.
Debbie Robinson knows a thing or two about stage fright鈥攖he 20-year veteran of local community theatre faces it every time she sings or acts in a new production. But Robinson also knows that as the show goes on, the teamwork and preparation kick in and the stage fright fades. And she applies the same strategy to the changing nature of her job as a program assistant in the School of Child and Youth Care.
The 番茄社区鈥檚 sixth annual Alumni Week, from Feb. 3 to 9, features a full set of events鈥攆rom a special tribute to 50 alumni who contributed to UVic鈥檚 growth in its first 50 years to practical workshops.
Two educational leaders who are respected for their proven abilities to inspire and challenge students will receive the prestigious Alumni Awards for Excellence in Teaching at an awards celebration during Alumni Week, which runs Feb. 3鈥�9 this year Dr. Annalee Lepp (women鈥檚 studies) is this year鈥檚 recipient of the Harry Hickman Award (faculty category) and Dr. Alex van Netten (physics) will receive the Gilian Sherwin Award (instructors category) from the UVic Alumni Association.
If you鈥檝e ever purchased tickets at the UVic Ticket Centre, you鈥檝e already caught a glimpse of a day in the life of Debra Fitzsimmons. As supervisor of the ticket centre, she spends a sizeable portion of every day at her desk in the small recess next to the University Centre鈥檚 Photo ID Centre. It鈥檚 a bustling place, buzzing with phone calls and interruptions, and that鈥檚 just how she likes it. 鈥淭his industry is not a nine-to-five one. You never know what or whom you鈥檒l be dealing with, and it鈥檚 exciting,鈥� she says.
If you鈥檝e ever purchased tickets at the UVic Box Office, you鈥檝e already caught a glimpse of a day in the life of Debra Fitzsimmons. As supervisor of the UVic Ticket Centre, she spends a sizeable portion of every day at her desk in the small recess n鈥�
