Alumni Profiles
Alumni in their own words - Jacqueline Sookermany (CMU ‘15)
Where has life taken you since you left CMU?
During my studies at CMU, I developed a deep passion for prisoner justice and prisoner abolition while working for Correctional Service Canada at Stony Mountain Institution in their Programs department for my practicum. After I graduated with my four-year Arts and Sciences degree, I took a job at EPIC Opportunities, working at one of their day service locations. I hadn't previously considered working in the disability sector, but I found that I loved the work. I was able to support people in finding connections in their communities that were meaningful to them, expanding their hopes beyond employment. In this role, I was able to learn more about the world of disability justice and advocacy, which solidified my passion for the disability sector. After a few years, I took a position at Initiatives for Just Communities (IJC) in their disability outreach program, Touchstone, and it was at IJC that I began to think about pursuing a Master of Social Work. I moved to Victoria, BC, to complete my master's degree. My work in disability and corrections had left me skeptical of the social work profession. Over the course of my studies, I had the opportunity to see that social work is making bold strides toward becoming a field where people with lived experience are directly influencing the policies that shape their services, and that many social workers are actively working to decolonize the profession. My journey has led me back to the place where I decided social work was the correct path for me—IJC—as Director of Services for their Winnipeg programs. I am currently overseeing four programs that span work in disability support and advocacy, community education, and restorative justice. It is a bit dreamy to have a role that allows me to engage in many of the sectors I am passionate about.
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CMU alumna carries family tradition into a new generation
Kaylene Blackwood (CMU '26) started playing the steel drums when she was five years old. There's video footage of her as a child performing in the Caribbean pavilion at Folklorama, Winnipeg's annual multicultural festival that celebrates diverse cultures through pavilions featuring food, live entertainment, and cultural exhibits. All you can see are her little feet standing on a stool, her arms barely reaching the instrument. Now at 26 years old, she is the leader of her ensemble and plays an integral role in the Caribbean pavilion both on and off the stage.
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CMU alumnus is transforming patient care through music one year after graduation
Just one year after graduating from CMU with a Bachelor of Music Therapy, Loghan Puhach is working in what he calls "a dream come true."
Upon completion ofhis internship at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, Puhach successfully advocated for the creation of a full-time music therapy position. Today, as a Certified Music Therapist, he brings comfort, connection, and healing to patients and their families while helping expand access to music therapy across the health centre.
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Alumni in their own words - Chloe Friesen (CMU ‘22)
Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?
Since graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in 2022, I have been working full-time as an associate producer with CBC Manitoba in the Current Affairs department. During my final year of studies, I worked casually as a radio show technician, so it was exciting to continue doing what I loved at CBC in a larger capacity. Since then, I've taken on a variety of roles within the public broadcaster, including producing stories and interviews for radio programs, directing live radio shows, writing and presenting for television, editing social media content, and—my favourite—filling in as host for Information Radio, Radio Noon, and Up To Speed. I've also had the opportunity to write, host, and produce my own hour-long radio documentary, The Case for Cursive. For someone who has always been fascinated by radio, it has been a stellar opportunity.
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CMU alumna earns national recognition as a rising writer
A national writing award is helping CMU alumna Emma Siemens take the next step toward a career in journalism.
The 2023 social sciences graduate is the recent recipient of the Wendy Elaine Nelles Award from the Word Guild, an organization of Canadian Christian writers and editors. The award recognizes emerging writers studying journalism, literature, media, and communications in Canada and includes an $850 prize to support their professional development.
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