Going the extra mile: Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Kathleen has been a steadfast monthly supporter of her home department of biological sciences, where she is currently a lecturer, for 20 years and counting.

She has donated to several causes including undergraduate and graduate awards and bursaries for students, as well as the Thelma Finlayson Endowment—named after the first woman to be appointed a faculty member in the department—that supports research, fellowships, and scholarships in the field of biological sciences.

Why do you support SFU?

I believe in higher education and supporting education and research. I have been an SFU community member since 1991, first as a staff member, then as graduate student, and now as a faculty member. Once I was in a financial position to support charities of my choice, I was happy to do it and giving to SFU—where I've worked for more than three decades and met so many great co-workers, staff and students—seemed like a no-brainer to me. I liked the idea of supporting a place that has been like a second home for so many years.

What specifically motivated you to support SFU?

Actually, it began when SFU’s biology department created a new fund for scholarships and bursaries to help students. I got an email about it and decided to start contributing. I then received a call from a student asking if I could increase my contributions, and I did. I am lucky now to be in a position where I can afford to contribute.

Why do you believe it is important to support SFU? And more broadly—why support higher education in Canada?

This is a world where critical thinking and problem solving are important skills. We are flooded with information, but what information is realistic and reliable? We need to help students develop the skills to navigate a world flooded with increasingly less-than-accurate information.