Experiences

Jeffrey MacDonald

Recent graduate, Master of Public Administration

Why UVic ?

"It was a combination of advice from my professors at U of Saskatchewan and the strong co-op program."

UVic experiences

"I was impressed by how close the MPA group was. I’ve got a network of people that are working and keeping in touch."

Co-op experiences

"The co-op education program was a big stand out. You build a network as you gain experience. I just received an email from a former supervisor in Ottawa asking if I’m looking for work. These networks are important for accessing the public network."

"It was trying at times to get through school for 6 years, but co-op was a huge help financially. I also received a lot of support from the MPA program – it was lots of teamwork."

Melissa Hyland

Recent graduate, Master of Social Work, Indigenous specialization

Why I chose UVic

"I chose UVic because they had an Indigenous-focused program in Social Work. I grew up in foster care and was determined to take that struggle and difficult life history and make it my strength. I knew I needed the support to do that and found it here in the social work program."

The UVic experience

"What stood out was the teachers and the way the program was set up and the way the community was built with fellow students. I’ve developed lifelong friendships with these students through the processes that we went through. They are family and the connections will be lifelong."

"The profs took care with students and brought in elders and had smudges. They were very mindful that some Indigenous students come with a lot of lived trauma. The professors take care of you. You’re not just learning about a textbook topic, but something you’ve lived through. It’s a wonderful program."

Practicum experiences

"My third year practicum was with Aboriginal Health. I worked in the community on the Six Reserves promoting Aboriginal Women’s Wellness."

"I did another practicum in a new office under the Solicitor General, the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Part of what I did in my practicum was to create, with my team, an Aboriginal-specific focused strategy for BC."

"I’ve been hired in the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, doing teaching and curriculum development and lots of public speaking. I’ll be the keynote speaker at the next BC Association of Social Workers Conference in Vancouver."

"I was able to create a job for myself. Government finally wants to address the trafficking of Aboriginal girls, the missing 510 Aboriginal women who have gone missing in the last 20 years, as identified by Amnesty and NWAC.  I’m creating some very specific strategies to address this."

"I’ve been able to take my passion and education and to create a niche for myself. I feel very honoured and blessed."