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Alumni in their own words - Marnie Klassen (CMU '21)

Monday, April 6, 2026 @ 10:42 AM

Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?

After graduating I very quickly got a job doing communications and admin support with A Rocha Manitoba, a Christian nature conservation organization. I was eager to explore volunteer and service opportunities elsewhere, and through some encouragement I applied and was accepted to the worker program at Romero House in Toronto. Taking this step felt so big for me, in a wonderful way. In the one-year term, I lived and worked with refugee claimants in Toronto's west end. I was the volunteer coordinator for the organization, which had me managing a team of over 140 volunteers, and was a settlement case worker for several claimant families. I learned a lot about the refugee claimant system in Canada, and a lot about interfaith and intercultural relationships. During my time in Toronto, I made connections at Eglinton Saint George United Church and ended up getting a job with that congregation as the Growth Initiatives Project Coordinator, which meant I was coordinating and running food justice-based events and programs through the church. All during this time I began freelance writing and preaching for organizations and churches, mostly exploring the themes of faith and climate. When the contract at the church came to an end, I decided to move back to Winnipeg and focus on developing a podcast called 'The Schism Between Us', which explores religious polarization in Canada, particularly within the Mennonite community. I've also recently taken on work as communications assistant for a worship resource hub called "Together in Worship."

Candice Viddal reflects on teaching, curiosity, and the beauty of science

Monday, April 6, 2026 @ 10:41 AM

Dr. Candice Viddal, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics, has worked at CMU since 2010. She and Dr. Jodi Dueck-Read, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution Studies and Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies, are co-recipients of the 2023 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

The award, established in 2022, is granted annually to two faculty members who best exemplify the CMU commitment to excellent teaching.

David Balzer reflects on teaching, creativity, and finding your voice

Monday, April 6, 2026 @ 9:25 AM

David Balzer, Associate Professor of Communications and Media, has worked at CMU since 2009. He and Karen Ridd, Teaching Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies and of Conflict Resolution Studies, are co-recipients of the 2022 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

The award, established in 2022, is granted annually to two faculty members who best exemplify the commitment to excellent teaching at CMU.

Jodi Dueck-Read on teaching that moves learning beyond the classroom

Monday, April 6, 2026 @ 12:00 AM

Dr. Jodi Dueck-Read, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution Studies and Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies, has worked at CMU since 2015. She and Dr. Candice Viddal, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics, are co-recipients of the 2023 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

The award, established in 2022, is granted annually to two faculty members who best exemplify the CMU commitment to excellent teaching.

“Love your material, love your students, love yourself”: Karen Ridd on teaching

Friday, April 3, 2026 @ 12:00 AM

Karen Ridd, Teaching Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies and of Conflict Resolution Studies, joined the CMU faculty in 2010 after more than a decade of sessional instructing. She and David Balzer, Associate Professor of Communications and Media, are co-recipients of the 2022 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

Verna Wiebe | 2025 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award recipient (video)

Monday, March 16, 2026 @ 2:12 PM

Verna Wiebe, Teaching Assistant Professor of Music, worked at CMU and its predecessor college CMBC for 37 years, starting in 1988 and retiring in 2025. She and Dr. Paul Doerksen, Associate Professor of Theology and Anabaptist Studies and P.M. Friesen Co-Chair in Biblical and Theological Studies, are co-recipients of the 2025 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. Paul Doerksen | 2025 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award recipient (video)

Monday, March 16, 2026 @ 11:53 AM

Dr. Paul Doerksen, Associate Professor of Theology and Anabaptist Studies and P.M. Friesen Co-Chair in Biblical and Theological Studies, has worked at CMU since 2011. He and Verna Wiebe, Teaching Assistant Professor of Music, are co-recipients of the 2025 Kay and Lorne Dick Teaching Excellence Award.

The award, established in 2022, is granted annually to two faculty members who best exemplify CMU's commitment to excellent teaching.

CMU adds faculty member to growing social work program

Thursday, March 12, 2026 @ 12:46 PM

CMU continues to grow and enrich its Bachelor of Social Work degree program with the addition of Dr. Felicia Owadara, Assistant Professor of Social Work, who joined the faculty on July 1, 2025.

Owadara brings to CMU a particularly global breadth of experience and connections in teaching, research, and practical social work. She has studied in Nigeria (Master of Education from the University of Ibadan), England (Master of Research in Social Policy and Social Work Research from the University of York), and Canada (PhD in Social Work from the University of Manitoba). She has been a social worker in Nigeria's medical system, and she has worked on numerous international research projects.

Alumni in their own words - Alex Tiessen (CMU '16)

Thursday, February 5, 2026 @ 2:07 PM

This installment of Alumni in their own words features Alex Tiessen who graduated from CMU in 2016 with majors in English and Counselling Studies. In March 2026, Alex will return to CMU as its new Director of Advancement.

Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?

Right after I graduated from CMU, my life brought me straight back to campus. I took a role at CMU as an Admissions Counsellor, an opportunity that opened up in part because I had been a student ambassador. That work really set me up well. It allowed me to lean into my natural ability to connect with people—working with churches, meeting families, and inviting students into CMU. I quickly fell in love with that work and discovered that admissions and advancement were places where my skills and interests aligned.

Alumni in their own words - Tania Mulki (CMU ’23)

Monday, November 10, 2025 @ 8:00 AM

Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?

I completed my coursework at CMU in 2022, and after finishing the 1,000-hour internship required for my Bachelor of Music Therapy degree, I officially graduated in 2023. I did my internship in Calgary with JB Music Therapy, a well-established organization that offered a strong and varied clinical experience. It was a great place to learn and gain confidence as a new therapist, and I felt well prepared thanks to the training and support I received at CMU.

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