Microsoft word - alumni bios.doc

Communication Studies Alumni Achievement
Friday 28 September 2012
3 – 5 pm, Career Centre
PANELISTS
Erika Ivanic, Hons. B.A. (06)
Erika graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2006 with an Honours Bachelor of
Arts degree in Communication Studies and Philosophy. After taking a year off to
travel and 'figure things out,' Erika entered the Master of Planning programme at
Dalhousie University. Upon graduating in 2009, Erika went travelling again and
returned to Ontario to look for work. She spent three years working as a Planner for
the City of Vaughan and currently works as a Planner for the Ontario Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing. Erika lives in Toronto and is passionate about city-
building.
Laura McDonald, B.A. (06), M.A. (09)
Laura is an organizer, activist, theatre producer, and prolific Facebook poster.
Currently the Associate Manager of Publicity & Special Projects at Alternatives
Journal, Canada’s environmental magazine, she also divides her energy between
freelance (and volunteer) organizing and communications work, sitting on the Boards
of Directors of WPIRG and Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region, and producing the
occasional radical musical or play. Laura has previously done communications work
for Laurier Musical Theatre, the Laurier Centre for Women & Trans People, the
Laurier Graduate Students’ Association, and the Faculty Association of the University
of Waterloo.
Marci Mosher-Mandel, B.A. (04)
Marci currently works at KPMG, within the Information Technology Services area, as
a Communications Manager. Prior to KPMG, Marci worked at a top Canadian-based
bank in Marketing and Communications where she was responsible for developing
content for internal websites and coordinating promotion of content. She also
supported the production and creation of various newsletters, including generating
story ideas, writing, editing and distribution. She has also worked for public relation
agencies, including in Sydney, Australia, where she developed communication plans
and generated awareness of programs and products for energy, technology and
government organizations. She is a 2004 graduate of the Communications Studies
program and has a post-graduate certificate in Corporate Communications and
Public Relations from Centennial College.
Krista O’Brien, B.A. (08), M.A. (10)
Krista advocates for marginalized people in both the local and global community,
sitting on a local committee dedicated to navigating changing Immigrant and Refugee
policies. She is the Chair of the Communications Committee on the Waterloo MB
Church Leadership Board. Krista is thrilled to work as the Manager of Communication
Strategies at Christian Horizons, where she advises and collaborates with senior
leaders about policies, media relations, and corporate communications. She lives in
downtown Kitchener with her husband and enjoys reading, singing and impromptu
do-it-yourself crafting projects."
Joseph F. Turcotte, Hons. B.A. (07), M.A. (08)
Joseph is a PhD Candidate and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow in the Communication &
Culture program at York University (Toronto, Canada). His research focuses on
technological, social, cultural, political and economic changes initiated by digital
technologies in the early 21st Century with a particular emphasis on intellectual
property rights, Internet governance, telecommunications and broadcasting policy,
and international trade during the globalized era of the informational economy.
Previously, Joseph has been a research assistant at the Centre for International
Governance Innovation (CIGI), an instructional assistant with the Communication
Studies department at Wilfrid Laurier University and the Communication Coordinator
for the Canadian International Council: Waterloo Region Branch. He holds a
Combined Honours BA (Communication Studies & Philosophy) and a MA in
Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Joseph can be reached at:
www.jfturcotte.wordpress.com and on Twitter: @joefturcotte
Sophie Zivku, Hons. B.A. (07), M.A. (11)
As a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier's Master of Arts in Communication Studies program
Sophie has had the opportunity to apply her graduate work, which analyzed femcare
advertising, to her current position as a Communications Specialist at Diva
International Inc., makers of The DivaCup. At Diva, Sophie's work includes managing
the company's social media channels, researching and developing educational
materials and networking partnerships with International organizations seeking
solutions for women’s menstrual health needs. Through both her professional and
academic experience, Sophie hopes to pursue PhD studies where she can continue
in her research of the intersection between technology, advertising and menstrual
health.
CS Alumni Achievement 2012 Panelists (updated Sep. 25)

Source: https://wlu.ca/documents/52382/CA-alumni_panelists2F12.pdf