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The Department of Asian Studies is delighted to invite you to our annual Careers Night! Navigating life after graduation can be hard, so each year we bring in reputable guests and alumni with diverse experiences – at home and in Asia – to inform and inspire current students.
This event will feature keynote speeches from an Asian affairs luminary and a UBC career strategist, as well as round-robin networking sessions where you can connect face-to-face with fellow Asian Studies graduates from a wide array of backgrounds.
You will also have a chance to win various raffle prizes, including an invaluable opportunity to job shadow a faculty member from the Asian Studies department, dining at the stunning Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant (where you can literally reach for the sky!), as well as a myriad of Asian Studies swag!
Careers Night is the perfect opportunity to gain career insights, make connections, meet fellow Asian Studies students, and feel more confident in taking the next steps on your career path.
As a student:
* Ask your burning questions about what a degree in Asian Studies has to offer
* Gain helpful networking tips and experience (e.g. How to Use LinkedIn 101)
* Meet your fellow undergraduates and learn about their career and academic plans
* Get an excellent head-start in planning your next move during and after UBC
As an alumni:
* Share what you did at UBC that helped you succeed
* Give back to your alma mater by providing helpful insights to students on what they should expect post-grad
* Meet and make connections with other alumni and students
* Meet potential future hires among our diligent and passionate students
Dress code: Business casual
Event Program
5:30 pm – Reception with Light Refreshment
6:00 pm – Welcome Note by Bruce Rusk, Acting Department Head and Associate Professor
6:05 pm – Keynote Speech by H.E. Mr. Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam
6:15 pm – Keynote Speech by Robyn Stalkie, Career Strategist, UBC Career Centre and Faculty of Arts
6:45 pm – Networking Round Tables: Ask Me Anything with the Alumni
7:45 pm – Event concludes
Keynote Speakers
H.E. Mr. Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam
Shawn Steil joined the Global Affairs Canada in 2002. In Ottawa, he has served as director for foreign policy planning and executive director for Greater China. In 2004, he began back-to-back postings in China, first in Beijing, with responsibility for foreign policy and relations with Mongolia, then as head of the consulate in Chongqing. From 2011 to 2014, he served as head of the consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and as senior trade commissioner for Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. In 2014, he was appointed ambassador to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. Mr. Steil presented his credentials and officially became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Vietnam on May 26, 2022.
Robyn Stalkie, Career Strategist, UBC Career Centre and Faculty of Arts
Robyn Stalkie (she/her) is the Career Strategist for the Faculty of Arts. As an Arts graduate herself, she is committed to supporting students within the Faculty to feel confident as they seek out meaningful work during their degrees and beyond. In her role as Career Strategist, Robyn spends time delivering workshops (resume/cover letter, interview tips, job search strategy, etc.), facilitating career development events like the Arts Career Design Studio, and having 1-1 advising conversations. Outside of work Robyn loves to play word-/video-/board-games of all sorts and dive into on her coursework for the Certificate of Organizational Coaching program through UBC!
Please include a short connection message letting Robyn know that you found her profile through the Asian Studies Career Night event!
Alumni Guests
Kayla Black, BA ’14 – Team Lead, Digital Transformation
Kayla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Korean Language & Culture from the University of British Columbia. One of the highlights of Kayla’s time as a student was studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. Currently Kayla works at the Law Foundation of BC as the Team Lead of Digital Transformation where she works cross-functionally with staff and grantees, leveraging experience and expertise with technology, operations, process improvement and change management to optimize processes.
Ellie Cho, BA ’16 – CG Artist
Ellie Cho graduated from UBC with honours in Asian Languages and Cultures (Mandarin) and a minor in English (literature). She found her passion in learning the language in Taiwan through scholarships and went back again through Go Global. During her time at UBC, she also studied and worked under Dr. Ross King, as well as studying translation in Korean. After graduating, she found a position in a credit union, but she left in order to pursue a more creative career.
After further schooling, Ellie is now in the visual effects industry as a CG artist and has worked on games, feature animation, and live action films in companies like Electronic Arts, MPC, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. She has also taught as an instructor at Centre for Entertainment Arts at Langara and as a trainer for Technicolor Academy.
Karen Fayemi, BA ’21 – Canada Emergency Benefits Officer, Canada Revenue Agency
Karen Fayemi is a UBC graduate currently working at Canada Revenue Agency as a Canada Emergency Benefits Officer. She has experience working as a legal assistant, cultural assistant and coach/camp leader for English language learners.
Karen grew up in Vancouver and lived here her whole life. She grew up bilingual speaking English and French and she now speaks Japanese although she’s still learning. Karen enjoys photography, movies, reading comics, visiting cafes and travelling. She likes taking pictures of natures and historical buildings. Her favourite Asian studies class was Japanese horror with Professor Laird.
