2026 Alumni Award Recipients
University of Alberta alumni around the globe use their education to make the world a better place — through their professional achievements, community service and innovation. The Alumni Awards recognize these contributions and tell the stories of our exceptional alumni, inspiring us all to lead with purpose.
Join us at the Horowitz Theatre on Thursday, October 22 as we honour this incredible group and celebrate the change makers our world needs.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the Alumni Association's highest honour. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding lifetime accomplishments of alumni who have earned national or international regard or have had significant local impact as a result of their outstanding professional achievements and/or service to society.
Myrna Ann Kostash, ’65 BA
For more than five decades, Myrna Kostash has been a literary and cultural force, shaping how Canadians understand identity, belonging, collective memory and civic responsibility. The lifelong Edmontonian is a pioneering figure in Canadian creative non-fiction, establishing that rigorous research, personal narrative and ethical inquiry can uncover the social and political forces that shape our lives. Her acclaimed body of work includes more than a dozen books, including Bloodlines, Prodigal Daughter, Ghosts in a Photograph and her landmark 1977 book, All of Baba's Children. That feminist retelling of Ukrainian immigrant experiences in Alberta brought marginalized histories into the national record; her 2024 essay Writing Ukraine, meanwhile, demonstrates her ability to remain relevant over the years, with its powerful reflection on culture, democracy and identity in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kostash is a recognized builder of the foundations that sustain Canadian literary life, who has served as a founding member of the Periodical Writers’ Association of Canada, chair of The Writers’ Union of Canada, and a founder and president of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Through decades of advocacy, community leadership with Edmonton's Hromada Housing Co-operative and her mentorship of emerging authors, her legacy remains an inspiring testament to how literary excellence can champion justice and civic responsibility.
Judy Mill, ’96 MN, ’00 PhD
A compassionate academic, nurse and activist, Dr. Judy Mill has reshaped HIV and AIDS prevention, care and research during a five-decade career that pioneered collaborative research grounded in lived experiences. Her groundbreaking doctoral work in the 1990s was among the first to examine gender, race and HIV in Ghana, shifting the focus from physical risk factors for the disease to its social, political and cultural determinants. As U of A associate dean and head of the global health office, Mill applied those insights domestically through partnerships with Indigenous communities, including a collaboration with the Enoch Cree Nation that earned her the rare honour of an eagle feather. The exceptional educator has mentored generations of nursing students in Canada, Ghana and Rwanda, authored over 70 publications, and co-authored a foundational textbook on community-based research. From her early clinical days in Ontario, Zambia and Malawi to her leadership roles in academia here and in Rwanda, her career has been defined by a no-nonsense yet inspirational vision for social justice. In retirement, Mill led Edmonton’s Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation (G.A.N.G.) in support of African grandmothers raising children orphaned by AIDS, and even renewed her nursing licence to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Through kindness and fierce tenacity, Mill dismantles stigma associated with HIV, replacing discrimination with global understanding and systemic support.
Louis Hugo Francescutti, ’85 PhD, ’87 MD
A phenomenal physician and public health pioneer, Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti has redefined how Canada addresses injury control, poverty reduction and social determinants of health. As an emergency department physician and U of A professor, Francescutti asks questions others miss, translating curiosity into system-wide transformations that protect human dignity. Recognizing the danger of discharging unhoused patients back into the environment, he struck up partnerships to create Bridge Healing, a first-of-its-kind program that provides transitional housing and wraparound health care. After collectively raising over $20 million, the model now operates across five Edmonton hospitals, reducing emergency department strain while providing vulnerable people with a safe place to recover. He is the first physician in Canada to serve successive terms as president of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association. From these national platforms, Francescutti spearheaded discussions on health inequities and injury prevention, including founding an Alberta coalition for cellphone-free driving that led to provincial legislation. A tireless public advocate, Francescutti has delivered over 1,500 presentations worldwide, co-authored a book and frequently provides lay-language medical expertise to the media. But his deepest legacy may be in the classroom, where he teaches future health professionals that their most important asset is to maintain an attitude of caring in everything they do.
Alumni Honour Award
Recognizes the significant achievements and contributions over a number of years by University of Alberta alumni to their profession and/or their community.
