“I think of my younger self, and I wish there had been more people telling me that obstacles are normal.”

Jenny Campbell (BA ’00) remembers what it was like to navigate university while facing challenges and making major life decisions. Wanting to support today’s students, she joined UFV’s 2025 Career Month speaker series as part of the What to Do with your Arts Degree panel.

Throughout November, UFV Alumni Engagement partnered with the Centre for Experiential and Career Education (CECE) to offer a series of programs designed to connect students with alumni and real-world career insights. According to CECE career education coordinator Jason Li, “These insights are invaluable to students who are preparing for their future careers.”

Career Month opened with the What to Do with your Arts Degree panel, which brought together five alumni working in diverse creative fields. Jenny Campbell, educator and beekeeper at Campbell Valley Gold Honey Farm and Meadery; Maria Alejandra Blanco (BMA ’25), a local filmmaker; Diana Blanco (BMA ’25), a concept artist and storyboard artist; Madison McArthur (BA ’12), president of the board for Bard in the Valley and an educator; and Haley Boros (BFA ’11), a graphic designer and sequential artist, all shared their career pathways, all shaped by their UFV experience.

“I still look back on my time with UFV and reflect with pride on the work that I’d done, and how I brought a lot of the things I learned with me into my career,” says Haley.

Career Month continued with the Community Ideation Jam, a collaborative opportunity centred on Changemaking with AI. Students were challenged to explore how artificial intelligence can support local communities in meaningful and responsible ways. Over a 48-hour period, teams applied creative problem solving and ethical thinking to develop AI-informed ideas aimed at improving life in the Fraser Valley.

Speakers offered insight on sustainable thinking, community development, and the responsible use of AI before teams created and refined their proposals. Each group then presented their concept to a panel of judges.

The proposals reflected the program’s focus on social impact, with eight teams exploring a wide range of community challenges through the lens of AI. Concepts addressed issues such as agricultural and food sustainability, housing, social systems, and other areas where technology could strengthen community well-being.  Agriverse, led by Meriem Lmoubariki, Amarnoor, and Simar Saini, earned first place; Predictive Housing by Thomas Ware, Aaron Anderson, and Jordan Hilderman received second place; and Transforming Adoptive Pathways in BC by Vidhi Sharma and Samiksha took third.

Career Month concluded with Pave Your Own Career Path, a sustainability-focused program highlighting alumni who work in this rapidly expanding field. Jennifer Martel (BSc ’14) and Alec Zinman (BA ’25) spoke about their roles with UFV’s Office of Sustainability, while former UFV Alumni Association chair Tony Dhaliwal (BA ’12) shared insights from his work in clean technology.

“What doors are you opening right now?” asked Jennifer, as she encouraged students to engage fully in their undergraduate experience. “Find what motivates you in sustainability and work towards that. UFV has many opportunities for undergraduate research that help support students beyond graduation.”

Career Month showcased the strength of the UFV alumni community and the meaningful ways alumni continue to give back through mentorship, storytelling, and practical guidance.

Beyond Career Month, the Centre for Experiential and Career Education supports students and alumni throughout their career journey. To learn more about CECE programming, visit: https://www.ufv.ca/jobs/