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- Fall 2024
- Summer 2024
- New book edited by SIAT Senior Lecturer Michael Filimowicz offers a comprehensive overview of sound design
- New Certificate in Sound offers interdisciplinary perspectives
- FCAT & SIAT partner with two BC school districts to bring new learning opportunities to indigenous students
- Lita Lising and Kiran Sonea are the inaugural recipients of the Shaun Kenneth Gauthier Memorial Award
- Communication alumnus and renowned acoustic ecologist Hildegard Westerkamp receives honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from SFU
- New award nurtures artists to push creative limits
- SCA's Laura U. Marks Receives Guggenheim Fellowship
- Spring 2024
- Congratulations to the 2023/2024 major graduate award recipients from FCAT
- "The Fold", a new book from the SCA's Laura U. Marks offers a philosophy for living in an infinitely connected cosmos
- IUPP student Morgan Peequaquat finds her voice and a community while organizing the Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
- SFU Publishing Director Hannah McGregor's new book asks "Can podcasting save academia?"
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Understanding Authenticity Age Information Disorder
- Meet Sorren Jao, 2023 Lighthouse Lab Prize Recipient
- FCAT scholars awarded Community Engagement Initiative grants for their innovative work
- Going beyond diversity and inclusion: A Day with Dr. Kim TallBear
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Hopeful Monster, an Imaginative, Innovative Soundscape
- Fall 2023
- Summer 2023
- SCA's Arne Eigenfeldt in The Conversation: Why the growth of AI in making art won’t eliminate artists
- FCAT hosts Safe Space for White Questions online discussion
- Our Way and The Klabona Keepers among 5th Annual Skoden Film Festival award winners
- FCAT supports northern BC communities with increased learning opportunities
- Master of Digital Media Grads Tackle Plastic Waste Blanketing Our Oceans with Group Shopping App
- June 2023 Convocation Featured Student Profiles
- Introducing FCAT Research Spotlight
- The School of Communication's 50th Anniversary: From 1973 to 2023
- Spring 2023
- Cody Sawatsky Memorial Plaque Unveiled at the SFU Surrey Campus
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Michael Filimowicz
- School of Interactive Arts & Technology professor Wolfgang Stuerzlinger inducted to prestigious VR academy
- Meet Nico Hernandez, 2022 Lighthouse Lab Prize Recipient
- Jon Corbett Joins School of Interactive Art and Technology
- Welcome Kota Ezawa, the 2023 Spring Audain Visual Artist in Residence
- MPUB Alumnus Claire Cavanagh Becomes Literary Agent
- Alumnus designs Canucks Lunar New Year jersey
- 2023 Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
- How the Online Streaming Act will support Canadian content
- Meet Jonathan Newman, the 2022 Recipient of the Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming
- Fall 2022
- Eight SFU innovators bestowed with Canada’s highest academic honour
- SIAT Convocation Features October 2022
- Graduating Student Sharlyn Monillas Tells Us About Her Time in CMNS
- Centre for Digital Media partners with Ethọ́s Lab to improve Black representation in digital media
- Explore the Surrey Community Open House SIAT Project Demos
- new interdisciplinary technology aid wilderness search and rescue
- Building better democracies through journalism
- Charter alumnus making a big impact through small gifts
- Summer 2022
- FCAT June 2022 Convocation: Looking back
- Meet Contemporary Arts alum Krystle Silverfox
- SFU researchers receive over $6 million to tackle online disinformation, foster data fluencies
- SIAT researchers develop and curate exhibition at Galiano Island’s Yellowhouse Art Centre
- Roll out the red carpet: Surrey students showcase filmmaking talent
- Spring 2022
- FACTS AND FALSEHOODS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
- Celebrating Black History Month across the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
- SFU professor shares experience living and teaching in war-torn Ukraine
- SFU artists and researchers showcase art installation on Surrey’s ‘UrbanScreen’
- Leadership and Agile Production Management micro-credential established in partnership with DigiBC
- Leading with heart: Meet Staff Achievement Award winner Corbin Saleken
- HOW GOOGLE’S SEARCH ENGINE SUPPORTS CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND HATE FIGURES
- SFU staffer’s commitment to local arts community nets staff achievement award
- Fall 2021
- Fall 2021 Convocation: Looking back
- TikTok/Instagram video contest
- Meet communication undergraduate student Ashran Bharosha
- FCAT Pro Workshop: Professionally Brand Yourself & Create a Digital Portfolio!
