From researchers to surgeons, and city planners to developers revitalizing economies in Indigenous communities, the University of Lethbridge Alumni Association’s (ULAA) 2023 selections as Alumni Honour Society inductees are changing lives and bettering society.
Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister (BSc ’05, MSc ’07), Andrew Malcolm (BA ’11), Dr. Derek Waldner (BSc ’13) and Raymond Wanuch (BMgt ’89) have all been named to the ULAA’s Alumni Honour Society for 2023.
“Alumni Honour Society inductees are leaders and change-makers in their professions and their communities — at home and across the globe. I hope their achievements inspire students at ULethbridge to dream big,” says Deirdre McKenna, ULAA president.
Alumni Honour Society members will be celebrated for their contributions to community at the Let There Be Light Night Alumni Achievement Awards celebration on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. in Science Commons Atrium. Tickets are currently available online.
Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister (BSc ’05, MSc ’07)
Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister’s passion for science shines through in her leading-edge research of fungal diseases and her commitment to mentorship. After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s in biological sciences at the University of Lethbridge, she earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia. She then joined the University of Guelph as professor of molecular and cellular biology and Canada Research Chair. In a short period, her research group has published more than 65 papers and supported successful funding applications totalling more than $8.7 million. In her role as a leader and mentor, Geddes-McAlister has promoted equity, diversity and inclusion as president of the Canadian National Proteomics Network, as well as founder of Moms in Proteomics, an initiative in support of mothers and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Andrew Malcolm (BA ’11)
Andrew Malcolm is helping shape the cityscape as well as future generations of University of Lethbridge students. Urban and regional studies served as a springboard for work in Taber and Lethbridge, where he’s put an indelible stamp on those communities through planning, design and community development where his work in revitalization and redevelopment resulted in major projects like Festival Square and the reconstruction of 3 Avenue South. Now the General Manager, Community and Social Development with the City of Lethbridge, he is dedicated to working collaboratively in the advancement of solutions to ensure all individuals, families and communities have opportunities for healthy development leading to social well-being and safety. Along with mentoring many young planners, Malcolm seeks out opportunities for applied studies for ULethbridge students with the City of Lethbridge. A former player and assistant coach with the Pronghorn men’s soccer team, he serves as director of its alumni association.
Dr. Derek Waldner (BSc ’13)
Dr. Derek Waldner, who first starred on the basketball court for the University of Lethbridge, has gone on to earn numerous accolades in the field of medicine. He completed an undergraduate honours degree in biochemistry while earning team, conference and All-Canadian awards with the Pronghorns men’s basketball team. Waldner went on to graduate with a combined PhD/MD degree through the Leaders in Medicine program at the University of Calgary and was accepted for subspecialist surgical training in opthalmology, a discipline that sees less than 50 surgeons trained in Alberta each decade. He has presented his research internationally, has more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications and ongoing clinical research interests focusing on glaucoma and training tools for opthalmologists. Waldner has also mentored countless undergraduate and graduate students within the scientific community.
Raymond Wanuch (BMgt ’89)
Raymond Wanuch, of the Ermineskin Cree Nation south of Edmonton, is at the forefront of Indigenous economic development in Alberta. Raised on the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement near High Level, Wanuch graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management in 1989. Today, he is the executive director of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) where he works to build bridges between Indigenous and mainstream economies. His notable work includes establishing a scholarship fund for Indigenous students and helping develop the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI). CEDI pairs an Indigenous community with a neighbouring municipality to build a mutually beneficial economic development plan or project. The program, in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, has had incredible results in Alberta and across Canada.