Trailblazers
In recognition of the women who demonstrated bold leadership characteristics as students and alumnae, Brescia University College honours their legacy on the Alumnae Trailblazers wall in the Mother Saint James Building.
The first 12 Alumnae Trailblazers were revealed on September 14, 2009 at the launch of a year of 90th-anniversary celebrations and a bold new brand of Canada’s premier women’s university.
Jaimie Hemsworth (’09)
Jaimie Hemsworth was the first Brescia student to win a Morgan Medal from the Dietitians of Canada for her work on ground-breaking research in the development of probiotic yogurt for HIV patients.
Crona (Hassenstein) Airgid (’96)
Crona Airgid was one of four Brescia students who demonstrated their leadership abilities by becoming the first students to oversee the residence as Residence Assistants in 1994–95, replacing the Sisters who had held this responsibility for many years. RA’s take the lead in building a vibrant community.
Michelle (Krech) Burrell (’96)
Michelle Burrell was one of four Brescia students who demonstrated their leadership abilities by becoming the first students to oversee the residence as Residence Assistants in 1994–95, replacing the Sisters who had held this responsibility for many years. RA’s take the lead in building a vibrant community.
Janet (Van Damme) Denkers (’96)
Janet Denkers was one of four Brescia students who demonstrated their leadership abilities by becoming the first students to oversee the residence as Residence Assistants in 1994–95, replacing the Sisters who had held this responsibility for many years. RA’s take the lead in building a vibrant community.
Claudette (Turnbull) Zijlstra (’96)
Claudette Zijlstra was one of four Brescia students who demonstrated their leadership abilities by becoming the first students to oversee the residence as Residence Assistants in 1994–95, replacing the Sisters who had held this responsibility for many years. RA’s take the lead in building a vibrant community.
Wilma de Rond (’81)
As a member of Brescia’s Students’ Council, Wilma de Rond initiated the off-campus faculty/student pot luck dinner that is an annual Brescia event to this day. As an educator, in 2007 Wilma became the first female Director of the London and District Catholic School Board.
Margaret (O’Grady) Wickware (’76)
Margaret Wickware attracted wide attention when she became Western’s first female Students’ Council President in 1975. In 1997, as guest speaker at Baccalaureate, Margaret described how her involvement in student politics led to a career in bank administration at a time when few women were considered for management positions.
Dr. Marlene (Smith) MacLeish (’68)
Dr. Marlene MacLeish currently works as Professor of Medical Education at Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta Georgia. She is also team leader of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) National Space Biomedical Research Institute Education and Public Out Reach Program.
Marlene gave the address at the 2009 Baccalaureate at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London.
In October 2010, Marlene was honoured with an Honorary Degree from The University of Western Ontario.
Carmelle Murphy (’50)
Ever a loyal member of Brescia’s Alumnae Association, Carmelle Murphy worked closely with the members and with Sister Margaret Hanley. In 1988, Carmelle became Director of the Alumnae Association – the first person who was not an Ursuline Sister to hold that office.
Dr. Geraldine Montag (’47)
Dr. Geraldine Montag was the first graduate of Brescia’s Home Economics program to earn a PhD. At Iowa State University, her second alma mater, Geraldine became a Professor in the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department where she served as Chair for two years.
Rosalina Saez (’35)
From her founding, one of Brescia’s goals has been to provide a culture receptive to and supportive of international students. Rosalina Saez was the first international woman student to graduate from a Canadian university.
Christine Dawson (’23)
While a student of Brescia’s first class, Christine Dawson had many chats with Mother St. Anne who was envisioning an organization to maintain the bond between the College and her alumnae. Through Christine’s continuing efforts after graduation, the Alumnae Association was established in 1927.