Carla Badger, ’07 BEd, ’21 MEd
Carla Badger brings her unique ability to walk between Nehiyawak (Cree) culture and the institutional world of Western education in her team's work building local curriculum from the ground up. As a director of the Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission — one of Canada’s largest autonomous Indigenous school authorities — she leads the development of a Maskwacîs curriculum that meets provincial standards while remaining centred on the core values of wâhkôhtowin (relationships), îyinîw mâmionehicikan (Indigenous thinking), nehiyaw pimâtisiwin (Cree life), and nehiyawewin (Cree language). Her impact extends into higher education through a landmark partnership with the U of A's Augustana campus. By bringing Indigenous voices, classroom resources and the wisdom of community Elders to undergraduates, Badger is shaping the future of reconciliation and inspiring next generation’s educators.
Gordon D. Logan, ’69 BA, ’72 MSc
Dr. Gordon Logan is regarded as one of the most influential cognitive scientists of his generation, praised for his intellectual curiosity and scholarly integrity. One of his most famous achievements is the "stop-signal task," a groundbreaking paradigm that defined the modern understanding of cognitive control — that is, our ability to inhibit impulses and manage complex thoughts. His research remains a foundational reference in psychology, neuroscience and clinical studies aiming to understand medical conditions like ADHD, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. An elected member of the National Academy of Sciences who has received numerous awards and honours, Logan’s international renown is matched by his humility and generosity with his time, both as a dedicated mentor and as a longtime editor of the journal, Cognitive Psychology.
Jessica Vandenberghe, ’00 BSc(ChemEng), ’03 MEng
A Dene Thá First Nation member and Sixties Scoop survivor with two engineering degrees, Jessica Vandenberghe is laser-focused on reshaping STEM into an inclusive space. From her student days on campus through her careers in the oilsands and academia, Vandenberghe has consistently sought opportunities to be a mentor, role model and champion for young women, Indigenous youth and other diverse individuals. Her impact is equally wide-ranging, including a “30 by 30” initiative to promote women in engineering and co-hosting a podcast about Truth and Reconciliation. Whether speaking at conferences or guiding industry leaders through her firm, Guiding Star Consulting, Vandenberghe uses her platform and her story to amplify minority voices, drive institutional change and foster genuine healing across Canada.
Sharon Marie Compton, ’80 Dip(DentHyg), ’02 PhD
Dr. Sharon Compton is a transformative force in dental hygiene education who has advanced the profession through innovation, advocacy and program development. In her leadership roles at the University of Alberta, she led the transition of dental hygiene education from a diploma to a bachelor's degree, helped establish Canada's first thesis-based master's program in the field, and guided the Department of Dentistry through the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research and advocacy sparked new measures of community care, including integrating student practicums into long-term care facilities to improve oral health care for seniors. Nationally and internationally, she has served on boards, helped establish dental hygiene programs at Aga Khan University, and influenced generations of oral health professionals who serve communities worldwide.
Alumni Horizon Award
Recognizes the outstanding professional achievements and/or contributions to community of recent graduates. Nominees must be 40 years of age or younger at nomination deadline.
Daisy Fung, ’09 BMedSc, ’10 MD
Dr. Daisy Fung is a respected family physician whose impact extends beyond her clinical practice. Known for her patient-centred approach, Fung cares for medically complex and underserved patients in a practice that is redefining community-rooted family medicine. Through relationship-based care and regular home visits, she ensures vulnerable patients receive the support they need while reducing barriers to health care. Fung has also become a powerful force for systemic change. Through her leadership at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, she has spearheaded initiatives that lifted anti-racism and anti-discrimination principles into organizational policies and standards. An educator, mentor and emerging national voice on long COVID and infection-associated conditions, Fung has shaped medical education, influenced policy and advanced public understanding of complex health issues.