Kristy Lin, BA ’21 – Communications Strategist, VP Finance & Operations at UBC
Kristy Lin is a second generation Chinese Canadian born and raised in Vancouver. Growing up, she’s always been interested and curious about many different aspects of life, and so through studying both Asian Studies and ACAM, she was able to learn from many disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, sociology, film, media, and entertainment but through the lens of Asia. One of her favourite memories from her time at UBC is studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul during her 3rd year.
Outside of work, she loves traveling, watching the latest k-dramas, eating around Vancouver and documenting her life experiences on TikTok.
Richard N. Liu, BA ’93 – Honorary Brigade Division President, St. John Ambulance, BC/Yukon
Educated at both UBC and Peking University, Richard Liu’s family has long distinguished Canada-China ties for 3 generations. His career in Asia included areas of public relations, diplomacy, major events organisation to education. Richard now advises companies and organisations on a variety of sectors pertaining to Asia.
With both Chinese, Korean and Italian heritage in his family, and a passion for storytelling, Richard recently completed two terms as Heritage Commissioner advising Burnaby City Council on matters concerning the identification, management and preservation and/or restoration of buildings and sites with historical significance in Burnaby since 2018. He was recently appointed as the Chief Ambassador for the Chinese Canadian Reconciliation Project for the City of Burnaby. As a board member at large for multiculturalism, he also sits on the Barkerville Heritage Trust, a national historic site with one of the oldest Chinatowns in Canada. Richard is also a leader in the development of a wide variety of volunteer projects from the Terry Fox Run to Special Olympics to the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing; to a leadership role with St. John Ambulance in BC and Canada.
Anh Luu, BA ’22 – ESL Instructor
Anh Luu graduated from UBC in 2022 majoring in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on Japan, minoring in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on China, and a certificate in TESL. During Anh’s time at UBC, she was involved in the Asian Studies Department starting as a student volunteer and shortly after, work-learn positions. She was also a Teaching Assistant for ASIA 351 (Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation), which is a course she recommends because the readings are amazing.
After graduating from UBC, Anh worked in Japan as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) for JET Programme Canada. She lived in the countryside in Niigata prefecture teaching 7 (at the most) elementary schools. It was a valuable experience for her as she was able to connect with people of all ages and she enjoyed many cultural events and festivals in the community. She was also able to put her language specialization to use and take the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) while she was in Japan. After working as an ALT, Anh grew an even deeper love for teaching and decided to return to Canada to pursue a career in education and become the best teacher she could be! Anh is now pursuing adult ESL teaching following the completion of her TESOL Diploma.
Yuji Matson, BA ‘ 02 – Lawyer
In 2014, Yuji Matson became a lawyer in British Columbia, specializing in corporate and commercial law, immigration, employment law, real estate, and wills and estates. With many Japanese clients, he leverages his fluency in Japanese and understanding of Japanese culture.
His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from UBC in 2002, with a focus on Japanese studies. After participating in the JET Programme and earning a Master of Arts in Modern Japanese Literature and Film from the University of Victoria in 2008, he pursued legal studies. Yuji obtained his law degree from the University of Victoria in 2011, followed by a Master of Laws in International Economic and Business Law from Kyushu University in 2012. Yuji received his law degree from the University of Victoria in 2011 and completed an LL.M. in International Economic and Business Law at Kyushu University in 2012. Active in the local Japanese community, he serves on several boards including the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizen’s Association and the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
William Strausser, BA ’17 – Data Analyst, UBC Arts ISIT
William graduated from UBC in 2017 with an Honours BA in Asian Area Studies. As a student, William pursued his interest in post-war Japanese cinema and studied abroad at Osaka University through Go Global in 2016. After graduating he joined the Department of Asian Studies as a Project Coordinator working on tasks related to conference planning, faculty recruitment, and data reporting. In 2019, he served as Department Head’s Assistant before leaving UBC in 2020 to enroll in a one-year full-time Japanese language course at ECC Kokusai College of Foreign Languages in Osaka, Japan. Returning to UBC in 2022, William began his current position as a Data Analyst with UBC Arts ISIT, which he works with student and faculty data in Python, SQL, and Tableau to provide reports that support decision making in the Faculty of Arts.
Jennifer Ward, BA ‘ 12 – Freelance Translator
As a longtime fan of anime and manga, Jennifer Ward attended UBC with the goal of learning Japanese to pursue her passion. During her studies at UBC, she went on a one year exchange program to Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan, where she polished her language skills.
After graduating from UBC, she participated in the JET Programme as a CIR for one year before beginning as a freelance translator. She started off working through an agency before making direct clients and has continued to work from home as a freelancer for ten years. She has since translated nearly fifty novels and hundreds of volumes of manga from Japanese to English for publishers such as Yen Press, Kodansha, Seven Seas, and others.