Advisory Council

Bachelor of Commerce, 2015

Inez is originally from former Yugoslavia and grew up in Fort McMurray, Alberta until she moved to Edmonton in 2012 to attend university. She graduated from MacEwan University in 2015 with a Major in International Business. After graduating from MacEwan University, Inez worked as a financial advisor with Scotiabank and later studied law at the University of Alberta. Currently, Inez is a lawyer with Thompson, Laboucan & Epp LLP practicing in litigation, employment, and aboriginal matters.

While a student at MacEwan University, Inez enjoyed giving back to the school and community. She was a MacEwan Ambassador and volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club.

In her free time, Inez enjoys traveling, playing board games, and spending time with her husband, family and friends.

Bachelor of Arts student

Gabriel is a dedicated student leader, serving as the President of SAMU. As a Bachelor of Arts student, Gabriel has been actively involved in the campus community since his first year, serving as the President of the Investment Club and founding President of the Chess Fellowship. Gabriel is committed to advocating for issues such as affordability for students and ensuring comprehensive student supports. He is passionate about serving students, always eager to listen, answer questions and address student concerns. Gabriel recognizes the importance of fostering an inclusive, supportive and engaged student body. Outside of his work, Gabriel enjoys spending time in nature, bouldering and playing chess. As President, he intends to build and promote a culture of empowerment, while striving to create a vibrant student life.

Nursing, 1990

Sue proudly graduated from MacEwan University, formerly Grant MacEwan Community College, with a Nursing Diploma in 1990. Throughout her nursing career she worked in acute care settings in Edmonton, always with a passion for helping others. She furthered her education at the University of Alberta and received her master’s degree at Athabasca University.

Sue has always had an interest in teaching. She was originally drawn to MacEwan University when she worked with the Nurse Educators on her units at the Grey Nuns Hospital. She was impressed by the students and new graduates, and she was proud to be back “home” in 2010 when she came back to MacEwan University as an educator. Today she is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing. She looks forward to connecting with current alumni as well as future graduates.

Social Work, 1992

Derek is currently splitting his time as a Senior Project Manager within Individual Affairs at Indigenous Services Canada and providing course instruction and program support with the Social Work Program at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills. He has been a Sessional Instructor with MacEwan University and a number of other institutions for more than a decade.

After graduating from MacEwan’s Social Work diploma program in 1992, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees, and since has gained extensive experience in the field of social work working with children, youth, and families in the roles of Regional Manager of Aboriginal Supports and Services with Alberta Children's Services, Edmonton Region and Advocate with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. His work experience includes working on and off reserve and in rural and urban settings. Most recently, he has expanded his experience to include training and facilitating with the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute. Derek's passion for Social Work involves creating space for Indigenous ways of knowing and being to coexist with current Western Social Work practices.

He has volunteered and held positions with a variety of boards and organizations, including the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Affairs Committee, the Alberta College of Social Workers, Literacy Alberta, Theatre Alberta, and the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society. Since graduating from MacEwan, Derek has provided practicum supervision to many Social Work students over the years.

When he isn’t working and volunteering his time, Derek enjoys traveling, and kayaking and is an avid concert-goer.

Bachelor of Communication Studies, 2019

Kyra Droog (she/her) is a proud graduate of the Bachelor of Communication Studies program. During her time at MacEwan, Kyra volunteered with the Bolo Tie Collective and was a member of the Communication Studies Student Advisory Committee. As part of her degree, Kyra interned with UK publisher Anthem Press, focusing on marketing and social media strategy. Kyra is continuing her studies, and will complete her Master of Publishing at Simon Fraser University in December 2023.

Since graduating, Kyra has worked with the Francis Winspear Centre for Music and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in writing and fundraising roles. She has also worked with the Antarctic Institute of Canada, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Vancouver publisher Arsenal Pulp Press. Kyra’s publication credits include a number of short stories and poems and one non-fiction book; she has also co-written 7 full-length non-fiction books.

Kyra values community engagement and support, and is proud to volunteer for initiatives including Volunteer Alberta’s Research and Knowledge Mobilization Community of Practice and the Edmonton Fringe Festival. In her free time, Kyra enjoys teaching fitness classes, rock climbing, and reading a good book.

Digital Media and Graphics, 2019; Program and Portfolio Management, 2018

Rhodora Funcion is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with an extensive background in leadership and project management within the healthcare field and is currently a senior project manager with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic, Kaye Edmonton Clinic, Ambulatory Care.

She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor and has completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Innovation Leadership from the University of Fredericton. A lifelong learner, she also has certificates in Project Management and Agile Management from MacEwan University, an Advanced Certificate in Leadership from the University of Alberta and is pursuing the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

She currently holds significant leadership roles, serving as a Board Director with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (Northern Alberta Chapter) and a Conference Committee Member with the National Chapter for the Canada West Health Care Leaders. Her volunteer experiences further demonstrate her leadership capabilities, having served in various capacities with the Project Management Institute Northern Alberta Chapter (PMINAC), Emerging Health Leaders (Edmonton Node), the Anne Burrows Music Foundation, and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce – After Business Committee.