Denise Sigurlin Maria Potvin, ’11 BScN
Denise Potvin is a nurse whose work since 2018 with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has brought compassionate life-saving care to some of the world's most vulnerable communities. During 13 assignments across nine volatile regions, Potvin has demonstrated her skill in bringing order to chaos, whether supporting maternal and newborn health in Yemen, leading vaccination initiatives in remote Congolese communities, or helping restore hospital services in Gaza. Driven by a belief that everyone deserves dignity, the former university clinical instructor and emergency nurse balances her immense clinical capacity with profound humility, often enduring personal sacrifices to stay on the frontlines. A graduate of the U of A's bilingual nursing program, Potvin is an inspiring role model and a powerful testament to the impact of humanitarian nursing
Jude Dzevela Kong, ’17 PhD
Dr. Jude Kong is an internationally recognized researcher who is safeguarding public health through applied mathematics and artificial intelligence. As Canada Research Chair in Community-Oriented Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, he is transforming complex data science into real-world tools. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a research network in Africa that provided decision-makers with timely data to guide responses. Another network he founded has mobilized hundreds of researchers, public health practitioners, and innovators across Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia to co-develop data dashboards, AI-powered point-of-need diagnostic tools, community-based air-quality monitoring systems and AI-enabled disease surveillance, prediction forecasting, and early warning platforms that strengthen public health preparedness, outbreak detection and evidence-informed decision-making.
Mick Lizmore, ’13 MA, ’18 PhD
Dr. Mick Lizmore is an exceptional coach, former elite athlete and forward-thinking leader who has had a significant impact on the sport of wheelchair curling. As head coach of Curling Canada’s National Wheelchair Curling program, he has guided teams to podium finishes at four World Championships and two Paralympics. His holistic and collaborative coaching philosophy draws from his competitive curling background and sport psychology expertise with a focus on performance, well-being and mental skills development. Lizmore is lauded for efforts to revitalize the sport, including the development of a program that connects grassroots engagement to high-performance success. His recent work spearheading the historic integration of wheelchair curling into the 2025 Grand Slam of Curling marked a major milestone in elevating parasport on the world stage.
Zahra Abbasi, ’21 PhD
Dr. Zahra Abbasi is a rising leader in advanced sensing and microwave engineering. Since joining the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering in 2021, she has been appointed Schulich Research Chair and founded the Calgary Sensor Lab, where her team develops high-sensitivity, non-invasive microwave sensing technologies to address pressing challenges in health care, agriculture and environmental monitoring. Beyond advancing research, Abbasi is dedicated to training the next generation of engineers through mentorship, inclusive leadership and hands-on research opportunities. Recognized with an Alberta Immigrant Impact Award and numerous research and teaching honours, she also serves in leadership roles with IEEE and NSERC, contributing to the advancement of engineering research and the professional community across Alberta, Canada and internationally.
Alumni Service Award
Recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment, dedication and volunteer service to the U of A.
Gordon Winkel, ’77 BSc(MechEng), ’79 MSc
After a distinguished three-decade oilsands career, Gord Winkel chose purpose over retirement to focus on advancing engineering education at the U of A and strengthening safety culture nationwide. Since joining the university in 2010, Winkel has been a driving force behind engineering safety and risk management education, helping establish and lead the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management and make safety a core competency for all engineering students. Winkel is an inspirational instructor and mentor who connects the school with industry leaders. Beyond campus, Winkel has shared his expertise with health, mining, agriculture and community organizations across Canada. Through his vision and service, Winkel has created a legacy of safety at the university and beyond.
Alumni Innovation Award
Recognizes an innovative program, process or product that was created, implemented or discovered by a U of A grad that has significantly impacted their profession, community or society at large.
Lawrence Woo, ’20 PharmD
Lawrence Woo is a pharmacist-entrepreneur whose work as a frontline clinician grew into a tech solution that is reducing the administrative burden in pharmacies across Canada. In a leap of faith, Woo left his clinician role in 2023 to focus on building a digital platform to improve decision making and eliminate frustrating, disjointed workflows. Medi-scribe, which he co-founded in 2023 with alumnus Nathan Nguyen, is now used by more than 2,000 Canadian pharmacists, impacting millions of patient interactions. Woo has received numerous accolades for Medi-scribe, which improves pharmacist confidence and reclaims vital time for patient care and personal well-being. The recent grad has gone on to assemble a team of eight, seven of which are University of Alberta software engineers and PharmD graduates.
Mais Aljunaidy, ’18 PhD
Dr. Mais Aljunaidy is the visionary scholar and field-builder behind architectural psychopathology, a groundbreaking new specialization that bridges building design and mental health. Aljunaidy, an assistant professor at Texas State University, co-authored the field’s first textbook and is leading the world's first university-level course, guiding the next generation to design spaces that support people living with autism, dementia and anxiety disorders. Beyond her academic contributions, Aljunaidy led a major multi-country initiative addressing researcher mental health. Her work has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the world’s most forward-thinking women. Aljunaidy exemplifies the ability to transform bold ideas into lasting systems that place mental health, equity and human dignity at the heart of the built environment.
Sports Wall of Fame
Recognizes the contributions of alumni as athletes and builders of University of Alberta sport.
Diane (Patterson) Rusnak, '90 BCom
Few student-athletes in University of Alberta history have demonstrated the poise, grace, and championship dominance of Diane (Patterson) Rusnak, ’90 BCom. Competing for Pandas Gymnastics from 1985 to 1989, Rusnak anchored the program through a golden era, leading the team to four consecutive Canada West titles and back-to-back National Championships in 1988 and 1989. A four-time national All-Canadian selection, she captured the 1988 National All-Around Championship and three national titles on her signature event, the uneven bars. Her collegiate career culminated in winning the 1989 Bakewell Trophy as the U of A’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete. Remarkably, doctors later discovered she achieved these historic feats while competing with an undiagnosed congenital hole in her heart, underscoring her extraordinary resilience and competitive spirit. Inducted in 2022 alongside the Pandas Dynasty Team, Rusnak stands as a true legend of Pandas Gymnastics.
Katie Murray, ’04 BSc(MechEng), ’10 PhD, ’19 PostgradCert(MedEd)
Few student-athletes represent the pinnacle of academic and athletic excellence like Dr. Katie Murray, ’04 BSc(MechEng), ’10 PhD, ’19 PostgradCert(MedEd). Playing forward for Pandas Rugby from 1999 to 2004, Murray anchored one of the greatest dynasties in Canadian university history, capturing four Canada West titles and four CIS National Championships. In 2003, she captained the Pandas and earned CIS Player of the Year honours. Murray remains the program’s all-time leading scorer with 98 points. Internationally, she earned 25 caps for Canada, competing at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and being named the 2006 Rugby Canada Player of the Year. A three-time Academic All-Canadian, Murray completed a PhD in Neuroscience and an MD, now serving as a practicing anesthesiologist in Edmonton.
Lindsay McAlpine, ’07 BEd, ’07 BPE, ’11 MA
One of the most decorated student-athletes in University of Alberta history, Lindsay McAlpine, ’07 BEd, ’07 BPE, ’11 MA, stood at the heart of the Pandas Hockey dynasty in the early 2000’s. McAlpine guided the Pandas to four consecutive CIS National Championships and five Canada West titles. She ranks fifth all-time in program scoring with 128 conference points. Her historic 2006/07 season saw her sweep top honours: CIS Player of the Year, CIS Tournament MVP, Bakewell Trophy recipient as U of A Female Athlete of the Year, and Top U of A Female Academic All-Canadian. A five-time Academic All-Canadian, McAlpine became an influential coach, advocate and sport leader following her graduation.
Neville Wright, ’07 BPE
Few Golden Bears athletes have demonstrated the extraordinary versatility and elite world-class performance of Neville Wright, ’07 BPE. Competing for Golden Bears Track & Field from 2003 to 2007, Wright established himself as one of the country’s most explosive sprinters. He accumulated seven Canada West medals and five CIS national medals, earning 2006 Canada West Male Track Athlete of the Year honours. His 60-metre school record of 6.68 seconds still stands today, and he captured a 100-metre bronze medal at the 2007 World University Games. Transitioning seamlessly to bobsleigh, Wright represented Canada at three Winter Olympic Games (2010, 2014, 2018), claiming 13 IBSF World Cup medals. A dedicated student of athletic performance, he now leverages his expertise as a Remedial Massage Therapist, high-performance coach, and Sprint Consultant.