As the old adage goes, “if you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk.” For Dr. Joy Johnson, president and vice-chancellor at SFU, it’s important to demonstrate her commitment to building a world-class university by also making philanthropic contributions.

This fall, the first cohort of Uggla Family Scholars—some of whom may be first-generation learners in their families—will begin their journeys at Simon Fraser University. For many of these students, it will be a life-changing opportunity that may not otherwise be possible without the generosity of one SFU alumnus. 

The kindness of others at a critical time in her youth helped to pave the way for Ratana Stephens—and inspire her own deep commitment to giving back to the community.

As communities around the world commemorate Nowruz, we pause to remember the 176 lives that were lost in the tragic downing of Flight 752 on January 8, 2020.