- SFU establishes first interdisciplinary and practice-based PhD in contemporary arts in Western Canada
- To design a more ethical app, consider youth well-being
- Peter Anderson: Fighting fires with better emergency communication
- FCAT Alumni Excellence Award winners reflect on their awards and their time in their programs
- This season, give the gift of tech literacy — not addiction — along with that device
- Study identifies link between certain lifestyle activities and reduced cognitive decline
- Summer 2021
- SFU Publishing Launches the Greg Younging Publishing Award Endowment
- Resources and readings to start National Indigenous History Month
- Celebrating Indigenous history and culture during National Indigenous History Month
- Communication honours student studies online conspiracy theories, disinformation
- Making the world a better place: criminology alumnus turned interdisciplinary artist continues academic journey
- FCAT June 2021 Convocation: Looking back
- An invisible polluter: SFU researchers investigate the growing carbon footprint of streaming media
- Low res, high impact: Small File Media Festival raises awareness of the carbon footprint of online streaming
- Welcoming Canada HomeShare to Metro Vancouver
- FCAT faculty members receive tri-council grants to support their research
- Spring 2021
- Winners of the FCAT Student Photo Contest Spring 2021
- Alex Krilow receives first Greg Younging Undergraduate Award in Publishing
- FCAT Student Photo Contest Spring 2021
- Skoden Indigenous Film Festival co-founder and SCA alumnus returns to teach Skoden course
- Communication professor Martin Laba shares what he's learning about remote teaching
- In the rush for coronavirus information, unreviewed scientific papers are being publicized
- Film alumnus Kelvin Redvers receives Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal
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- FCAT Convocation Celebration October 2024
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- FCAT Podcasts
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- Season One
- Episode 0: Welcome to After School
- Episode 1: Finding Your Creative Potential with Prem Gill
- Episode 2: Inclusivity in the Performance Arts with Aryo Khakpour
- Episode 3: Connecting Design and Technology with Sofia Bautista
- Episode 4: Storytelling in Game Design with Mars Balisacan
- Episode 5: Challenging the Status Quo through Art with Shion Skye Carter & Stefan Nazarevich
- Episode 6: Starting Your Own Publishing Company with Jesse Finkelstein
- Episode 7: Finding Happiness in Your Work with Nick Doering
- Episode 8: Making a Name in Independent Filmmaking with Gloria Mercer
- Episode 9: It All Starts with a Strategy with Adam Brayford
- Episode 10: Shifting Places, Shifting Minds with Milton Lim
- Episode 11: Being the Big Piece in a Small Pie with Jordan Yep
- Episode 12: Reimagining Dance Training with Tin Gamboa
- Episode 13: Standing Out as a Creative with Sara Milosavic
- Episode 15: Kristin Richter
- Season Two
- Episode 0: Welcome to FCAT After School Series 2!
- Episode 1: Entrepreneurship in UX Design with Eric Lee
- Episode 2: Community and Adaptability in the Performing Arts with Howard Dai
- Episode 3: Mastering the Art of Publishing with Jazmin Welch
- Episode 4: Navigating your Educational Journey with Broadcaster Simi Sara
- Episode 5: Career Transitions of a Software Engineer with Vic Ong
- Episode 6: Becoming Your Own Boss with Kirstin Richter
- Episode 7: Gaining a Global Outlook with Kai Bockmann
- Episode 8: Finding Your Place in Publishing with Heidi Waechtler
- Episode 9: Exploring Virtual Production with Brenda Medina
- Episode 10: Inclusion in the Design Industry with Priscilla Skylar Lee
- Episode 11: Exploring Study Focus in Contemporary Arts with Sophie Tang
- Season Three
- Episode 0: Season 3 Coming Soon!
