When Kelly Dunfield (MN’03, C-NP’03) graduated from UNB’s inaugural class of the nurse practitioner program in 2003, she was thrilled to be back in clinical practice again.

After years of nursing and health care experience in occupational health, surgery and emergency nursing in Saint John and her hometown of Sussex, N.B., she moved into emergency room management and quality risk management.

Following five years as a nurse practitioner in primary care in Saint John, she returned to Sussex and started her primary health care practice...

Charles A. Diab (BBA'83) moved to Fredericton in 1980 after applying to UNB on a whim. Initially unsure about returning, he came back in January 2024 as CEO of The Chalmers Foundation, the philanthropic organization that "raises funds to support healthy, caring communities by enhancing health and well-being through innovative and effective programs and initiatives in Health Zone 3, the Fredericton and River Valley area." Charles brings with him a plethora of experience from around the world. "My bachelor’s degree from UNB was the catalyst for a career that took me to 52 countries and amazing experiences across the globe and to earn an MBA and PhD in Australia..."

From his UNB coaster derby car to designing the next generation of high-performance vehicles, Craig Wood (BScME’01) has designed a career he loves. While a mechanical engineering student at UNB, he was part of a team that built and raced what would become a legendary coaster derby car that has careened down the steep hills of UNB’s Fredericton campus for decades in the annual coaster derby. Craig teamed up with Chris Wilcox (BScME’01), Jason Wilcox (BScME’04) and Mike Harvey (BScME’01) in 1999 that “definitely added car flair to the event.” Chris entered the car in the 2007 coaster derby as an alum and then passed it on to students again, and it’s continued to be used in races.

Aaloak Jaswal (BScCS’93, D-TME’93) has returned to UNB as the innovation director for the new Research Institute in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RIDSAI). With over 30 years of experience in global digital transformation and humanitarian efforts, Aaloak is dedicated to leveraging technology for social good. He draws on skills learned working for UNICEF and the WHO, in New York City, Panama, Haiti, Egypt and Botswana, where he was the digital transformation lead on behalf of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, designing the country’s first SmartBots Digital Innovation Lab...

Sharp Brook Flower Farm, founded by Sophie Sharp (BA/BEd’22) and her sister Ellen Folkins in spring 2021, has brought vibrant locally grown flowers to New Brunswick. Growing on an acre of land, the farm features over 100 flower species, including 500 peonies, alongside heirloom pumpkins. Sophie’s passion for agriculture blossomed while working on her family’s dairy farm, where she started a garden and shared her journey on Instagram, sparking community interest.

Their first season exceeded expectations, with bouquets sold at The Posy Shed and popular u-pick events attracting over 400 visitors. Committed to sustainability, they provide fresh, chemical-free flowers...

Christy Arseneau (BScF’97), science director, forest health and biodiversity at the Atlantic Forestry Centre in Fredericton, supports a team developing the science and technology to assess and effectively respond to threats to Canada’s forests. She and her team are addressing critical issues like hurricanes, pests, and the impacts of climate change. “New pests are killing trees, which become fuel for forest fires, and we’re experiencing more frequent hurricanes, damaging huge sections of forests. We’re focused on trying to understand the impacts of these events and the impacts of different decisions by governments over time, so we can make better predictions that lead to better decision making.” The team also works with Indigenous communities on a seed collection program, helping with collection techniques and storing and preserving traditionally important species...

Julie Dingwell (BA’90) was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at the 42nd Fall Convocation ceremony on the Saint John campus. 

She graduated with a bachelor of arts from the UNB Saint John campus in 1990. She completed the community-based research training program at Toronto’s Wellesley Institute in 2006.

For the past 25 years, she has served as executive director of Avenue B (formerly AIDS Saint John) and is one of the province’s leading advocates for harm reduction. Her work has taken her to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and beyond. She is chair of the Saint John Sex-Trade Action Committee, a member of the Atlantic Interdisciplinary Regional Network on Social and Behavioural Issues in Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, and a board member for the Centre for Research, Education and Clinical Care of At-Risk Populations...

John Reid (PhD’76) was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at the 70th Convocation ceremony on the Fredericton campus.

He earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Oxford, St. Catherine’s College. He crossed the Atlantic to attend Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he graduated with a master of arts. Atlantic Canada became home when Dr. Reid was awarded a PhD in history from the UNB Fredericton campus in 1976. This launched a career of exceptional significance to the study and understanding of Canada’s Maritime region.

The majority of his career as an academic educator and researcher was spent at Saint Mary’s University (SMU) in Halifax, N.S., where he worked for some 34 years, first as an associate professor in the department of history and then as a professor until his retirement in 2019, upon which he received the designation of professor emeritus. At SMU, he was also attached to the interdisciplinary Atlantic Canada Studies program, and at Dalhousie University, he has been an honorary adjunct professor in the department of history.

UNB was well represented at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in August, as seven members of the community made their way to Paris. Chris Belof, the head coach of the UNB REDS cross-country and track and field teams, supported Olympic athletes as an event coach for the Canadian marathon and racewalking teams.

Catharine Pendrel (Class of ’02), who previously attended UNB and was the team coach for cycling, was also a member of the Canadian Olympic coaching staff. She is a former Olympic cyclist, having taken home bronze at the 2016 games in Rio.

Marcia Chiasson (BSc’03, MSc’07) refereed the wrestling events, and media attaché Nathan White (BBA’05) worked alongside Canada’s swim team behind the scenes.

At the Paralympics, Desiree Isaac-Pictou (BBA’22) competed on Canada’s women’s wheelchair basketball team, and Alexandre Hayward (BScME’23) won bronze in the 3,000-metre individual pursuit in cycling. It was their Paralympic Games debut. Joining Desiree and Alexandre was Colby Hathaway (BScKin’05), who was the strength and conditioning coach for wheelchair basketball.