News & Notes from FIMS Alumni

News & Announcements

Mike Bickerton, BA’00 (MIT), was announced as the Showrunner for the television series Drag Race Canada, set to air on Crave TV this fall.

Andrew Colgoni, MLIS'09, began a new role as an associate librarian at Brock University in July.

Nicole Corbo, MLIS'18, began a new job as Records Coordinator at Loblaw Companies Limited in Brampton.

Kevin Newman, BA'81, Doctor of Laws'11, stepped down as the host of CTV's news program, W5, in August to focus more on other projects with CTV.

Joel Sherlock, MLIS'13, has taken on a new position as Manager of Genealogical and Archival Research at Crown-Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada.

In Memoriam: Barb Janicek
The FIMS community was saddened to learn about the passing of alumna Barb Janicek (MLIS'07) at the age of 44 in St. Mary's. Barb was known as a passionate and dedicated children's librarian who had been working at the Kitchener Public Library since 2011. For more information, please see the obituary.

In Memoriam: Dave Reiss
The FIMS community was also saddened to hear about the passing of alumnus David J. Reiss, BA'06 (MIT). David passed away unexpectedly in Toronto on September 1, 2019.

Awards & Accomplishments

Bryan Gold’s (BA’14, MIT) company #paid is listed as no. 24 of LinkedIn’s top 25 startups in 2019.

Heather Hiscox, MA Journalism alumna, was honoured as a YMCA Women of Excellence in the business and professions category. Hiscox was celebrated with other Women of Excellence at an event at the London Convention Centre on May 15, 2019.

Judy Li, MLIS’01, completed a PhD in Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee last year.

Katia Moskvitch, MA'06 (Journalism), is the recipient of the British Science Journalist of the Year award. Moskvitch also recently passed her MPhilosophy exam in Theoretical Physics.


Publications & Presentations

Andrea Benoit, PhD'14 (Media Studies), published a book titled, VIVA MAC: AIDS, Fashion, and the Philanthropic Practices of MAC Cosmetics. A book launch event was held on June 12 in Toronto as part of Pride activities. Read an early review of the book.

Anna Soper, MLIS'16, published an article titled, "In Ontario, a Quest to Rediscover the Work of a Groundbreaking 19th-Century Botanist," on May 23 in Atlas Obscura.

Mark Aaron Polger, MLIS'00, published a book titled Library Marketing Basics in March 2019 through Rowman & Littlefield.

Marina Reed, MA'85 (Journalism), published her first novel. Primrose Street is a story about how keeping secrets can become a poison and prevents people from living authentic lives. It supports diversity, speaks to women's issues and allies with the LGBTQ+ community.

In the Media

Mark Asberg, MLIS’02, was named the new CEO of the Calgary Public in August 2019.

Erickson Anupol, MLIS'18, was featured on the Librarianship.ca website on May 1, 2019 in a blog post titled, "Freshly Minted: Erickson Anupol"

Mina Gerges, BA’16 (MPI) was featured in Fashion Magazine on July 3, 2019, and on CBC London on July 18, 2019, after being announced as one of the faces of Sephora’s new advertising campaign.

Jessica Grossman, BA’11 (MIT) was featured in the CBC Radio article, “I’m alive because of it: Ostomy advocate fights to dispel stigmas around the procedure,” published on March 2, 2019.

Sarah Khraishi, MLIS’17, was featured on the Librarianship.ca website on August 19, 2019 in a blog post titled, “13 Questions With: Sarah Khraishi.”

Anna Soper, MLIS’16, was interviewed on CBC London Morning about her research into forgotten 1860’s botanist, Kate Crooks.

Additional Activities of Note

MAJ class of '94 visits FNB for 25th anniversary reunion
Members of the 1994 Master of Arts in Journalism class returned to campus on June 15, 2019, for their 25th anniversary reunion celebration. The alumni visited FNB, had a chance to chat with FIMS Dean Lisa Henderson, and were given a tour of the new broadcast studio from Technical Manager, Erin Carroll. Dave Mills and Wendie Crouch, retired MAJ staff members, also returned to participate in the reunion.