2026 medal recipients
Awarded to the two graduate students who achieve the highest academic standing upon graduation from a master’s or doctoral degree program.
Ceremony A
Dr. Jessica Skye Augustine, PhD, Resource and Environmental Management
Faculty of Environment
Dr. hwsyun’yun Skye Augustine graduates with a PhD in Resource and Environmental Management from the Faculty of Environment. During her PhD, she worked alongside Cowichan and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations to restore 1,700-4,000-year-old Indigenous aquaculture systems. Skye’s dissertation included SFU’s first-ever oral chapter, where she hosted cultural work to uphold hul’q’umi’num’ practices as a valid alternative to traditional academic knowledge generation and record keeping. At SFU, she received an Aboriginal Entrance and NSERC scholarships, funding from the New Relationship Trust Indigenous Scholarship Program and Faculty of Environment awards for excellence in research and excellence in teaching. Now a faculty member at UBC’s Centre for Indigenous Fisheries, Skye and her students continue to study and restore Indigenous Aquaculture systems, investigating their role in providing resilient future food sources.
Ceremony A
Dr. Brooke McNeil, PhD, Chemistry
Faculty of Science
Dr. Brooke McNeil graduates with a PhD in Chemistry from the Faculty of Science. For her PhD thesis, she studied the development of Pb-based radiopharmaceuticals, which are used for the imaging and treatment of cancer. Her research investigated these drugs’ chemical structure and their stability in the body to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients. Brooke achieved a perfect 4.33 CGPA and received 19 awards throughout her degree, including from NSERC’s Canada Graduate Research Scholarship and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine’s Best Paper Award. After her PhD, Brooke joined Abdera Therapeutics to evaluate antibody-based radiopharmaceuticals and is now joining TRIUMF as a postdoctoral fellow to investigate paediatric cancers.
Recognizes graduate students from each faculty who achieve the highest level of academic excellence in their graduate program.
Ceremony A
Dr. Baharak Yousefi, PhD, Geography
Faculty of Environment
Dr. Baharak Yousefi (she/her) graduates with a PhD in Geography from the Faculty of Environment. An SFU librarian who holds an MLIS from the University of British Columbia and an MA in Women's Studies from SFU, Baharak researches the politics and labour of librarianship, including feminist and critical approaches to the field. In her PhD work, she explored independently run libraries grounded in feminist, anarchist, pro-labour, Black liberation, queer liberation, anti-colonial and other liberatory traditions, and considered how traditional library workers can learn from these parallel formations in order to reimagine their own spaces and practices.
Ceremony A
Dr. Chao Chun (Jimmy) Liu, PhD, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Faculty of Science
Dr. Chao Chun (Jimmy) Liu graduates with a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the Faculty of Science. During his PhD, he developed novel computational methods for tracking the spread and evolution of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, helping public health agencies detect and respond to outbreaks quickly and effectively. Currently an SFU postdoctoral fellow, he works at the intersection of genomics, bioinformatics and infectious disease research and is developing rapid DNA sequencing tools to help hospitals quickly identify harmful bacteria in patient blood and guide effective antibiotic treatments. In the future, he aspires to improve equitable access to DNA sequencing technologies to strengthen infectious disease surveillance worldwide and improve global health outcomes.
Ceremony A
Dr. Erin Williams, PhD, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Faculty of Science
Dr. Erin Williams graduates with a PhD in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) from the Faculty of Science. During her PhD, she investigated non-pharmaceutical strategies for managing recurrent fainting across the lifespan. Her interdisciplinary work assessed the effectiveness of counterpressure maneuvers as a behavioural intervention to avert impending episodes, making significant contributions to the clinical understanding of fainting in children. Supported by the CIHR’s Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Program, her research earned several awards, including Best Oral Presentation at the International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System. Beyond research, she was a leader and advocate within her community, recognized by the prestigious Bastions of BPK Convocation Award. Her dedication to academic service elevated the visibility and excellence of research in BPK, fostering collaboration and pride among trainees and faculty alike.
