Making an Impact: ASB assistant lecturer Edward Acuna and his family invest in the next generation of business leaders

There are some investments we make over the course of our lives that will pay dividends. For Edward Acuna, a former commercial banker-turned-assistant lecturer with the Alberta School of Business, one of the surest bets he knows of is a solid education.

Edward Acuna, a former commercial banker-turned-assistant lecturer with the Alberta School of Business

Acuna’s commitment to higher learning was shaped early on. The son of Guatemalan immigrants, he grew up watching his parents rebuild their lives in Canada while raising three young boys and attending school to upgrade credentials that were not recognized in their new country. “For as long as I can remember, education has been a really important foundational aspect of our lives,” muses Acuna.

Not only did his parents instill in him the value of schooling, but they also showed him that giving back to your community adds richness and purpose to your life.

“I was raised in a very modest household, but I saw my parents still give to the church, give to the school, give to whatever activities or fundraisers they could. Doing that was important to them, and so giving back became important to me.

Philanthropy remains central to both Acuna and his wife, Jaime’s, priorities. Together, the two have supported educational and community initiatives, including establishing a nursing scholarship in their former home of Manitoba during the pandemic, an initiative Jaime spearheaded while working as an emergency room nurse. Now in Edmonton, they are finding new ways to give.

“After moving here, we were inspired to give back to a community that has been so welcoming to us. Strong institutions are built when leaders reinvest in the systems that developed them, and Jaime and I want to be part of that.”

So when the couple learned about the University of Alberta’s Student Experience Fund, a program that helps undergraduates build real-life skills outside the classroom, they were more than happy to cut a cheque.

"For students in their early 20s, something like the Student Experience Fund and the experiential learning piece is so valuable. Our gift was really driven by the belief that some of the strongest business schools not only invest in curriculum, but also in the lived experience of students. The access to opportunities or exposure is really helpful and additive to the undergrad experience.” 

— Edward Acuna

Connecting Theory to Practice

Edward Acuna presents at the Westin Edmonton

While continuing his leadership responsibilities in financial services, Acuna also began teaching part-time at the Alberta School of Business in Fall 2025, bringing current industry and governance experience directly into the classroom.

When it comes to working with his students, Acuna knows what companies are looking for in new recruits. As someone who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2009, during the global financial crisis, he also knows what it means to start a career in a rocky job market.

“It’s not that today’s job market is easier or harder than when I graduated,” he says. “It’s different. That means students need to be intentional about the skills they build, the relationships they invest in and how adaptable they’re willing to be. I’ve hired students, and some of the experiences they’ve had outside of the classroom often differentiate them more than grades.”

He points to initiatives like the Student Experience Fund, where donors help students access formative career opportunities, whether through case competitions, student leadership opportunities, international exchanges or industry exposure.

“One of my biggest regrets for my undergraduate was that I didn't take an international exchange because once you start working full-time, it gets harder to take time away. Making friends around the world is an added bonus, but the academic experience, expanding your worldview and learning how to answer questions in an interview is so helpful in your future career. I've been on both sides of the table, as a student, as an instructor and as someone that's hired graduates. The skills that I look for are those that students learn outside the classroom in programs like the Student Experience Fund.”

Supporting Communtity

The $2,500 gift Acuna and his wife made to the fund was more than a generous financial contribution; it was also a further reflection of their desire to foster future leaders who will shape the community they now call home.

“I’m interested in being engaged with the Alberta School of Business in a meaningful way,” he says. “Whether through teaching or mentorship, thoughtful support of our students is a priority for me, and supporting student access is one way I can contribute.”

— Edward Acuna

Acuna hopes others, especially staff and faculty members, will consider donating to the Student Experience Fund or to other university fundraising priorities.

“Universities are sustained, not only by external donors, but by those who are closest to the mission. When faculty and staff participate, it signals collective ownership of student success.”