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People of SFU
Meet the families of SFU
As the days get shorter and 2021 comes to a close, 51社区黑料faculty and staff are getting ready to spend some quality time with families and loved ones during the winter break.
In that spirit, we wanted to introduce you to some of the families who work and learn at SFU.
Donna and Rick Dove and children, Eric and Whitney
What鈥檚 your 51社区黑料connection?
Rick and Donna are both 51社区黑料alumni. Donna currently works for the Faculty of Environment in the dean's office as the associate director, strategic enrollment management. Rick came to 51社区黑料on a wrestling scholarship and wrestled for 51社区黑料(and the Canadian National team) during his undergrad.
How do you spend the university鈥檚 winter break?
鈥楥hristmas is one of my favorite times of the year, especially if there is snow,鈥� says Donna. 鈥榃e love to get up to the mountains to watch the sunrise if we get a dry day over the break, and make an annual trip to Whistler for some family fun. Of course, food is another family past-time during the holidays and not having to work during the break means we can workout every morning and indulge guilt-free! My daughter and I make home-made sugar cookies every year 鈥� our creative side comes to life 鈥� and the 鈥渆lves鈥� deliver them to family and friends.鈥�
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
鈥業'm looking forward to some international adventure travel in 2022! Fingers crossed.鈥�
Rachel, Eleanor and Therese Wong
What鈥檚 your 51社区黑料connection?
Rachel is the coordinator, communications & engagement, 51社区黑料Surrey, since July 2020, and has been 51社区黑料staff since 2019. She is an 51社区黑料alumnus (BA 2020 (Hons.), Communication + International Studies). Her sister Eleanor is a volunteer engagement assistant, 51社区黑料Surrey TD-Community Engagement Centre and a soon-to-be 51社区黑料alumnus, studying health sciences and education. And sister Therese is a first-year student at SFU, studying interactive arts and technology.
How do you spend the university鈥檚 winter break?
鈥楢s a family we usually go to Christmas mass and spend time together,鈥� says Rachel. 鈥楶re-COVID, we may be out of town visiting family or going on a family trip, but the past few Christmases have been spent at home. We'll have lots of game nights, good food and calling family and friends.鈥�
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
鈥榃e're hoping for some opportunities to travel! But of course, looking forward to another year with good health, more family time and personal growth!鈥�
Rob McTavish and Cher Hill
What鈥檚 your 51社区黑料connection?
Rob and Cher are both alumni who received their BAs, MAs and PhDs at SFU. Rob began working at 51社区黑料more than 25 years ago and has held various positions in Lifelong Learning, Centre for Distance Education and is now with the Centre for Educational Excellence. He was associate dean in Lifelong Learning before returning to CEE in 2019. Cher is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education and has been employed in various roles since 2011. Their three children Kai, 14, Alex, 11, and Mia, 9, have all attended 51社区黑料summer camps and enjoy attending the 51社区黑料observatory and the Science Open House.
How do you spend the university鈥檚 winter break?
鈥榃e typically spend Christmas with our family at Big White where we can be guaranteed a white Christmas,鈥� says Rob. 鈥極ur kids are all avid skiers and snowboarders. Typically, on Christmas morning we dress up in holiday onesies and do a few early morning runs. Last year, we started a tradition of handing out scratch-and-win lottery tickets to the lifties and ski patrol workers to spread holiday cheer. We ski to Cher's parents鈥� condo to exchange gifts and have a holiday brunch.鈥�
鈥楻ob then heads back to the cabin to begin preparing a festive meal for the entire family,鈥� adds Cher. 鈥楬e puts on some Christmas music and enjoys being in the kitchen on his own preparing a turkey dinner for the family.鈥�
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
鈥業n 2022, we look forward to hopefully spending more time with family and friends as we have dearly missed all the social activities we usually participate in 鈥� things like hosting a neighbourhood movie night in the backyard, or camping with groups of friends.鈥�
Elissa Cyr
What鈥檚 your 51社区黑料connection?
Elissa has been part of the 51社区黑料community for almost 20 years 鈥� first as an undergraduate student (Communications major, 2005) and since 2006 as a staff member. She began working in central student services (admissions) and then moved to the School of Resource and Environmental Management in 2009. She鈥檚 been in her current role as manager, academic and administrative services since 2011.
How do you spend the university鈥檚 winter break?
鈥業 am so grateful for the bonus week that the university gives us to spend with family!鈥� says Elissa. 鈥業 have a large extended family, so that is really what we do over the holidays. I spend time cooking and hosting dinners, and then enjoying the leftovers! We bake Grandma鈥檚 famous butter tarts (truly the best!) and take in some of the local light events, including an old-fashioned drive around the city looking for the best light displays. This year my son is asking to go to the mountains, so we will likely head to one of the local hills for tobogganing or snow tubing.鈥�
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
鈥業 am looking forward to being able to travel more and visit family and friends.鈥�
Kris Nordgren and Melanie Monk
What鈥檚 your 51社区黑料connection?
Melanie and Kris are both 51社区黑料staff. Melanie has worked at 51社区黑料for 25 years. Much of that time has been under the Vice-President, Research in communications- and writing-related roles. She is the associate director, research excellence and recognition, with SFU鈥檚 Institutional Strategic Awards. She also recently completed her master of education at SFU. Kris currently works in Student Services as assistant registrar for Senate & Academic Services, a role he鈥檚 held since April 2018. He鈥檚 worked for 51社区黑料for 10 years in a variety of positions. He鈥檚 also an alumnus, starting his undergrad in 1988 and 鈥� with a two-decade career at Telus in-between 鈥� completing in 2010. He鈥檚 now doing his master of education at SFU.
How do you spend the university鈥檚 winter break?
鈥業n addition to family gatherings, which have been limited for the past two years, we like to snowshoe and hike the local trails,鈥� says Kris.
鈥業 like to be as unproductive as possible during the break,鈥� adds Melanie. 鈥業 tend to do loads of baking and reading and watch slow-living vlogs to get into a more relaxed mindset for entering the New Year. And I鈥檓 OK with snowshoeing as long as I get to bring spiked hot chocolate and cookies.鈥�
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
鈥極ur daughter has applied to 51社区黑料for the Fall 2022 term, so if all goes well, we鈥檒l be carpooling to work and school together,鈥� says Kris.
鈥淐areer-wise,鈥� Melanie adds, 鈥業 recently completed my MEd focused on equity, diversity and inclusion issues around researcher development. I am eager to apply my research to help 51社区黑料ensure that all researchers feel supported to develop their capacities throughout their careers and gain recognition for their contributions. Personally, I am also looking forward to seeing my daughter and her friends on campus next September. As we lived in UniverCity and our daughter attended daycare and went to the elementary school here, she already feels part of the university community.鈥