Ceremony C
Nazanin Babaeipanah, EMBA
Beedie School of Business
Nazanin Babaeipanah graduates with an Executive MBA from the Beedie School of Business. During her degree, she engaged deeply with topics related to organizational change, inclusive leadership, organizational culture and institutional strategy through applied learning and real-world analysis. She currently serves as director, strategic initiatives in SFU’s Office of the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion and was recently elected as the staff representative to SFU’s Board of Governors. A long-standing member of the SFU community and three-time SFU graduate, Nazanin is passionate about advancing equitable and inclusive leadership and helping organizations navigate meaningful institutional change.
Ceremony C
Dr. Josh Alampi, PhD, Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Josh Alampi graduates with a PhD in Health Sciences from the Faculty of Health Sciences. His PhD investigated the relationship between exposure to chemicals during pregnancy and childhood behaviours, applying innovative statistical methods to uncover important details that might otherwise be missed with more conventional approaches. For his work, he received the 2022 Best Environmental Epidemiology Paper Award from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology and the National Institute of Environmental Health Science’s Paper of the Month. He is currently a biostatistician and data analyst at Legacy for Airway Health, a Vancouver-based organization that performs cutting-edge research on lung health and translates it into clinical practice.
Ceremony D
Dr. Paige Irène Tuttösí, PhD, Computing Science
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Dr. Paige Irène Tuttösí graduates with a PhD in Computing Science from the Faculty of Applied Sciences. During her doctoral studies, she combined linguistics, cognitive science, engineering and signal processing methods to develop evidence-based adaptive voices for human-robot interactions (HRI). Her research resulted in the first ever second language speaker text-to-speech system and her work has advanced the fields of cognitive science, linguistics and engineering. While at SFU, Paige received an NSERC scholarship and was funded as a Rajan Family Scholar and through the France-Canada Research Fund. She was also selected as a pioneer for the Human-Robot Interaction conference, the world's premiere conference for HRI research. She currently works as an AI engineer at Enchanted Tools in Paris.
Ceremony E
Dr. Rowan Melling, PhD, Communication
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
Dr. Rowan Melling graduates with a PhD in Communication from the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology. His dissertation revealed the influence of Romanticism on Silicon Valley and challenged a romanticization of technology that extends from the 1960s to today. While at SFU, he received a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship and a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) fellowship, as well as provincial, departmental and faculty awards. Rowan is an exhibiting painter who uses art to develop novel research methods, as published in Communication, Culture and Critique and Capacious Journal. He is a founding member of the artist collective Nocturnal Delicious. In September, he begins a SSHRC-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Concordia University, researching the relationship between augmentation technologies, disability and Silicon Valley’s long history of eugenics.
Ceremony H
Dr. Michaela McGuire, PhD, Criminology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dr. Michaela McGuire graduates with a PhD in Criminology from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Her research and work focus on decolonization, racism, genocide, state crime, resurgence, Indigenous justice, and governance. In her dissertation research she considered identity displacement and belonging affecting the Haida Nation, within the framework of state crime. During her PhD, she maintained a 4.33 CGPA and held multiple awards and fellowships, including the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is a fellow with the Yellowhead Institute and will begin as an assistant professor in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria this summer.
Ceremony H
August Skrudland, MA, Criminology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
August Skrudland graduates with a Master of Arts in Criminology from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. During his master’s research, he analyzed risk-taking behaviours of sexual homicide offenders in Canada and found that increasingly complex offender decision-making led to a greater likelihood of witnesses potentially seeing or hearing aspects of the offence. His research provides practical investigative insights for identifying behavioural patterns with the aims of strengthening criminal investigations, informing prevention efforts and enhancing public safety. At SFU, he earned a 4.33 GPA and several awards and received a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship to support his SFU doctoral research in criminology, where he will study offender typologies, victimology and geographic mobility patterns in sexually motivated abductions.
Ceremony I
Dr. Sandeep Kaur Glover, PhD, Arts Education
Faculty of Education
Dr. Sandeep Kaur Glover graduates with a PhD in Arts Education from the Faculty of Education. For her PhD, she drew from arts-based, de/colonizing and Punjabi-Sikh perspectives in conceptualizing a new format of dissertation, "a dissertation by pul(l)sation," centering embodied and culturally responsive knowledges. The recipient of three graduate fellowships and prestigious awards, including the 2026 ARTS SIG Doctoral Dissertation Award from The Canadian Society for the Study of Education, she has published in international journals, edited volumes and presented at national and international conferences. She continues to bridge theory and praxis through teaching, performing, community-based engagements and researching how embodied approaches facilitate healing and well-being.
