Marela Dichupa Fund

SFU alumnus, Dr. Marela Dichupa, passed away on August 6, 2021. She was a gifted artist, educator, scholar, and activist committed to liberation against all forms of oppression.

Dr. Dichupa completed her bachelors at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines and then joined the Faculty of Education at SFU. She finished her MA and PhD focusing on arts for social change. After completeing her PhD, she transitioned into a new career and finished her master's in counselling psychology.

Education and Counselling were two areas she pursued passionately and in every part of her work. Marela was always striving to build and sustain “communities of ethical practice.” She was determined to help others and to take action against injustice to create a better world. 

She was a part of many communities within SFU and beyond. In every part of her work, Marela was always striving to build and sustain “communities of ethical practice.” She was determined to help others and to take action against injustice to create a better world. 

As a feminist scholar, she believed in the power of narratives as potential catalysts for transformative change. As such, she was drawn to the words of Elie Wiesel"Let us remember: what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor but the silence of the bystander." Any tribute to Marela is to honour her tremendous commitment to social justice and education.