Master's and doctoral alumni profiles

After 10 years working at the University of Waterloo supporting incoming undergraduate students, Jessica Bondy, MA Recreation and Leisure Studies alumnus was looking for a career change where she would be able to give back to the larger community. Now, working as Housing Director at the House of Friendship, she's able to do just that. In March of 2020, she would face her biggest challenge yet - how to find shelter for people experiencing homelessess in Waterloo region during a global pandemic.

An accomplished wheelchair racing triathlete – gold, two silver and a bronze medal in world championships – and avid water skier, Bourne has spent decades promoting a physically active lifestyle for people with all types of disability.

Dawn Carr works with the Canadian Parks Council to protect, enhance and promote the multitude of Canada's national parks. As their Executive Director, she oversees the projects that are dedicated to showcasing the beautiful landscapes that our environment has to offer and even brings her office to work remotely in Georgian Bay during the warmer seasons. Dawn completed both her undergraduate degree and MA in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, which is where she first discovered her passion for parks and protected areas.

Don’t let Victor Cheng’s quiet demeanour and humble spirit fool you. He has an intense passion and drive and understands that owning your own business is something one should never take lightly. President and CEO of iLogic, a Toronto-based reusable asset management software company, Cheng knows that he is ultimately responsible for his own fate and that the decisions he makes affect the livelihood of his people.

Named one of the world’s top 50 CMOs by Forbes, Waterloo caught up with Recreation and Leisure Studies alumna Dorothy Dowling to chat about her role as senior vice president marketing and sales for Best Western International, the award, and her advice for aspiring marketing gurus.

Working for the City of Waterloo's Parks and Trails division as an undergrad inspired Dylan Flannery to apply to the MA Recreation and Leisure Studies program at the University of Waterloo. Within months of graduating, he landed an amazing position as Supervisor of Operations at New York City's world famous Central Park. He picked up and moved to a city he had never even visited, and has never looked back.

A​ndrea Gardi is working in her dream job as the Director of Projects and Operations at Regional Tourism Organization 4 Inc. Part of her role is to expand tourism in the local areas of Waterloo, Stratford, and many other towns and cities through coordinating digital/physical hygiene projects that improve visitor experience. As a world leading institution in recreation and leisure, Andrea knew that coming to the University of Waterloo to pursue a Master's degree would be the best way for her to prepare for a successful career in tourism. 

Andrew McDonald (MA Recreation and Leisure Studies '19) developed the first Ontario Parks smartphone application for the Pinery Provincial Park. Now working full-time with Ontario Parks, Andrew is making an impact in a career that he loves.