Category: Member Highlights

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Kamal graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Sri Lanka in 2007. He came to Canada in 2009. He completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine in 2012 and completed a 3 year residency training in Food Animal Production Medicine in 2016 at the WCVM. Kamal is a specialist in food animal production medicine and holds diplomate status of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Food Animal Practice. He gives credit to his WCVM colleagues and friends Dr. Ted Leighton, Dr. Lyall Petrie, Dr. Fritz Schumann, Sherry Presnell, and Jane Fitzpatrick for their support during this time. In particular, he acknowledges his mentor and role model Dr. Ted Leighton, Professor Emeritus, WCVM, and former Executive Director, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, who helped him to overcome racial barriers, financial difficulties, visa challenges, and cultural stereotyping that international students often face when they move to a different country to continue their studies and find employment. 

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Kamal Gabadage, Clinical Associate (Bovine Field Service), Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Nicole has been on campus since 1991 when she started a job in the Department of Plant Sciences as a Research Assistant. In 1999, she received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Agricultural Biology Major with Minor in Microbiology) and a Bachelor of Science in Biology both from the University of Saskatchewan. In November 2004, she accepted a position as a Grants Officer in Research Services. This position has changed in job title and office name, to her current position as Research Support Specialist housed within Connection Point but reporting to RASI (Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives).   

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Nicole Benning, Research Support Specialist, Research Acceleration and Strategic Initiatives, University of Saskatchewan” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Bonita has been on campus for much of her adult life. From a young age, she had a strong interest in the natural world and came to the University of Saskatchewan to pursue that interest. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology (1989), and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (1997), both from the University of Saskatchewan. Bonita has worked continuously on campus since September 1989 but had worked as a secretary and an undergraduate student research hire prior to that time. In 1989, she started working as a Research Technician with the Crop Development Centre, followed by several years with the Department of Biology, and then moved over to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In 2000, she accepted a new position as Administrative Assistant with the Department of Biology where she stayed for 12 years. She accepted a promotion in 2012 to become the Finance and Operations Manager with the Department of Chemistry. 

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Bonita Wong, Finance and Operations Manager, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Shari obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina in 1988, attending the satellite office in Saskatoon.  Prior to acceptance into Social Work, she took two years of Arts and Science completing all pre-requisite coursework at the University of Saskatchewan.   In 1993, Shari became a Certified Job Finding Club Facilitator, completing a Human Resources Advanced Certificate in 2010, and the Mental Health First Aid training in 2018. Shari has worked at the University of Saskatchewan for almost 18 years, in the areas of career and employment with students in all colleges, having worked for 15 years as an Employment Coordinator in the Student Employment and Career Centre.    

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Shari Thompson, Student Professional Development Strategist/Director of Career Development, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Merv majored in Psychology and History and obtained his BA from the University of Manitoba in 1974. He completed his Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) in October 1985 and his Certificate in Risk Management (CRM) in March 2005.

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Merv Dahl, Risk and Insurance Coordinator, Safety Resources, University of Saskatchewan” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Amanda received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1994 from the University of Windsor and a MSc in Toxicology at the University in Saskatchewan in 1999. In addition, she is a yoga teacher with over 1000 hours in yoga training.

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Amanda Plante, Animal Research Ethics Specialist, Research Services and Ethics Office” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Jocelyn received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan 1998, Bachelor of Science in Arts (Environmental Studies and Political Science double major) from the University of Victoria in 2003 and a Masters in Political Studies from the University of Saskatchewan in 2005.  

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Jocelyn Orb, Manager, Student Wellness Centre, Teaching, Learning, and Student Experience” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Rachel Tang obtained her Bachelor of Arts with High Honours in Psychology in 2013. The entirety of her 8 years of employment at the University has been with the Social Sciences Research Laboratories. She started at the SSRL in January of 2012 as a Student Research Interviewer in the Survey and Group Analysis Laboratory (SGAL). She excelled as an interviewer and was promoted to Assistant Survey Research Manager in 2013.  Rachel also worked as a transcriptionist for the Qualitative Research Laboratory (QRL) beginning in 2012. She started the role of Qualitative Research Coordinator for the QRL in September of 2014. In April of 2015, she was promoted to Qualitative Research Manager and Specialist, the role she currently holds.

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Rachel Tang, Qualitative Research Manager and Specialist, Social Sciences Research Laboratories, College of Arts and Science” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Danielle Baron graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 with a BA Honors in Psychology. She moved to the University of Alberta to do her Master of Science in Neuroscience, which she completed in 2012. Danielle then worked as a Research Program Manager for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta from 2012 to December 2015.

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Danielle Baron, College Research Facilitator, College of Agriculture and Bioresources” →

Written by Karen E. Mosier

Kelly Gatzke studied 2 ½ years at the University of Regina in from 1988 to 1990. His summer employment created a career change to complete his Journeyman Electrician Certification in 1996. He attained his Construction Specifications Canada CCCA (Certified Construction Contract Administrator) in early 2015.

He has been an ASPA member since August 16, 2016. While employed at the University of Saskatchewan, he completed his PMP (Project Manager Professional) designation in early 2018. He is currently taking night classes and will be finishing his Certificate in Business in April 2020.

Kelly and his team work collaboratively to successfully deliver projects by managing scope, risk, costs, schedule, and add value to the campus through their collective abilities. As a project manager, Kelly is accountable to ensure that everyone on the team knows and executes their role, feels empowered and supported in their role. Communication is a critical part of his role as a Project Manager. They work to gather client requirements and business needs for all projects. Delivering what the client needs while maintaining the vision for the whole campus is their primary objective.

Continue reading “ASPA Member Highlight – Kelly Gatzke, Senior Project Manager, Enterprise Project Management Office, Strategic Program Office” →