Correctional Services, 2005

Danisa Jara is a graduate of the Correctional Service Program at Grant MacEwan University and is an Officer at the Edmonton Institution for Women. During her 16-year career, Danisa worked in several units and with all security levels of federally sentenced women. She served two terms as her local Union President. Further, Danisa worked as a parole officer, a programs officer, and at Edmonton Institution as the Health Services Accreditation Coordinator.

Danisa is a dual citizen and is fluent in English and Spanish. She is the daughter of Chilean exiles and travelled through Chile as an adult to understand firsthand how the dictatorship of the 1970’s impacted her family. Danisa also travelled to Australia and England and met members of her family who were also exiled.

Danisa has a supportive partner, a 24-year-old son and enjoys travelling, health and wellness, and cooking. Danisa is currently studying criminal justice through Athabasca University.

Voluntary Sector Management, 2005

Karen Jeu is a Senior Associate at The Discovery Group, where she builds on her extensive experience in board development and governance, as well as strategic planning, cultivation and stewardship in fundraising. In her former role as President of Sutter Health CPMC Foundation, Karen was responsible for leading an integrated development operation to support long-range fundraising objectives and their philanthropic impact. With 30 years’ experience working with colleges and universities, including MacEwan, Nova Scotia Community College, Dalhousie University and the University of Alberta, Karen has led strategic and operational delivery of high-profile cultivation and solicitation of donors, stewardship programs, communication strategies and all related functions. She has been an ongoing mentor and motivator for team members, volunteers and donors across the country in academic and healthcare institutions. As a graduate from the Volunteer Management Sector Program at MacEwan, a former employee for over 16 years, and a mother of a graduate from MacEwan, she is passionate about MacEwan’s future. With four sons, Karen has cultivated boundless energy, patience, and an acute appreciation for the small moments in life that influence others. She believes the social profit sector is the future for young people, not only for its end results, but to encourage those we interact with and help along the way.

Bachelor of Science, 2020

Carley is a former member of the three-time championship winning MacEwan Griffins women’s hockey team and is a graduate from the Bachelor of Science program with a major in psychology. Her passion for sport and academics has led her to continue her studies at Brock University where she is completing a PhD in Applied Health Sciences. Her research broadly focuses on understanding the impact of social support on university athletes’ psychological readiness during the sport-related concussion Return-to-Sport protocol.

Carley continues to be involved with the MacEwan women’s hockey program as a member of the Griffin Alumni Committee. Her alumni contributions further extend to representing the Faculty of Arts and Science alumni and participating in both the Alumni Awards Committee and the President’s Medal Selection Committee.

Learn more about Carley

Bachelor of Commerce, 2016

Justin is a graduate from the Bachelor of Commerce program at MacEwan University. Following his time at MacEwan University, Justin studied law at the University of Victoria from 2017-2020. Justin enjoyed working as a lawyer in private practice for a couple years prior to transitioning to a position with the Government of Alberta in the Ministry of Justice.

Justin is an active volunteer for the Court of King’s Bench Amicus program and the Civil Claims Duty Counsel project, both aimed at improving access to justice for self-represented litigants appearing in the Alberta Court system. He was born and raised in Spruce Grove, and has travelled across Europe, and parts of Central America and Asia. In his spare time, Justin enjoys staying active, being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2019

Melanie is a Registered Nurse in the cardiac intensive care unit at the Mazankowski Heart Institute. Since graduating from MacEwan University in 2019 with her nursing degree, she has worked in a variety of settings including geriatric psychiatry, influenza immunization and internal medicine. She completed her Critical Care Nursing Certificate from MacEwan and has since acquired all specialized clinical competencies on her unit.

Melanie embodies her passion for education and mentorship as a preceptor to 4th year nursing students. On the side, she is also a clinical instructor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. Melanie has over six years of dedication as a recreational volunteer, facilitating community engagement among long-term care residents. For her final leadership project, she performed a comprehensive falls analysis with practice recommendations and presented her work at MacEwan’s student research day.

Melanie continues to engage in discussions around quality improvement processes and initiatives for safer patient care in her workplace. She enjoys practicing self-care through learning new hobbies, travelling and spending time with her friends, family, and puppy Finn.

Bachelor of Communication Studies

Upon graduating from MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Communication Studies with a major in Professional Communication, Alicia continued to develop her strategic advisory, communication and business development skills through positions at Stantec and Delnor Construction. She is currently a communications coordinator with the City of Edmonton, where she manages a variety of communication projects.

Alicia was a Student Ambassador and worked as a marketing and event assistant during her time as a student at MacEwan. She has held a variety of volunteer positions over the years, including marketing and communications committee chair for the Stollery Women’s Network Advisory, secretary for the Heritage Days Pavillion Society, and first aid patroller with Canadian Ski Patrol. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, gardening and fishing.

Bachelor of Arts, 2018

Chris will begin work as a lawyer in the coming year as an articling student. He studied law at the University of Calgary from 2019-2022. After graduating from MacEwan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (2018), he worked for the Province of Alberta in Vital Statistics and Corporate Registry. Chris was a goaltender with the Griffins hockey team between 2013-2018 and won two league championships in 2017 and 2018. While a student at MacEwan, he enjoyed representing athletes as a member and president of the MacEwan Athletic Council. He was born and raised in Edmonton, has traveled to Europe and Africa for various backpacking excursions and continues to backcountry camp across Canada. When he has free time, he can be found at his family cabin near Calling Lake.