Ceremony I
Dr. Michelle Sylliboy, PhD, Educational Theory and Practice
Faculty of Education
Dr. Michelle Sylliboy graduates with a PhD in Educational Theory and Practice from the Faculty of Education. Her PhD dissertation Aqnutmaqn (We Talk), a manuscript-based research-creation project, uses poetic and artistic inquiry to explore healing, identity and intergenerational knowledge through Mi’kmaq ways of knowing and was supported by a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship along with a scholarship from her community of Weʼkoqma’q. As a member of the We’koqma’q First Nation in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Michelle’s work translates, decolonizes and re-activates Mi’kmaq komqwejwi’kasikl as living knowledge bundles. Michelle is currently completing a komqwejwi’kasikl dictionary with Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation. She is a co-winner of the 2020 Indigenous Voices Awards, recipient of the 2021 Arts Nova Scotia Indigenous Artist Recognition Award and was longlisted for the 2022 Sobey Art Award.
Awarded to the two undergraduate students who achieve the highest scholastic standing upon graduation from a bachelor’s degree program.
Ceremony E
Olivia Wong, BA (Hons. First Class with Distinction), Communication
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
Olivia Wong graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours First Class with Distinction) in Communication, a minor in Print and Digital Publishing and a certificate in Digital Journalism. A highlight of her time at SFU was her honours thesis exploring ethnic identity formation among youth activists in Vancouver’s Chinatown. She expanded her involvement within her faculty as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and as a vice-president of the Communication Student Union. She also spent several years as an English as an additional language peer educator with the Student Learning Commons and in various student groups, which defined her undergraduate experience. Olivia looks forward to deepening her community involvement as she now steps into a career in marketing and communications.
Ceremony G
Selena Prentice, BA, Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Selena Prentice graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Early Learning. After beginning her education at Langara College, Selena was awarded the Ken Caple College Transfer Entrance Scholarship upon her transfer to SFU. While at SFU, Selena fostered her long-held passion for working with children through her childcare work with the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia and by volunteering with organizations like the Girl Guides of Canada. Selena’s combined passions for learning and working with children have led her to pursue a career in teaching, with plans of obtaining a master's degree in education.
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation
Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student in any faculty who has completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree and/or a Certificate or a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma and has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding contributions in support/promotion of one or more of the following areas: (1) inclusion, (2) democracy and/or (3) reconciliation, on campus or in their communities.
Ceremony G
Julia Mosi, BA (Hons.), Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Julia Mosi graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Throughout her degree, she has been deeply dedicated to fostering inclusive and accessible spaces on campus. Her leadership as president of the Psychology Student Union and former president of the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Student Union, alongside her peer mentor and support work, has helped students access meaningful social, academic and professional opportunities. She has also contributed to several research labs, with her honours thesis examining diversity in Canadian newcomers’ attitudes and wellbeing. This fall, she will begin a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Ceremony H
Mishael Abu-Samham, BA (Hons.), Philosophy and Political Science
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Mishael Abu-Samhan graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy and Political Science. During his time at SFU, he completed the NATO Field School and Simulation Program and served the student body as a peer educator, student Senator and mentor, as well as president and co-president of the Philosophy and Political Science Student Unions, respectively. In recognition of his academic achievements and community service, he has been named to the President’s Honour Roll seven times, awarded a FASS Dean’s Undergraduate Fellowship and won the 2024 Laurine Harrison Undergraduate Service Award, among other recognitions. He will attend law school at the University of Toronto this fall.
Ceremony A
Samantha Butler, BEnv, Global Environmental Systems
Faculty of Environment
Samantha Butler graduates with a Bachelor of Environment in Global Environmental Systems. Samantha is passionate about studying human interactions with nature and was named to the President’s Honour Roll twice during her time at SFU. Through exploring her interests in writing and the environment, her paper on the importance of prescribed burning and Indigenous cultural burning for forest fire management placed second in the 2024 Student Learning Commons Undergraduate Writing Contest, Fourth Year category. Samantha currently dedicates her time to volunteering at a restoration site and native plant nursery. She plans to pursue a career in conservation work.
