 Mentor Profiles
My mentee
this year commented that through her interaction with me, she has learned that it is possible to balance a career with family and that, although I work hard, I do have a 'life'!
- Mentor
On these pages we highlight several of our wonderful Cybermentors.
Read about what they do, how they got started in a science or
engineering career and about their personal goals. If you know an
inspiring Cybermentor we should highlight please let us know.
Leslie Yasul
Cybermentor since: October 2002
Occupation: Environmental Assessment Coordinator for Environment Canada
Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the
University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Master of Science in Soil
Science from the University of Alberta
My greatest career influence: Julie Kennett of Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Calgary hired me for my first real job and
became my official mentor. Julie is a strong, goal-oriented woman who
knows what she wants but also knows how to have fun. And speaking of
strong women, I’d also mention Fiona Briody of AAFC’s Prairie Farm
Rehabilitation Administration program in Hanna, Alberta. Fiona runs a
livestock operation all on her own and is not afraid to speak her mind.
She is one of those people you meet and immediately think, “I hope to
be just like her in my own career.”
The thing I love most about my field: I love knowing that I’m
able to make a difference as part of the federal government. Part of
our mandate is to preserve the environment and as I review projects
requiring a federal environmental assessment, I’m helping to make sure
we are doing that in the most effective way possible
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: I’ve
lived on the Prairies since 2001 and still find the cold winters
really, really hard to get through. I finally realized that I’ve just
got to embrace it, so my husband and I took up cross-country skiing.
That certainly made the winter much better! I also enjoy hiking,
soccer, gardening and scrapbooking
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: If
you’re truly passionate about something, go for it – but also be sure
to research all the other possibilities and opportunities that are out
there. Then choose the field or discipline that is the best fit for you
 Read more of Leslie's Profile
Susan Tibbo
Cybermentor since: March 2009
Occupation: Civil engineer studying ice and its interaction with structures such as bridge piers
Education: Undergraduate degree started at St. Francis Xavier
University in Antigonish, NS and completed at Dalhousie University in
Halifax, NS. Currently finishing the final year of a Master’s degree in
civil engineering at the University of Calgary
My greatest career influence: Several people have helped me get
where I am today. First of all, I would say my parents, who were always
supportive and strongly encouraged me and my siblings to be
goal-getters. I’d also say the head of engineering at St. Francis
Xavier. In my second year, I was under a lot of stress from the heavy
course load. He really encouraged me and helped me get better organized
to succeed. I was lucky he saw the potential in me so I could realize
it in myself
The thing I love most about my field: I find that what I do is
so intriguing. Every time I am able to get involved with a new project
or to investigate a new finding, I know that there are so many unknown
variables that I will encounter. You really never know what may be
coming at you next
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: I
am a big outdoors enthusiast and that has always been a critical part
of my life. My family has a cabin on a pond which we used year round –
snowmobiling in the winter and water sports in the summer. I was
fortunate enough to live near the beautiful Gros Morne National Park
which helped me become an avid hiker. Today, I’m still motivated to try
new sports. I’ve recently taken up running. I am also actively involved
in my community and my school and that is a large and important part of
my life
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Don’t
be intimidated; if there’s something you want to do – just do it. We
are living in a new era when everyone’s trying exactly what they want
to try. So don’t let what happened in the past – whether it was the
discrimination women faced 20 years ago or someone teasing you because
you were good in math and sciences, for example – dissuade you from
achieving what you want to achieve
Read more of Susan's Profile
Ginetta Salvalaggio
Cybermentor since: January 2003
Occupation: Family physician; assistant professor at the University of Alberta
Education: I completed medical school at the University of
Alberta before going on to do my family medicine residency and a half
year of advanced obstetrical skills in Thunder Bay through McMaster
University. More recently, I completed my Master’s degree in Public
Health in 2008.
My greatest career influence: My high school biology and math
teachers really encouraged me to push the envelope academically, but I
would say over and above, it was my English teacher. He encouraged me
to remain well-rounded and balanced and to know how to communicate.
Looking back, he was so right – communicating with people is the most
important aspect of my job.
The thing I love most about my field: It has to be the service.
With both of my parents being teachers, I grew up in a culture of
service so I learned at an early age that you’re supposed to make the
world a better place. I did what I do because there’s the potential to
make significant positive change in people’s lives.
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: My
husband and I have two sons, ages one and four. We love to listen to
and make up our own music – the boys will climb up onto the piano, play
recorders, bang drums, dance and sing. I also enjoy sporting activities
in the great outdoors: camping, back- and front-country hiking,
canoeing, climbing and swimming.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Make
sure you have your priorities straight. That means not only taking time
for yourself and your family, but ultimately, remembering for whom,
what and why you are pursuing your education and career goals.
Read more of Ginetta's Profile
Natasha Freedman
Cybermentor since: June 2008
Occupation: Geologist in training with EnCana Corporation in Calgary.
Education: Geology degree from the University of British Columbia.
My greatest career influence: It’s probably my Grandma Rose, who
was a career woman even back in the 1950s. She was an early childhood
educator and a supporter of academics – a woman truly ahead of her
time. She died eight years ago at the age of 88, but had been a great
influence on her kids and subsequently, on their kids as well.
The thing I love most about my field: It’s the prospect of
finding a big discovery. All your analysis comes together and hard work
pays off when you pick a place to drill and hit upon a good well.
That’s very exciting for the entire team.
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: I
am definitely an outdoorsy person; I like camping, hiking, swimming and
boating. For relaxation, I enjoy cooking. They say the kitchen is the
heart of the home and you can almost always find me there.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Don’t
limit yourself; keep your mind open to all possibilities before you
make up your mind. I would also say get out of your comfort zone and
experience something new – as scary as it may be, it’s always
worthwhile to stick your neck out and try new things.
Read more of Natasha's profile.
Carrie Murray
Cybermentor since: March 2009
Occupation: Geological engineer
Education: Bachelor’s degree (Geological Engineering) from the
University of Saskatchewan; Master’s degree (Geotechnical Engineering)
from the University of Alberta; currently enrolled in Graduate Studies
(PhD) in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Alberta.
My greatest career influence: I don’t think I can single out any
one particular influence. However, I have kept a picture of Albert
Einstein on my desk since high school – I still have it laminated with
scotch tape! I admire his problem-solving ability and that his life’s
work was pursuing greater understanding of the natural world.
The thing I love most about my field: I love having a job that
balances between working outside and in the office. I also love solving
problems and learning new things. Through my experience, I have learned
that every project has its own set of problems to be solved and finding
the solutions is very rewarding to me.
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: My
husband and I have a three-and-a-half year old daughter and we enjoy
spending family time outdoors. We love hiking and canoeing in the
summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field:
Just do it! Pursue your passion, no matter how challenging it may seem
at times. It is hard work, but it is also very rewarding. If you enjoy
nature, adventure and discovery, geological engineering could be for
you. It is a very diverse and flexible career, and one well suited to
women who desire a challenge.
Read more of Carrie's profile.
Heather Warkentin
Cybermentor since: October 2003
Occupation: Medical Physicist at Cross Cancer Institute
Education: Engineering degree from McMaster University in
Hamilton and a Master’s degree in Medical Radiation Physics from McGill
University in Montreal.
My greatest career influence: When I started at the Cross Cancer
Institute just over 10 years ago, there was just one other female
medical physicist working here. When she started she would have been
considered a real pioneer in the field. She took me under her wing and
showed me how to balance work and family life while still moving
forward in my career.
The thing I love most about my field: I like the people I work
with and being able to interact with physicians, therapists and fellow
physicists. There is a great deal of variety in what I do. On top of
that, I’ve always liked puzzles and problem solving, so that’s another
aspect I enjoy – trying to figure out how to make things work better.
There’s life after school too! My hobbies/interests include: I’ve
always loved reading and still do – especially mysteries. Every
morning, I try to get up before the rest of the family for half an hour
of quiet time with a book and a cup of coffee. Doesn’t always work that
way, though!
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field:
I wouldn’t recommend choosing your career the way I did: by weighing
which field had the best job opportunities. I certainly don’t regret my
career choice – I love it, in fact – but my advice would be to put
aside practicality and follow your passion. Think more about what you’d
enjoy doing than what might land you a job in the end.
Read more of Heather's Profile
LAURA LUCIER
Cybermentor since: March 2003
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Field: Aerospace Engineering
Life after university: As a Robotics Flight
Controller for the Canadian Space Agency at NASA in Houston, Texas,
Lucier is required to be an authority in the robotics system aboard the
International Space Station. More specifically, she designs the
operations of the 17.6-metre long Canadarm2 Space Robotics Arm, which
allows astronauts to move modules and equipment around the Space
Station while in orbit.
Read more of Laura's Profile
TANYA SAMMAN
Cybermentor since: July 2003
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Field: Functional Morphology and Palaeontology
Life after university: Tanya’s work as a
sessional instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Mount Royal
College in Calgary is centered around fascinating prehistoric finds,
and she gladly filled us in on what it is she does and what inspires
her to do it.
Read more of Tanya's Profile
Candice Heron
Cybermentor since: August 2004
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Field: Chemical Engineering
Life after university: Candice is passionate when it comes to
the environment. So it’s little wonder that after completing her
Masters degree in chemical engineering – with a specific focus on
reducing greenhouse gas emissions – Candice took some time off to help
others see the world the same way.
From January through March 2009, Candice was in Australia as part of a cycling tour called The Otesha Project,
pedaling over 1,290 kilometres to engage youth about issues of
sustainability and energy consumption through interactive school
workshops and theatrical performances.
Read more of Candice's Profile
Amanda Melin
Cybermentor since: Fall 2003
Education: University of Calgary for undergraduate studies
(Bio Sciences, Zoology major); completed Masters degree in the
Primatology and is currently working on her PhD in Biological
Anthropology.
Growing up I thought I'd be: Working with animals. My parents
tell me that I was interested in wild animals at a very young age and
we always had pets. My whole life, my plan was to be a veterinarian as
I worked in a vet clinic for seven years. I actually got accepted to
veterinary school but decided that I want to see the world and do this
crazy monkey thing! Once I had a taste of field research I couldn’t go
back.