- Episode 1: Following Your Creative Passions with Cameron Maitland
- Episode 2: Shame Demons and Queer Sci-fi Horror with Mily Mumford
- Episode 3: The Poetry of Publishing with Charlotte Nip
- Episode 4: Clowning, Failing, and Re-enchanting the Everyday with June Fukumura
- Episode 5: Tech, Meditation, and Leaving a Legacy with Jay Vidyarthi
- Episode 6: Your Work Is Not Your Life with Valentina Forté-Hernandez
- Episode 7: Trying Everything Once and the Future of Media with Jason D’Souza
- Episode 8: Decolonizing and Doing What You Have Always Done with Audrey Heath
- Episode Transcripts
- Season 3, Episode 7: Trying Everything Once and the Future of Media with Jason D’Souza
- Season 3, Episode 6: Your Work Is Not Your Life with Valentina Forté-Hernandez
- Season 3, Episode 5: Tech, Meditation, and Leaving a Legacy with Jay Vidyarthi
- Season 3, Episode 4: Clowning, Failing, and Re-enchanting the Everyday with June Fukumura
- Season 3, Episode 3: The Poetry of Publishing with Charlotte Nip
- Season 3, Episode 2: Shame Demons and Queer Sci-fi Horror with Mily Mumford
- Season 3, Episode 1: Following Your Creative Passions with Cameron Maitland
- Season 2, Episode 11: Exploring Study Focus in Contemporary Arts with Sophie Tang
- Season 2, Episode 10: Inclusion in the Design Industry with Priscilla Skylar Lee
- Season 2, Episode 9: Exploring Virtual Production with Brenda Medina
- Season 2, Episode 8: Finding Your Place in Publishing with Heidi Waechtler
- Season 2, Episode 7: Kai Bockmann
- Season 2, Episode 6: Becoming Your Own Boss with Kirstin Richter
- Season 2, Episode 5: Career Transitions of a Software Engineer with Vic Ong
- Season 2, Episode 4: Navigating your Educational Journey with Broadcaster Simi Sara
- Season 2, Episode 3: Mastering the Art of Publishing with Jazmin Welch
- Season 2, Episode 2: Community and Adaptability in the Performing Arts with Howard Dai
- Season 2, Episode 1: Entrepreneurship in UX Design with Eric Lee
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Jenny Moran: Communications Alumnus shares career advice for future communicators
With nearly two decades of Communications experience, Jenny’s journey began when she first graduated from SFU’s Communication program. As a Richmond BC native, Jenny was curious to discover her roots as her parents immigrated from Finland to Canada in the 70s. “I left my first job out of SFU and went travelling across Europe for a few months and ended up in Finland and started looking for work while discovering my roots.” Jenny succeeded in her job search despite repeating the same one outfit for all four interviews. “I only had backpacking clothes and not much money so the one pair of black pants and black blazer I bought from H&M was going to have to work.” She got the job at Nokia and joined their communications team and got to launch products all around the world, “it was a dream job, and I spent a lot of timing traveling as well as honing the craft of communications in that role.” Eight years down the line, Jenny was offered an opportunity to lead a team in Silicon Valley and later had an opportunity to work at Microsoft when they acquired Nokia’s devices and services business and that’s where she’s been working ever since.
This year, Jenny became a member of the FCAT Dean’s Advisory Board Council where she is focused on building – and learning from – the next generation of leaders. “This was an opportunity for me to share back what I’ve learned over the years and also get insight into the next generation of communications professionals.”
Why did you pursue a degree in Communication?
I went to SFU to study business because I wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps. In my second semester, I sat in Communications 110 lecture for 45 minutes. Dr Donald Gutstein talked about media, power, story, and influence and I was hooked. It was in those 45 minutes that I decided to change my major and that’s when the path changed for me, and I’ve been one that path ever since.
When you were completing your degree, Communication was in Applied Sciences at SFU. Do you think it helped you break into the Tech industry?
I don’t think so because the way I broke into tech was through our Communications Co-op program. It was an accident because the last Co-op placement I did before graduating was a non-profit that invested in the commercialization of technology by BC-based inventors. I applied to the job because it sounded both interesting and scary at the same time. And I got it. That’s how I fell into tech, and I haven’t looked back.
Looking back on your time at SFU, is there anything you would do differently?
I wish I would have spoken up more, and specifically debated and challenged more. I was a quiet student, took notes, was very diligent, good at listening, showed up to all the classes and lectures. I wish I would have recognized in that moment, as a student at SFU, I had a safe and encouraging space to practice those important skills. I didn’t realize that until I got out of SFU and they’re things I’m still working on.
How has the Communication industry evolved since you began your career?
Maybe I'll start with language that was part of my day-to-day work back then. Press release, mass media, newspaper, physical press kit - those are things I don't hear much of these days. Communications has evolved into a much more strategic discipline where on our best days we're not seen as a discipline where communications people simply take a message that's given to them and amplify it in different ways, but instead we're more central to what organizations do. Especially in tough times, we're at the table (or virtual table) driving strategy and decision-making.
How do you handle mistakes? Do you have any advice on how you process those moments?
I make mistakes and my mistakes feel bigger now because of the job that I’m in and they’re more expensive to be honest. If my gut tells me that a mistake matters, then I would raise it, own it, and then find a way to fix it. Because if you don’t the mistakes would get bigger. Mistakes can be good because you get to learn from them and build more trust with people when you’re open about them.
Where do you think the study of Communications is headed in the next 10 years?
I really love this question. I can’t predict the future and one thing that we know for sure is that we don’t know. So how do we prepare communications professionals to thrive knowing that we don’t know? I think it’s the softer skills that need a little bit more investment than hard skills like learning platform A, platform B and various programs. As a communicator you need to understand where information (and disinformation) is, how it’s shared, and how people absorb it. Also, being able to practice agility, empathy, curiosity, and diplomacy will make us better.