Updates, news and stories

Adriaan de Jager

Adriaan de Jager is UBC’s Associate Vice-President, Government Relations and Community Engagement. In this role, he works with municipal, regional, provincial, and federal levels of government to promote strategic relations, advance key priorities and communicate UBC’s vision. He also works to support the building of respectful relationships with community partners through scholarship, research, and public engagement opportunities. Born in the Netherlands, Adriaan has traveled widely and has worked and studied in the U.K., the Balkans and Central America. Prior to joining UBC, he worked and studied abroad supporting international humanitarian relief efforts, reconciliation and reconstruction. He is also a former board member of the United Nations Association and past Chair of the national Government Relations Officer Network.

Meigan Aronson

Dr. Meigan Aronson joined UBC as Dean of Science in 2018. She is a physicist by trade, but in her role as Dean, brings a strong commitment to academic leadership, research excellence, and teaching and learning. She is passionate about science and has a deep commitment to the advancement of both her field and the students and faculty within it. Prior to joining the university, Dr. Aronson held the title of Professor of Physics and Dean of the College of Science at Texas A&M University, where she had appointments in both the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. In addition to her extensive publication record, and her list of honours and fellowships, Dr. Aronson has a zest for life, adventure, and travel.

Back to the Future: How UBC Okanagan charted a bold new path

How a souped-up delivery truck is transforming lives

Getting ready for snow

Being in the midst of a transit strike, snow is probably the last thing on your mind right now. However, for a number of people at UBC, they are already getting ready for winter weather.

Clothing bins made safer

It was July 2018 when Ray Taheri, senior instructor of engineering at UBC Okanagan, heard the news: a woman had died after becoming trapped in a clothing donation bin in Vancouver—the fourth such death to have occurred in Canada since 2015. It was time to do something, he resolved. Just as he had done before when tackling community issues, Ray turned to what might seem an unlikely group: his first-year engineering students.

Ainsley Carry

Ainsley Carry came to UBC in April 2019, charged with leading the VP, Students portfolio. He brings with him a wealth of experience, having most recently served as the Vice-President for Student Affairs at the University of Southern California, and at Auburn University before that. A passionate advocate for students, Ainsley is on a mission to create an unparalleled experience for students at UBC. He holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in counsellor education, both from the University of Florida.

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:

Peter Smailes

Peter Smailes is Vice-President, Finance & Operations. He is responsible for leading the Comptroller department, Financial Operations, Treasury and Safety & Risk Services as well as UBC Facilities (Infrastructure Development, Energy & Water Services, and Building Operations) across the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. As part of his portfolio, he serves as a board member and oversees the university’s relationship with UBC Investment Management Trust, which manages the endowment and staff pension plan, and UBC Properties Trust which develops and manages real estate assets for the benefit of the university. Peter was promoted to Vice-President in July 2018. Prior to that he served as the UBC Treasurer for 10 years and Associate Treasurer for 7 years.

Wearing three hats sewn together by a passion for one health

Chelsea Himsworth describes herself as an odd duck at UBC. That is because not only is she a full-time employee of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, but she also conducts UBC teaching and research through a partner track faculty appointment with the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s School of Population and Public Health.