The thing I love most about what I do: I really like the
opportunity to travel and the fact that in the graduate program I’m
doing something different all the time, whether it’s spending months in
the field watching animals or coming home to do data analysis, write
articles and be a teaching assistant.
There’s life after work too! My hobbies include: I love all
kinds of sports: especially field hockey, floor hockey, baseball and
volleyball. Music is very important to me, too; I like listening to all
kinds and I also play the bass guitar.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field:Take
some time to figure out what you might be interested in; quite often
students have no idea about the career opportunities that are available
to them. Once you have found something you might enjoy, go out and do
some volunteering in the field. I volunteered at vet clinics for a long
time and learned a lot. And it’s okay to discover you actually don’t
like something you thought you would… that’s the whole point of trying
it out.
Read more of Amanda's Profile
Read Amanda's Field Journal
Lisa Avis
Cybermentor since: 2005
Occupation: Meteorologist with the Environmental Management
group at Stantec Consulting Ltd., which provides professional design
and consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture,
interior design, landscape architecture, surveying and project
management.
Education: BSc. Meteorology, University of Alberta (Edmonton); graduated in 1993.
My greatest career influence: My grandpa, because he always said, “There’s nothing you can’t do… and if you don’t know how to do it, figure it out.”
The thing I love most about my job: It might sound kind of nerdy, but I love looking at maps.
There’s life after work too! My hobbies include: I
play the piano and I have been quilting since 1997. I enjoy quilting
because of the sorting and ordering; there’s something satisfying about
fitting the small pieces of colours, pictures and patterns together
like a puzzle. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to be creative.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Have
a goal, but keep yourself open to the paths that may present
themselves. Don’t be so set on one thing that you close yourself off to
good opportunities.
Read more of Lisa's profile.
Victoria Snowdon
Cybermentor since: March 2006
Occupation: Screening Technologist
in the Biology Section at the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto,
operated by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional
Services.
Education:University of
Toronto for undergraduate studies (Anthropology Specialist, Biology
Major); completed her Masters degree in the Biomedical Technology
program at the University of Calgary.
Growing up, I thought I'd be... :
It’s always been a toss up between art and science. I used to do quite
a bit of painting. But likely because both of my parents are
pharmacists, science was always the predominant option for me.
The thing I love most about what I do: I really like the potential impact my job has on everyday life.
There’s life after work too! My hobbies include:
I like going out with my friends and as well, I’m getting into wall
climbing! There are a few good climbing centres in Toronto and I go to
one downtown. I’m still working on my indoor climbing skills… I haven’t
tried it outdoors yet.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Getting
experience in the area you’re interested in is just as important as
studying hard and getting good marks. I was hired for one of the six
vacant positions that 400 people applied for, and I’m sure my practical
experience helped me to stand out among all of those candidates. In my
opinion, those initial experiences come from networking with people in
your area of interest.
Read more of Victoria's Profile
Annalisa Wilson
Cybermentor since: October 2005
Occupation: Third-year civil engineering student and a student assistant in the Dean of Engineering’s office in external relations.
Education: University of Alberta (Edmonton)
My greatest career influence: I was confused with what I
wanted to study after high school, but that all changed in Grade 12. As
a Girl Guide leader, I helped organize a career fair for the girls to
learn about different professions. One of the invited speakers was a
civil engineer and I was completely fascinated. I think I got more out
of the presentation than the girls did, and I’ve been hooked ever
since.
The thing I love most about my field: I really love the problem solving. It can be a challenge, but that only makes me more determined to succeed.
There’s life after work too! My hobbies/interests include: Traveling,
pottery, kickboxing, piano, theatre, skiing, snowboarding, biking,
horseback riding, tennis, kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking and
dancing. As you may have guessed, I don’t sleep much. But hey,
according to Henry David Thoreau, “Success usually comes to those who
are too busy to be looking for it.”
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and career in my field: Try
not to get discouraged. When you’re graduating from high school with a
96% average, you may think you’re all that. But then you start
university, take your first exam and afterwards, well, you cry. Maybe
you really don’t know everything after all. But you’ve got to take a
deep breath and put things in perspective. Things will get better.
Read more of Annalisa's profile.
Rachel Maser
Cybermentor since: December 2003
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer; currently working with Engineers without Borders in Malawi, Africa.
Education: BSc. in Mechanical Engineering, graduated in 2005 from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
My greatest career influence:
General Romeo Dallaire. The tragedy of the Rwandan genocide and General
Dallaire’s fight to prevent it served as a catalyst for my involvement
in Engineers Without Borders.
The thing I love most about my job: Working with the people of Malawi – they’re so resilient and always happy!
There’s life after work too! My hobbies/interests include: Swimming, mountain climbing, reading, theatre and hanging out with friends.
Some advice I would give to girls considering an education and
career in my field: Don’t let old-fashioned notions of what girls can
and cannot do stop you from dreaming or deter you from considering a
non-traditional field. My grandfather once told me women could be
engineers, but they’d never be as good as men. But one of my professors
said, in his experience, the women in mechanical engineering are always
in the top 50% of the class.
Read more of Rachel's profile.
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