Ceremony A
Randon Hall, BSc (Hons.), Mathematical Physics
Faculty of Science
Randon Hall graduates with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematical Physics. He participated in three Undergraduate Student Research Awards during his time at SFU and was consistently named to the President’s Honour Roll, as well as being a student-athlete on the SFU Men’s Swimming team. He has received multiple athletic awards, including the Nadine Caron Top Scholar-Athlete for two seasons and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Summit Award in 2024. Randon will continue his academic journey by pursuing a master’s degree to further research galaxy formation and evolution.
Ceremony B
Opeyemi Balogun, BBA (Hons. First Class with Distinction), Accounting and International Business
Beedie School of Business
Opeyemi Balogun graduates with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours First Class with Distinction), with concentrations in accounting and international business. She was awarded the Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship with Distinction and consistently earned placement on the President’s Honour Roll. Beyond academics, she demonstrated commitment to student leadership and community engagement through her roles as vice-president of finance and operations for the SFU Student Marketing Association, SFU Beedie student ambassador, mentor for the SFU Accounting Student Association Mentorship Program and senior leader for SFU Beedie LAUNCH. She is pursuing her CPA designation and will begin a career in public accounting in the fall.
Kirstin Abigail Heath, BSc, Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Ceremony C
Kirstin Abigail Heath graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. She was named to both the President's and Dean's Honour Rolls for several consecutive semesters, and received the Undergraduate Open Scholarship throughout her time at Simon Fraser University. Building on her passion for health sciences and molecular biology, Kirstin is now pursuing a graduate degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at SFU. Her project will focus on investigating the interactions between a form of B-cell lymphoma, key innate immune cells and the immunotherapies that are commonly used in cancer therapy—research that she hopes to build on in her future career.
Ceremony D
Levi Magel, BAS, Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Levi Magel graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Mechatronic Systems Engineering. During his time at SFU, Levi was a consistent recipient of the President’s Honour Roll, as well as the 2024 winner of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering’s Gold Medal from the SFU chapter. His team’s capstone project, a fully automated testing robot built for a local engineering company, won the Best Overall Capstone Project Award in his graduating year. He currently works as a mechanical specialist at Planar Motor Incorporated, building magnetically levitated conveyance systems.
Ceremony E
Morgan Legal, BA, Communication
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
Morgan Legal graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She is a recipient of the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award and is a two-time recipient of the Fred and Elaine Moonen Scholarship in Communication. Morgan has published work and led workshops about affect theory and abandoned places in Vancouver in collaboration with the local science and technology studies non-profit Doing STS. A participant of the Accelerated Master’s Pathway, Morgan will continue pursuing her interests in philosophy of technology and queer embodiment through her master’s degree. She is currently working on the Data Fluencies project at the Digital Democracies Institute at SFU.
Harkirat Kang, BA (Hons.), Economics
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Ceremony F
Harkirat Kang graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She extends her gratitude for the generous support from members of the Economics program for their mentorship, academic and career guidance and research opportunities during her time at SFU. Harkirat presently works as a research assistant at the Bank of Canada where she supports economists in conducting research on monetary and fiscal policy. She plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Economics next year, followed by a PhD with the goal of pursuing a career in research.
Ceremony G
Emily Yiling Ma, BA (Hons.), English
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Emily Yiling Ma graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English. Their honours research focused on queer spatiality in Chinese diasporic cultural production under the supervision of Dr. Joanne Leow, and they presented this research at the FASS Undergraduate Research Symposium and the SFU English Graduate Conference. She is a recipient of the Robert C. Brown Award, the Tom Grieve Honours English Program Award and the Ann and William Messenger Undergraduate Scholarship in English. Additionally, Emily volunteered with the SFU Student Learning Commons as a peer educator and served as undergraduate representative on a hiring committee for the English department. They look forward to beginning a graduate degree in Archives and Library Studies at UBC.
Ceremony I
Krista Schuck, BGS, Education
Faculty of Education
Krista Schuck graduates with a Bachelor of General Studies from the Faculty of Education. Krista has gained experience volunteering in elementary school classrooms and supporting children’s learning in a variety of settings. She looks forward to beginning the Professional Development Program at Simon Fraser University this fall as she works toward becoming an elementary school teacher.