Student-run investment program recognized with new designation
April 08, 2024
Alumni of the Applied Portfolio Management Program gain public recognition of their hands-on investment education with the new Pat Elemans Fellow designation.
The Gustavson School of Business announced a new designation for alumni of a unique experiential program this week. All Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP) graduates will now receive the Pat Elemans Fellow designation to recognize their hands-on investment education and industry experience.
“The Pat Elemans Fellow designation is a testament to how passion and hard work can create success for an undergraduate student,” says Jordie Hutchinson, APMP program director and financial advisor at Edward Jones, “The designation will brand APMP alumni as passionate, hard-working individuals who went above and beyond during their studies. Fellow alumni and industry employers will recognize the designation as a desired network to be a part of—and hire from.”
APMP is a student-run investment fund that manages more than $1.5 M in assets. Over a 12-month period, select UVic students (primarily from business and economics) manage a pool of real money, in close coordination with industry and academic support, while building tangible investment management experiences.
APMP encapsulates Gustavson’s goal of developing responsible leaders for a better world. This program integrates sustainability, international business and innovation into the education of our students, while creating connections with finance professionals and employers in Victoria’s business community.
The program was established to prepare students for careers in financial services and has seen all program graduates working in the field, many with leading financial firms. One thing common to all graduates: the commitment and determination required to complete the program fosters a close-knit and supportive community.
Tireless ambassador for Gustavson remembered
APMP has had many champions since it was created in 2017. The new Fellow designation, however, is named in honour of one individual in particular who supported the unique program from inception to launch and beyond. Pat Elemans, longtime assistant dean external at Gustavson, was a tireless ambassador for the school and for APMP. Elemans passed in 2020.
“In recognition of Pat’s determination, her heart and desire to create meaningful opportunities for our students, alumni and community through the APMP program, we can now recognize all portfolio managers who have completed their APMP with the designation ‘Pat Elemans Fellow’. This includes the expanding network of APMP alumni, many of whom have continued on to build careers in investment banking in Victoria, across Canada, in New York, Germany, the UK and beyond.”
—Mia Maki, Gustavson’s associate dean external & outreach
“Our APMP graduates are an alumni community, who now share a mark of pride that tells the world of their perseverance and passion,” she adds.
The new designation is made possible by the Pat Elemans Memorial Fund, a fund established in 2020 to support Pat’s legacy of encouraging and building the foundations for student success and the pursuit of excellence in community-engaged experiential learning.
Sean Killen (MBA '08) was one of many Gustavson alumni who donated to the fund. Now senior vice president, International Markets Geotab, he credits much of his success to Elemans’ unwavering support, from ‘taking a chance on him’ during MBA admission to regular meetings throughout the MBA program and finding opportunities that would help launch his career—including an interview with Canada Business Magazine that was noticed by Blackberry.
“People’s lives often are impacted by two to three people who make a decision or influence something that changes the entire course of someone's life. Pat was one of mine and later Saul [Klein, former Gustavson dean] helped complete that work,” says Sean.
APMP, now in its seventh year, is a collaboration between the University of Victoria, the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Victoria (CFASV), and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI).