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- 2023
- 2022
- Cultivating a community of care at SFU Surrey and beyond
- Celebrating 20 years of SFU in Surrey
- Bringing ArtsLIVE to SFU Surrey
- Sustainability in the heart of Surrey's city centre
- It’s all about CO-OPeration: My experience with SFU Co-op
- Renewing our commitment to reconciliation and decolonization
- Reconnect and recharge this summer
- Community on Campus: SFU Surrey's 20th Anniversary Recap
- 2021
- Supporting one another and raising awareness on sexual assault
- Why Bell Let's Talk Day matters to me
- International Women's Day: Celebrating the Strong Women in My Life
- The Glass Half Full: The Challenges of 2020 & The Promise of 2021
- Moving forward: Next steps for anti-racism dialogues at SFU Surrey
- Honouring the 215 lives lost
- Walking together towards inclusion
- Summer message from Steve Dooley
- Welcome back to campus!
- Honouring the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Introducing The Journey Here: a new podcast from SFU Surrey
- Holiday greetings, a look back on 2021 and hope for 2022
- 2020
- Let's talk about mental health and well-being
- Lift Each Other Up on Pink Shirt Day
- 2020 Homeless Count in Surrey
- Surrey campus vibe is alive-and-strong during COVID-19
- It’s Long Overdue - Moving The Dial on Racism & Discrimination
- Thank You President Petter for 10 Amazing Years
- Welcoming Joy Johnson, SFU's 10th President
- Get to know Steve Dooley, Executive Director of SFU's Surrey Campus
- In case you missed it: Fall 2020 Campus-wide meeting
- The fight against COVID-19: Surrey researchers at their best!
- Season's greetings from Steve Dooley
- 2019
- Community Perspectives on Living with HIV and where we go From Here
- Celebrating International Women’s Day at SFU’s Surrey Campus
- OppFest at the Surrey campus
- New campus building expands SFU Surrey campus
- Pink Shirt Day
- Power of Partnerships: Surrey Schools
- Welcome to Fall 2019
- SFU Surrey and Orange Shirt Day
- World Mental Health Week
- Health-related research and innovation is thriving in Surrey
- SFU Surrey students changing the world in 2019
- Podcast: The Journey Here
- Season 1
- Ep. 1 | Joy Johnson: Leading with Compassion and Care
- Ep. 2 | Kue K'nyawmupoe: Connecting and Serving Communities
- Ep. 3 | Doug Tennant: Empowering Leaders with Diverse Abilities
- Ep. 4 | Kathleen Burke: Igniting Community Leaders
- Ep. 5 | Rochelle Prasad: Sparking the Leaders of Tomorrow
- Ep. 6 | Bailey Mumford: An Advocate for Housing and Belonging
- Ep. 7 | Matt Hern: Supporting Community Development through Worker Co-operatives
- Ep. 8 | Joanne Curry: Engaging Our Campus and Community
- Ep. 9 | Michael Heeney: Building Surrey's City Centre
- Season 1
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Alumni
Alumni Feature: Meet Vera LeFranc
SFU Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts - Major in Liberal and Business Studies, 2007
I graduated from SFU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal and business studies. Since 2019, I have been COO for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver where we operate homeless shelters and housing and services for women and children across the region, including five locations in Surrey. I have lived in Surrey since 1996, and it has been an absolute gift to watch our city grow. In 2018 I was elected to Surrey City Council and I’m especially proud of the emergence of the university district, and the youthful, diverse and innovative vibe that is growing at the heart of our City. Surrey is a place where I was able to really put my education and skills to work, where I was able to contribute to the direction of the City, and to work with my colleagues at SFU to encourage inclusion, social justice and equity.
What drew you to your area of study?
I loved the idea of gaining pragmatic business skills, while also having an opportunity to build a strong foundation of knowledge across disciplines.
What is your favourite memory of your time at SFU?
The people. Whether it was the cohort, many of whom I am attached to still, or some of our professors who I have built amazing long term collegial relationships with. I'm made much better by having them in my life.
What is your personal takeaway from your time at SFU?
Education is what you make of it, and it is not what happens during your degree, but how you apply it after.
What advice do you have for SFU students going through their degree?
Stay curious. Take courses that stretch your knowledge and beliefs. Give back. Get involved with your academic community.
Connect with Vera on LinkedIn.
Our alumni go on to engage their community in a variety of ways. Read more alumni stories here.