Alumni profiles

One of Carys’ most formative experiences at UVic was the Hakai Field School in Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv Territories. This innovative course taught by Dr. Chris Darimont explores the intersection between western science and local values and knowledge. “The experience required us to unlearn certain things,” explains Carys, “we had our world flipped upside down in the most valuable way.” Carys recommends that current students take advantage of field school opportunities to expand their worldviews. The opportunities to gain a new perspective while getting a Geography degree are endless: co-op, study abroad, even field components of class-based courses. According to Carys, these out-of-the-classroom experiences helped her discover her passion for working with people around water security issues.

It was not long ago that Carys found herself making the leap from academic to career life. To overcome frustration and isolation, she recommends that alumni reach out to former classmates and instructors for support. A BA in Geography from UVic equips graduates with strong presentation, writing, and critical thinking skills. Carys’ confident and clear communication style made her stand out while job searching and applying for grad school. “We’ve had some really good students come out of UVic,” remarked an Oxford instructor. Even on the other side of the Atlantic, Carys hears praise for UVic and knows that she is well equipped to face the ever-changing challenges of her field. 

Tim is committed to supporting current UVic Geography students. In 2016, he collaborated with UVic Geography faculty members to offer the first #Biketoria course. Each year, students in this course participate in the research and planning phases of the City of Victoria’s current active transportation projects. As a course facilitator, Tim introduces students to the real-world challenges of urban planning. He also teaches the importance of responsible project management, from data collection, to public dialogue, to project implementation.

Tim is always on the hunt for new projects that ignite his passion for sustainable and resilient urban communities. “Isolate your passion,” he recommends to recent Geography alumni, “whatever you think needs to change, be an agent of that change.” According to Tim, meeting with professionals currently working in the field can help turn a generalized degree into a specialized career path. A UVic Geography degree took Tim around the world and equipped him with the skills he needed to get Victoria moving.

Brian recommends that recent Geography grads always keep an open mind when considering their career options. A Master’s or Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography equips graduates with writing, research, public speaking, and interpersonal skills applicable to almost any field. Brian conducted over 50 interviews as part of his Master’s research, many with Indigenous community members, in order to ensure a wide diversity of voices were represented.  He has recognized that the same open-minded and relationship-building attitude is applicable out there in the working world. Networking is so much more than meeting people; it involves authentic communication and connection. Brian’s Geography degrees equipped him with the communication skills that he uses on a daily basis to connect with students and guide them into meaningful communities and fulfilling careers.

The possibilities are endless with Geography and Geomatics. “It’s a very diverse and applicable degree,” says Diana, adding that most of her cohort had a high success rate finding relevant work. Students should take advantage of co-op opportunities and enroll in courses with field components to develop their practical skills and connections. In Diana’s experience, teaching assistants made great job references, since they knew her well and could testify to her competence in a variety of technical skills.

According to Diana, recent alumni should strengthen their connections with past classmates. Group work does not end with University. From time to time, Diana still sends projects to former classmates who have specialized in slightly different fields to get their feedback. Both at UVic and in the working world, GIS is a small, interconnected field, and interpersonal connections go a long way. Thanks to her UVic Geography degree, Diana gets to enjoy west coast life while working within this dynamic community of GIS experts.