A Successful Launch
On February 1, the newly incorporated Langara Alumni Association (LAA) was launched with the meeting of the new LAA Board. Ten dedicated, eager, and talented alumni met at the College to direct the future of the Association.
The LAA’s mission is to promote and enhance the relationship between Langara alumni and the College. The Association is committed to providing services, activities, and programs that encourage the involvement and participation of alumni.
Meet our new LAA Board members:
Terri Bains
Terri attended Langara from 1993 to 1995 and graduated with a diploma in the two-year Accounting Co-Operative Education Program. She completed a co-op work term with Reid Hurst Nagy Inc., Certified General Accountants, in January 1995 and was subsequently hired on a full-time basis. Terri enrolled in the CGA program and received her designation in 1999. She is currently a director with the company and chose to join the Board as a way to give back to the institution and meet new people. Her area of expertise is accounting and finance.
Shona Cekelis
After completing two years of the University Transfer Program at Langara from 1993 to 1995, Shona transferred to SFU. She completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2001 with a joint major in psychology and women’s studies. Since 2002, Shona has been working as a citizen service agent at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). She has been teaching Hatha yoga since 1997 and is a Yoga BC registered teacher and intern member of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. Shona would have stayed at Langara if she could have completed an undergraduate degree. Her area of expertise is communications.
Marie Chatterton
Marie completed the two-year Fine Arts Diploma Program at Langara in 1999 and is currently a project coordinator with Continuing Studies. She has recently completed a Master of Arts in Professional Communications at Royal Roads University and is a member of the Canadian Women in Communications Association (CWC). Marie sits on the not-for-profit organization Art Start’s financial development committee and is an avid supporter of lifelong learning. Her areas of expertise are online and inter-generational communications.
Rajan Dassan
Rajan, an alumnus of Langara, has been chair of the Alumni Council since its inception in 1999. He has worked in senior positions in the finance industry for 16 years and is currently working as a consultant in process improvements and automation. Rajan's educational background is information technology and he was the first student to graduate with a Masters of Software Technology from the University of Alberta in 2001. He brings passion and experience in areas of information technology, finance and management. Rajan enjoys running and badminton to stay fit and likes reading and writing poetry.
Aliya Hirji
Aliya completed an Associate of Arts Degree with Distinction in Family Studies at Langara in 2003. She completed a BA in Family Studies at UBC and a Provisional Certified Family Life Educator designation through the National Council on Family Relations in the United States. She was an alumni mentor and senior mentor for the UBC Arts Co-op Mentorship Program. For two years, she was a Board Member and Honorary Secretary for Vancouver Multicultural Society's Board of Directors. Recognition for her accomplishments includes the International Year of the Volunteer medal and certificate from Canada's federal government and the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award from H.R.H. Prince Philip. She is currently a Senior Intern at Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre. Aliya's expertise on committees and boards includes marketing and event planning.
Altaz Jamal
After completing a Diploma in International Business at Langara, Taz went on to study in the BBA Program. He finished a Marketing Management Degree in 2009. In 2008, he founded the Langara Business Association (LBA), a student-run organization, dedicated to providing community, culture, and career initiatives for its members and its key stakeholders. He grew the association from 4 members to over 600 members. The LBA currently acts as the biggest platform on campus for business students, and is slowly building a membership from other disciplines. As a graduate, Taz now acts as the Chair of the Board and works with current student management and faculty to keep initiatives moving.
Professionally, Taz spent six years with Electronic Arts Canada, as a producer on its top-selling franchise, FIFA Football. He also worked with BC’s largest independent Apple Mac specialty dealer, Simply Computing, as their Marketing Manager. He is currently running his own marketing & communications firm, D&A Marketing, serving small- to medium-sized organizations.
Taz brings to the Board a diverse set of expertise in marketing, branding, communications, strategy, and business development.
Anja Lanz
Anja attended Langara from 2001 to 2003 and completed a certificate in the Arts & Science Engineering Transfer Program, graduating with distinction. In 2009 she completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics at UBC. Anja worked in several engineering companies during her time at UBC, also as a tutor, chair, senior peer assistant, planning committee member and Women in Engineering Physics liaison. She is currently president WIE (VR) - Women in Engineering (Vancouver region). She is a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade and has successfully completed their Leaders of Tomorrow program. She volunteers as a mentor with the Women in Leadership Foundation and the YWCA.
Anja received the UBC Faculty of Science Achievement Award for Service in 2008 and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC student scholarship for work for the advancement of the profession. Lanz’s expertise includes events, networking, leadership, grassroots activities and teamwork.
Ajay Patel
Ajay received his Physical Education Diploma from Langara in 1992. While attending the college, Ajay was a student-manager for the women’s basketball team and, at the time of his graduation, an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team. Previously Ajay was the Chief Executive Officer at Gymnastics BC and the Executive Director for Badminton BC. During his time with both organizations, he led significant projects which have left impacting legacies.
Ajay's professional work, as well as a majority of his volunteer time, is dedicated to sport, provincially, nationally, and internationally, and he worked closely with individuals at all competitive levels and abilities. He is currently the Chef de Mission of Team BC for the 2011 Canada Winter Games and was the Chef de Mission for the previous three Canada Games Programs. As a member of the BC Education Team with Canadian Sport for Life, he is focused on developing awareness, and planning and implementation strategies, primarily within the education and organized sport sector. He was an integral driver for the development of the Vancouver Sport Strategy which is based on the Canadian Sport for Life model and currently chairs the Vancouver Sport Network.
Ajay was presented with an Outstanding Alumni Award in 2007 for Athletic Achievement and his contribution to sport. He has always remained committed to his Langara roots and is currently Division Chair of Health Sciences and a faculty member in the Department of Human Kinetics.
Wesley Regan
Wesley attended Langara from 2004 to 2009 and completed an Associate of Arts Degree in Geography then transferred his 60 Langara credits to SFU where he completed a BA in Geography (Urban Specialization).Wesley has toured internationally as a performer and worked his way through his studies as a copywriter, blogger, bartender extraordinaire and music reporter.
Since 2009 he has worked in the field of community economic development (CED) in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, as Business Development and Communications Associate with the non-profit organization Building Opportunities with Business (BOB) and currently as the Executive Director for the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association. Wes is also the Vice-President of Urban Stream Innovation, an award winning greentech company focusing on improving food system sustainability and resilience, and sits on the boards of Vancouver Urban Farming Society and Downtown Vancouver Association. Wesley has a passion for higher education and believes that Langara is an important resource and asset to the community.
Dr. David Ross – Ex officio member
Dr. David G. Ross is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Langara. He was formally installed at convocation on June 4, 2009. Ross reports to the Board of Governors of Langara and is responsible for the demonstrated provision of educational and financial leadership for the College. He previously held the position as Vice-President of Administration and Student Services at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and spent a total of 14 years there serving in seven different capacities. After high school he achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Masters in Business Administration from Dalhousie University. While at Kwantlen he furthered his education by completing a Master’s Degree in Aquaculture from SFU and then a PhD. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Nebraska.
Ross’ background includes expertise in marketing and public relations, which includes teaching experience in the faculties of Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship. His scholarly activity includes numerous published articles and conference presentations on current topics such as enrolment management, marketing and branding and media relations.
