The many faces of back to school

For our incoming class of students, the start of the school year may bring with it eager anticipation for the friends they will meet, the things they will learn, or the pure joy of stocking up on stationery supplies.

For many in our community of faculty and staff, it’s no different. Here are a handful of people who are awaiting the start of the school year with equal eager anticipation:

My name is: Emma Chartrand

I work as Residence Life Manager, Acadia Park (Student Family Housing) in Student Housing and Hospitality Services at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare for the arrival of students to campus: Since we are a year-round residence area, I have the privilege of working with student families moving in throughout the year. However, there is generally an influx of new student families that move in at the beginning of the term. In preparing for their arrival, I focus on ways to create opportunities for those students and their family members to become integrated into the existing thriving community in Acadia Park.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: I love seeing all of the new faces in the community and providing support to student families as they transition to UBC. Whether the family travels from down the street or internationally, it is always a transition. It is such an honour to help ease that transition by talking with new students about the range of different opportunities available to them and their family in this community.

Learn more about Student Housing and Hospitality Services at UBC Vancouver

My name is: Mark Lam

I work as: Psychology Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare for the arrival of students to campus: While I spend some of my summer revising and improving my courses for the upcoming fall term, my involvement as a Faculty Fellow in Jump Start really brings the start of the school year into sharp focus. As a Jump Start Faculty Fellow, I am one of the first faculty members incoming first-year students will meet, so I strive to make a strong first impression in welcoming each cohort to UBC. I find that students’ enthusiasm, positive energy, curiosity and spirit really energizes me for the start of another year.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: After the quiet calm of the summer, it’s always so wonderful to see the hustle and bustle as students return to campus. I’m always excited to meet the incoming students, especially first-years in the Coordinated Arts Program, whom I have the privilege of teaching and getting to know during their first two terms at UBC.

Learn more about Jump Start

My name is: Shelley C. Robinson

I work as: Executive Chef, Food Services at UBC Okanagan

What I want students to experience when they come to campus: I want students to enjoy the food on campus, to share it together and to be fulfilled, nourished and happy.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: I am excited to see students’ reaction to the diversity and quality of the food on campus. I know they will feel welcomed by smiling faces in all new UBCO Food Service locations. I have the unique opportunity to pioneer the shift in the food culture on campus – as the Executive Chef I will facilitate that in whatever way I can, from cooking classes to chef pop-ups.

Learn more about UBCO Food Services

My name is: Charles Shi

I work as: International Student Advisor/RCIC in International Student Development at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare students for their arrival to campus: I provide information, advice and support to incoming international students regarding their study permit applications, health insurance, immigration policies on their eligibility to work, and campus resources.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: UBC attracts talented and gifted students from all around the world. It is a great pleasure to work with such a diverse international student population. I am so excited about meeting new students and getting to know about them during the new school year.

Learn more about supporting international students at UBC Vancouver

My name is Costanza Piccolo

I work as: Senior Instructor, Department of Mathematics and Science One program at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare for the arrival of students to campus: I make sure the courses that I teach are primed and ready to go. I prepare a weekly schedule and organize course materials so that students can access the mathematics right away and become immersed in the course. Even when I’m revisiting the same syllabus, there is always something that needs improving in the instruction, and so every start of term feels like a new journey in the end.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: One of the most exciting things is meeting the new student cohort. Connecting with the students makes teaching a fulfilling and rewarding experience. It is both exciting and challenging to be given the opportunity to help them overcome difficulties, build knowledge and experience, and see them succeed in the course.

Learn more about the Department of Mathematics

My name is: Justin Lieu

I work as: Program Director, Orientations in the Centre for Student Involvement & Careers at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare for the arrival of students to campus: I have the privilege of working on Jump Start and Imagine throughout the year, so it feels like I spend most of the year planning for, and anticipating students arriving to campus. A few things I do during the summer are to learn about what the initiatives different groups on campus are putting together so we can start connecting students to them during orientations. I also spend a lot of time working with our student leaders, knowing that they are a huge part of welcoming new students to campus and helping them with their transition. Lastly, I definitely take a walk through campus to see what detours have popped up, so I can help students find where they are going when they get here.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: The energy you feel across campus at the start of the school year is electrifying! The excitement, the nervousness, and the enthusiasm around all the possibilities that students have in the year ahead brings the campus to life. One of the principles we build orientations around is that students shape our campus culture – to see what students bring each year never ceases to amaze me.

Learn more about orientations at UBC Vancouver

My name is: Chiara Longhi

I work as: Director of Student Services, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Forestry at UBC Vancouver

How I prepare for the arrival of students to campus: The summer is when we plan the whole year and try to refresh our literature based on the feedback of our current and previous students. We make sure all of our program course plans are up-to-date and in line with the calendar entry. We go through first-year students’ registration and make sure that they are not missing any key courses that would cause issues for them the following year.

What excites me most about the start of the school year: I love having the opportunity to meet the new students. Some of them have just been names on the Student Information System and some of them I have been lucky enough to either meet or correspond with. It still amazes me how excited I get to meet them for the first time during Imagine Day, and the incredible feeling I get when they acknowledge they have had helpful interactions with me or my colleagues. I also enjoy the thought that being in Forestry will allow me to follow those students all the way to graduation in 4 years’ time. So, in short, the greatest thing about the start of the school year is knowing that the Forestry students will be back and I will do everything in my power to make their experiences at UBC the best they can be!