Message from Jeff Keshen, President, University of Regina

It is with both a bit of sadness and a great deal of pride and optimism that I bid adieu to the year-long celebration of the University of Regina’s 50 years as an independent degree-granting institution.

My sadness, such as it is, stems from the fact that 2024-2025 has been an exceptional year in the history of the University – a time to proudly celebrate the institution’s half-century of educational excellence, research innovation, and community involvement. I and many others very much enjoyed the 50th anniversary celebrations, so it is only natural to experience a bit of post-celebration sadness after such a remarkable year.

But that’s where the immense pride and optimism come in – because it was indeed a wonderful year for our University, and one that was a fitting kick-off to our next half-century of helping transform the lives of students.

Our 50th-anniversary year provided a new means for alumni to engage with the University, and it is my sincere hope that we can build on that momentum in the months and years to come.

Over the course of 2024-2025, the University held close to 100 anniversary-related events of various types, which attracted more than 17,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the wider community. Close to 3,000 alumni were among that number, including those who participated in Alumni Week in October, and attended the regional alumni celebration events we held in Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and Ottawa.

At all of the events, I enjoyed renewing acquaintances with alumni I have met over the past four years, and just as importantly, I loved meeting many alumni for the first time. Our 50th-anniversary year provided a new means for alumni to engage with the University, and it is my sincere hope that we can build on that momentum in the months and years to come.

Thank you to everyone in the University and wider communities – including alumni from across the country and beyond – who planned, attended, and otherwise participated in the 50th-anniversary celebrations. You helped make this a special year that we can reflect on with pride, while we look forward to all of the great things that are in store as we embark together on the next stage of the University of Regina’s development.

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Keshen
President and Vice-Chancellor

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The University of Regina awarded the Honourable Russ Mirasty with an honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa (LLD) during Spring 2025 Convocation. Although best known as the first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Mr. Mirasty also made a lasting impact in policing and community service. He is a fluent Cree speaker, member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and has contributed a lifetime to public service, leadership, and community dedication.

Read More [post_title] => Honourable Russ Mirasty, S.O.M., M.S.M. [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => honourable-russ-mirasty-s-o-m-m-s-m [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-06-26 09:19:31 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-06-26 15:19:31 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.degreesmagazine.ca/?p=9349 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9359 [post_author] => 23 [post_date] => 2025-06-17 20:04:40 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-06-18 02:04:40 [post_content] =>

Greetings and salutations! A little over halfway through my first term as the University of Regina Alumni Association (URAA) President, I often pause to reflect on how I am beyond honoured to be a member of an organization I have so much appreciation for, in an institution I greatly admire. This 50th anniversary is a monumental milestone that all of those involved with the University in the past half century can applaud.

My first experience with the U of R was in the fall of 1997 when I began my university education fresh out of high school. I recall thinking how massive the grounds were and how I'd never be able to navigate the campus, let alone my classes. Little did I know the enduring impact this institution would have on my life. I am privileged to come full circle and represent University alumni.

The members of the URAA are diverse and talented, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in a great variety of realms. We proudly partner with the enthusiastic and hard-working Alumni Engagement team and others at the University, to offer sponsorships, advocacy, development opportunities, resources and events for students and alumni across the globe. I sincerely thank the other members of the Board, as well as the Alumni Engagement team for their continued service and support.

Little did I know the enduring impact this institution would have on my life. I am privileged to come full circle and represent University alumni.

We have so much to be proud of as alumni of this university. The U of R, along with federated colleges - Campion College, Luther College, and First Nations University of Canada - offers exceptional, post-secondary opportunities to more than 17,200 students. With an alumni count to close to 95,000, University of Regina graduates can be lauded for their first-rate accomplishments in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and beyond.

However, the U of R is so much more than just these incredible endeavors. It is HOME to so many. It's a comfort zone, inclusively providing connection and collaboration with fellow students and alumni, as well as with the greater community. It is a part of us, one that we can always look to for guidance.

A heartfelt congratulations to the U of R and to the URAA for fifty incredible years. In a world where society seems to change almost daily, the U of R has faced challenges and adversity with compassion, professionalism, innovation and strength. I am excited to see what the future may hold and am exponentially grateful to have held a small part in the fabric of one of the places I call HOME.

Respectfully,

Jennifer Murray, BA'03, BEd'05, MAdmin'22, President, URAA
President, University of Regina Alumni Association University of Regina Alumni Association Logo [post_title] => Message from Jennifer Murray, BA’03, BEd’05, MAdmin’22, President, URAA [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => message-from-jennifer-murray-president-uraa [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-06-26 09:19:31 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-06-26 15:19:31 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.degreesmagazine.ca/?p=9359 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )