Alumni Association

The vision of the Alumni Association is to inspire a proud, engaged and mobilized alumni community who are dedicated to being UM’s greatest ambassadors and advocates and who feel a strong sense of belonging and connection to the university as a source of lifelong enrichment.

The Administration building at the University of Manitoba on a partly cloudy day.

Alumni Association

University of Manitoba Alumni Association

The 2024-2025 University of Manitoba Alumni Association Board of Directors

The Alumni Association’s Board of Directors is an elected group of UM alumni who are responsible for the governance of the alumni association and its committees.

Lasha Glennie [BA/08, ExtEd/16], Chair

Nathan Maertins [BMus/12, MBA/22], Vice-Chair

Jessica Carvell [JD/15], Past Chair

Marlene Stern [DipOT/77, BOT/83], Chair, Alumni Council, ex-officio

Jai Gandhi [BComm(Hons)/20], Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee

Meycee Kalaw-Crevier [MBA/23]

Evan Kuz [BFA(Hons)/90]

Peter Wheatley [BSc(ME)/07, Ext.Ed/10, MBA/15]

Vanessa Koldingnes [MBA/14] Vice-President (External), Representing the University President, ex-officio

Alumni Council

The Alumni Council is an advisory forum of diverse alumni representing all faculties and colleges. Members provide meaningful input on emerging issues that advance the vision and mission of the University and the Alumni Association, foster active communication among key alumni constituencies and stakeholders, and assist in strengthening the relationship graduates have with their alma mater and each other. The Alumni Council is a standing committee of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and acts in an advisory, not a governance capacity, to the University.

Marlene Stern [DipOT/77, BOT/83] – Chair, ex-officio member of Alumni Association Board of Directors

Jessica Carvell [JD/15] – Past Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Lasha Glennie [BA/08, ExtEd/16] – Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Nathan Maertins [BMus/12, MBA/22] - Vice Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Peter Wheatley [BSc(ME)/07, Ext.Ed/10, MBA/15] - Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Evan Kuz [BFA(Hons)/90] – Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Mark Colley [BComm(Hons)/04] – Member at large

Jai Gandhi [BComm(Hons)/20] – Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Meycee Kalaw-Crevier [MBA/23] – Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Matthieu Lazarow [BComm(Hons)/08, CA/10, MBA/17] – Member at large

Scott Roehl [BComm(Hons)/08] – Member at large

Jeff Lieberman [BA/80, BComm(Hons)/83] – Member at large

Nora Murdock [BA/78, CertEd/78, MEd/05, PhD/16] – Faculty of Arts Alumni Representative

Carla Loewen [BEd/01, BA/03, MEd/16] – Indigenous alumni representative

Cheryl Lashek [BSc(ME)/02] – Friends of Engineering, Price Faculty of Engineering representative

Simone Jaman [DipDHyg/14] – UM School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association, School of Dental Hygiene representative

Carl Neumann [MA/20] – Faculty of Graduate Studies representative

Sue Boreskie [BPE/79, M.P.E./82] – Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management representative

Victoria Nwabuisi [BA/20] – International alumni representative

Doug Collier [BSc/87] – Faculty of Science, Dean’s External Advisory Board representative

Dr. Tito Daodu [MD/13, BSc(Med)/13] – Max Rady College of Medicine representative

Dr. Nancy Auyeung [DMD/92, BSc(Dent)/92] – Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry/UM Dental Alumni Association representative

Dr. Claire Betker [BN/77] – College of Nursing representative

Vicki Verge [BA/90, MSW/04] – Faculty of Social Work representative, Council representative on DAA selection panel

Chau Tu [BSc(Maj)/09, MBA/17] – Asper School of Business representative

Duane Brothers [BA/82, BEd/84, PhD/17] – Member at large

Irene Fakankun [PhD/21] - Alumni Representative, UM Board of Directors

Dr. Brenna Shearer [BMR(OT)/86] - Alumni Representative, UM Board of Governors

Reanna Merasty [BEnvD/19, MArch/21] – Alumni Representative, UM Board of Governors

Johise Namwira [BA(Hons)/18] – Member at large

David Falade [BEd/85]– Member at large

Steve Setka [BRMCD/15]– Member at large

Gloria Thompson [BA/19, BA/23]– Member at large

Alex Blake [BComm(Hons)/22]– Member at large

Tracy Bowman [BA(Hons)/96, MA] - Executive Director, Alumni Relations, Council Management

Committee Chairs

Marlene Stern, [DipOT/77, BOT/83], Alumni Council

Jai Gandhi [BComm(Hons)/20], Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee

TBD, Student Awards

Elected to the Board of Governors

Irene Fakankun [PhD/21]

Reanna Merasty [BEnvD/19, MArch/21]

Dr. Brenna Shearer [BMR(OT)/86]

University of Manitoba Alumni Association by-laws

For the Alumni Association of the University of Manitoba by-laws, please click the link to view or download a PDF file.

Alumni Association AGM

Join us virtually from anywhere around the world for the UM Alumni Association AGM on June 17 at 6 p.m. via Zoom— it’s a great chance to hear President Michael Benarroch share exciting updates from campus— including the UM150 celebrations— reconnect with your fellow alumni and how you can get more involved with your alma mater.

Register now
Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 612 2184 9895
Passcode: 723322

The 2026 University of Manitoba Alumni Association AGM agenda and proceedings document will be shared at a later date. Check back soon.

Election of 2026/28 Board of Directors to the Alumni Association of the University of Manitoba

Candidates:

Jai Gandhi [BComm(Hons)/20]

Jai Gandhi [BComm(Hons)/20] - Seeking re-election for second two-year term:

Jai Gandhi is a proud University of Manitoba alum and currently serves on the University of Manitoba Alumni Board of Directors and the Alumni Council, where he has been a member for the past two years. Originally from Dubai, UAE, Jai came to Winnipeg as an international student and earned his Finance degree from the Asper School of Business.
During his time at the University of Manitoba, Jai developed not only a strong academic foundation, but also meaningful friendships, leadership experiences, and a deep appreciation for the university community. He credits the University with playing a significant role in shaping both his personal and professional journey.
Today, Jai feels incredibly grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to give back to the University and support its alumni community through his work on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is passionate about fostering connections, supporting future generations of students, and helping strengthen the lifelong relationship between alumni and the University of Manitoba.
Meycee Kalaw-Crevier [MBA/23]

Meycee Kalaw-Crevier [MBA/23] - Seeking re-election for second two-year term:
Maria Carmela “Meycee” Kalaw-Crevier (she/her) is a project management professional with experience leading complex initiatives in the healthcare and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors. She currently serves as a Project Manager with Shared Health’s Provincial Pharmacy Shared Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she supports strategic initiatives focused on enhancing healthcare delivery, operational effectiveness, and system-wide coordination.
Meycee earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Manitoba (UM). She also holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation from the Project Management Institute and completed the UM President’s Student Leadership Program. Earlier in her academic career, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg.

A proud alum of the UM, Meycee remains actively engaged in the university community through leadership, mentorship, and alumni initiatives. She has contributed to several university-affiliated programs and governance bodies, including the UM Alumni Association Board of Directors and Alumni Council, while also supporting student development through business case competitions, venture competitions, and leadership programming.
Serena Vandersteen [BSc(Maj)/13]

Serena Vandersteen [BSc(Maj)/13] – Seeking election for first two-year term:
Serena began her career at MTS Allstream in their Wireless Technology Development department before moving to iQmetrix as an Integrations Developer in 2013. In 2019 she began a new role with at Hippo CMMS as a Full Stack developer until an opportunity became available at Ubisoft Winnipeg. Serena has served as a Generalist programmer and Team Lead Programmer at Ubisoft Winnipeg ever since.

Throughout her career, Serena was steadfast in her volunteering with Ladies Learning Code(LLC)/Canada Learning Code(CLC), where she began volunteering with the Winnipeg Chapter in 2014, and eventually led the chapter in 2015. Under her leadership, she assisted the Winnipeg Chapter of LLC through its rebrand to CLC and beyond and move into more of a bootcamp model where she still consults. Serena also served two terms from 2019 to 2023 with the Manitoba Organization of Disc Sports Board of Directors as part of the Governance Committee and Women's Committee, chairing the later committee and chairing the Conduct Committee.

For the past year, Serena has served on the University of Manitoba Alumni Council as a Faculty of Science representative.