Attendees at the 2025 GPAC Retreat offered a variety of ideas, reflections, and thoughtful intentions for launch and the year ahead. You can read the report here. Thank you to each and every participant for their engagement and vulnerability!
Want to know who to contact in your area if you have questions about Grad Slate and Project iGUANA? The following list of volunteers have been involved in project activities since February 2025 and welcome your questions & comments.*
*Not an exhaustive list; some names withheld upon request. Email iguana@ualberta.ca if your area is not represented.
Abhinav Bhargav, GPS Admissions
Alana Bosse, GPS Admissions
Amanda Brown, GPS
Amber Lapointe, Neuroscience
Anita Weiler, College of Natural and Applied Sciences; Biomedical Engineering
Annett Gaudig-Rueger, Faculty of Arts - Humanities
Ashley Zwack, School of Business
Ash Sharma, GPS Admissions
Berta Beltran, Physics
Blessing Afolayan, College of Health Sciences
Britta Nielsen, Computing Science
Charlotte Bowman, Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
Chris Lynch, School of Business
Christina Smith, Faculty of Arts - Economics
Dawn Hunter, Fine Arts
Debbie Giesbrecht, School of Business
Dorcas Aisien, Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
Ellie Kim, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Gail Mathew, Faculty of Arts
Grace Tsang, GPS
Heather Muranyi, Biochemistry
Holly Nichol, College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Jeremy Murphy, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Jim Bohun, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Joanna Gye, Psychology
Joyce Anderson, GPS Admissions
Katelyn Brown, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Katie Burgess, College of Health Sciences
Kerstyn Sorenson, Registrar's Office
Krista Clintberg, Registrar's Office
Ling Jiang, GPS Admissions
Marsha Boyd, Education
Mary Roduta Roberts, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Maryem Derrous, Campus Saint Jean
Michele Gray, GPS Admissions
Mohammad Salavatipour, Computing Science
Nicole Barnard, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Professional Learning team, Faculty of Education
Rachelle Durocher, School of Business
Rebecca Anderson, Fine Arts
Rebecca Saul, Education
Sahar Ghanem, Faculty of Arts - Social Sciences
Sara Horseman, Native Studies
Sarah Hanta, Chemical & Materials Engineering
Shannon Lohner, Student Service Centre
Shaylene Whelton, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Snigdha Widge, Medicine
Sophia Ho, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Spencer Hayden, Faculty of Arts - Social Sciences
Tracy Quigley, Nursing
Umer Bajwa, School of Business
Val Brown, Student Service Centre
Val Antonietti, GPS Admissions
Vanessa Grabia, College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Wajid Ali, Civil & Environmental Engineering
As the Project iGUANA journey continues, many of us are discovering that change doesn’t always come in big, bold leaps.
Sometimes, it shows up as a quiet nudge, a helpful demo, a deep breath, or a gentle reminder that we’re in this together.
At almost 80 members strong, the Change Champion Network is ready and determined to take change as it comes.
🗨️“Be open-minded and flexible.”
That’s how it starts: not with all the answers, but with the willingness to stay open. As one team member shared:
🗨️“Listen, think, and stay open.”
Because the truth is, we’re learning as we go. And that’s not a problem: it’s an opportunity.
🗨️“Just roll with it and keep learning — challenges are chances to grow.”
So we approach this journey like explorers; not with a perfect map, but with curiosity:
🗨️“Be curious.”
🗨️“Take life like a book: one page at a time. Don’t be afraid to skip around. Go with the flow.”
Of course, change can feel messy. It can stretch us. So we pause.
🗨️“Breathe! A few deep breaths can help you relax and refocus.”
🗨️“Enjoy the process and be patient with yourself.”
Sometimes, all it takes is one first step.
🗨️“Start the ride!”
Because we know that learning something new, even something hard, is still a good thing.
🗨️“Learning new things — always a good thing.”
🗨️“Having been through major system changes before, I’m just ready to get on with it.”
And when the ride gets bumpy, we lean on each other.
🗨️“Find your tribe. You don’t have to go through it alone.”
🗨️“That demo was awesome — it really helped.”
🗨️“Try not to pull out your hair — Ted Lasso philosophy.”
We remember that mindset matters.
🗨️“Keep an open mind and stay curious.”
🗨️“Be ready to try different perspectives.”
🗨️“Have patience. Give yourself the space and grace to grow and adapt.”