UNB School of Leadership Studies

From sailing across the Pacific to a career spanning advocacy, politics, diplomacy, banking, and technology, Alec Boudreau’s (BPhil ’16) path has taken him across disciplines and continents.

He credits Renaissance College with teaching him to think in systems, adapt quickly, and work through complex challenges.

Swipe through to learn more about Alec’s journey and the experiences that shaped it. 🌊🌍

Marcia and Riley are home after an incredible summer in Vietnam!

During their international internship at Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, they helped prepare for orientation week, created promotional videos, and reviewed English-language websites, documents, and brochures to support future international students.

Beyond the office, they explored Hanoi, visited the Old Quarter and West Lake, and joined the FTU team on a staff trip to Da Nang.

Welcome home, Marcia and Riley! We loved following your journey and can’t wait to hear more about your experiences in Vietnam. 🇻🇳🫶🏻

Postcards from Bhutan 🇧🇹

What a summer it’s been!

Our Bhutan crew spent their international internship working with the leadership program at Sherubtse College, facilitating a leadership workshop for local high school students, helping launch a pen pal program between Bhutan and New Brunswick, and supporting three NGOs focused on women’s empowerment and democratic values.

Along the way, they explored Bhutan by mountain bike and on foot, volunteered at youth camps, attended a music festival, visited Parliament, and experienced a traditional Buddhist ceremony.

Safe travels home! We can’t wait to hear more about everything you learned and experienced along the way. 💙

Postcards from Nepal 📷🇳🇵💌

These four BPhil students have been spending their international internship at the Himalayan Buddhist Academy in Pokhara, Nepal.

Their days have included one-on-one English tutoring, helping students with homework, leading Sunday games and activities, preparing meals, and supporting the academy in a variety of ways.

Outside of their placement, they’ve been exploring Pokhara, trekking to P**n Hill, visiting the World Peace Pagoda and Sarangkot, finding great coffee shops, and even checking bungee jumping off the list.

We’re grateful our students have opportunities like this to learn, grow, and build meaningful connections around the world. We can’t wait to welcome this group home and hear more about their experiences. Safe travels! 💙

Show your pride! Join the UNB Alumni Pride Network and fellow UNB students, staff, and alumni in celebrating Pride at the Fierté Fredericton Pride Parade & Festival and the Saint John Fundy Pride Festival taking place this month.

As part of the festivals, we will be walking together in the Pride Parades, and you are invited to join us!

🌈 Fierté Fredericton Pride Parade: July 11 | 12 p.m. (meet-up will be at 11a.m. at the Fredericton Public Library)
🌈 Saint John Fundy Pride Parade: July 25 | 1 p.m. (meet-up will be at 12 p.m. at Smythe/Union Street intersection).

This is a great opportunity to come together as a university community in support of inclusion, diversity, and belonging. Whether you are walking, volunteering, or simply showing your pride, your presence helps make a meaningful impact.

Reach out to Jennifer Waldschütz at [email protected] to express your interest in walking with the UNB group.

Congratulations to Leadership Studies alumni Laurie and Victoria on earning their Master of Social Work from STU!

Laurie was part of the very first Renaissance College cohort, graduating in 2003, while Victoria graduated in 2022. Now, both are beginning their careers as Clinical Social Workers in private practice.

We’re so proud to see our alumni continuing to lead, learn, and make a difference. Congratulations on this incredible milestone! 🎉

As a UNB student at Renaissance College (now the School of Leadership Studies), Devin Patterson (BPhil’15) learned that leadership isn’t reserved for titles alone. It lives in relationships, reflection and a willingness to try new things. Occasionally, it also shows up over a cup of coffee and a well‑timed bowl of soup.

Read Devin's story, and see how this lesson carries forward into all that he does today.
https://bit.ly/43SMJjc

This June, the School of Leadership Studies is proud to welcome an incredible group of speakers who will bring unique perspectives on leadership, communication, equity, and community impact.

Together, we’ll explore ideas that challenge, inspire, and support meaningful change across sectors and communities.

Dawn Henwood is a communication strategist, educator, author, and social entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience helping university students and professionals make complex ideas resonate with any audience. Through her Moncton-based firm, Clarity Connect Inc., Dawn provides training and coaching that helps experts transform ideas into compelling communication that drives change.

Liz LeClair, founder of UpRising Philanthropic Consulting, brings 20 years of fundraising experience and a community-centred lens to her work with nonprofit organizations. Liz is passionate about building approaches to philanthropy that are ethical, inclusive, equitable, and just.

Kisa Hamilton, co-founder and worker member of Transform Practice Co-op, is a facilitator and evaluator who supports grassroots groups and organizations through transformational change. Her work focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion through an intersectional lens, with a trauma-informed and healing-centred approach rooted in years of community organizing and leadership.

We can’t wait to learn alongside you.