Congratulations to MacEwan University’s 2023 Alumni Awards recipients!

Alumni Awards honour trendsetters, innovators and leaders who started their journey at MacEwan.

This year, nine outstanding alumni are being recognized in two award categories – Distinguished Alumni and Emerging Leader – for their achievements across a variety of sectors, including health care, music, visual art and social sciences.

Meet our distinguished alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who exhibit outstanding achievements or make significant contributions within their professions and service to the community.

Dave Babcock (Music ’82) is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, bandleader, musical director, producer and clinician who is equally at home onstage or in the recording studio. 

After graduating from MacEwan, Babcock established himself as both a sideman and session musician while simultaneously charting a successful solo career leading his own groups. He rose to prominence as a bandleader with his longtime jazz group, The Jump Orchestra, in the early ’90s and with his latest band, The Nightkeepers, established in 2010. He continues to perform with both groups today.

Babcock has performed with Edmonton jazz greats Tommy Banks, Big Miller and PJ Perry, the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra, the Yardbird Suite All Stars and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared with Canadian pop artists like Tom Cochrane, k.d. lang and Lighthouse, Motown legends The Temptations, Martha & The Vandellas and Mary Wilson of The Supremes, as well as artists like Glen Campbell, Petula Clark and Frank Sinatra Jr.

Jacqueline Koughan (Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’12) is known for her leadership, compassion and advocacy in health care. Her work has been recognized locally and nationally as innovative, collaborative and foundational, paving the way for inclusive health care. She has worked with leaders and Elders in remote Indigenous communities to establish safe care clinics, led the way in establishing the MacEwan Health Centre’s Rainbow Clinic and 2SLGBTQ+-focused programs, and was instrumental in identifying and breaking down barriers to care for LGBTQ2S+ military members. 

Today, she continues to advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community and works to do her part in respecting the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action while she pursues her master’s degree in Adult Education.

AJA Louden (Design Studies ’12, Design Foundations ’10) is an artist whose work challenges perceptions of the history and culture of unsanctioned public art.

In working with marginalized communities to create public art murals that reflect their stories, Louden has built meaningful connections with youth, Elders, historians and Knowledge Keepers. His community-engaged murals can be found at Boyle Street Community Services, Old Strathcona Youth Society, the Alberta Rural Development Network, Capilano Skate Park, Edmonton City Centre and in other cities across Alberta and Europe. 

Louden actively gives back to the community by mentoring emerging artists and youth. He has worked with organizations including the Whyte Museum of Canadian Rockies, MacEwan University and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights to help remove barriers for young artists.

Adine Shuchuk (Early Childhood Development ’88) has spent her 35-year career advocating for children, their families and the importance of quality care and education in early childhood. Prior to her current role as executive director of the Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre, she was an early childhood educator, family support worker and the first program director of Parent Link. 

Shuchuk has fostered many community partnerships in support of children, families, early learning and childcare. She was a longstanding board member of the Child Care Association for Resources to Administrators and was awarded the Minister’s Award of Excellence in Child Development in 2012.

She maintains a strong connection to MacEwan as a student mentor member of the advisory council to the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Curriculum Studies.

Harpreet Singh (University Transfer, Bachelor of Commerce ’04) is the founder of Amrik Developments, a successful multi-service real estate firm. He leads his company with the philosophy of being proud, thoughtful and generous community members, and has worked hard to find creative ways to give back. 

Over the past 15 years, Singh has been a sponsor of the Sikh Heritage Society, Children's Make-A-Wish Gala, 5 Rivers Golf Tournament and Edmonton ice and ball hockey teams. He organizes blood drives and supports the Stollery Children's Hospital and the Edmonton Food Bank. He is also the co-founder, organizer and sponsor of the CASA Golf Tournament for children's mental health.

Singh maintains his connection to MacEwan by supporting bursaries for community-minded Bachelor of Commerce students.

Travis Switzer (Music ’05) is five-time Canadian Country Music Association Bass Player of the Year award winner and a staple of the Canadian country music landscape. He was recently featured at the National Music Centre’s Musician’s Hall of Honour in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Switzer is sought after by producers, musical directors and artists from coast to coast to coast. He has played with many of Canada’s top artists, including Dallas Smith, Emerson Drive, Tom Cochrane, Terri Clark, Tenille Townes, Paul Brandt and the great Ian Tyson.

Always actively striving to mentor the next generation of musicians, Switzer initiated music lessons for three northern Alberta towns that had music cut from their curriculum. He deeply values the impact of paying it forward, and takes every opportunity to speak to students and provide advice to emerging artists.

Dr. Jillian Turanovic (Bachelor of Arts ’09) is a widely respected scholar and researcher in the fields of criminology and criminal justice. She is one of the world’s foremost experts on deadly mass shootings and school violence, and her research on victimization, criminological theory, correctional policy and incarceration has been broadly published and informed decision-making, policy and reform. She routinely shares her expertise with key stakeholders in education, prison systems, law enforcement and victim service. 

As an award-winning teacher, she is an inspiration to the next generation of scholars, supervising doctoral and master’s students and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in many other capacities. 

She is currently an associate professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University and director of the university’s Crime Victim Research and Policy Institute.

Meet our emerging leader

Tisha Raj (Bachelor of Arts ’15) immigrated to Edmonton from Malaysia in 2008. She has travelled widely and witnessed the challenges faced by many societies, inspiring her passion for social justice, human rights and sustainability issues.

While studying at MacEwan and as a member of the Students’ Association of MacEwan University (SAMU), Raj worked with the university’s international office and World University Services Canada to bring refugee students to MacEwan. She served as SAMU’s programs and services manager for the Alberta College Campus, where she found creative ways to run successful events and programs, fostering a strong sense of community.

Since graduating, she has held various roles in the non-profit sector. She is currently an advisor with Alberta International Medical Graduates Association, a board member of CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter and a volunteer with ElderDog Canada.

The Alumni Awards will be presented at a reception at MacEwan University on June 16.

To learn more about the Alumni Awards, and to nominate an alum who is making a difference in their profession or community, visit MacEwan.ca/AlumniAwards.