Environmental sustainability, clean technology and Inuit rights highlighted in this year’s group of remarkable grads
A local scientist who analyzes hair to measure environmental toxicology, the founder of a clean tech company developing new ways to generate electricity from both indoor and outdoor light and a fierce defender of Inuit rights in Canada and Greenland are among this year’s 15 Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients.
The 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of University of Victoria graduates in three categories: the Presidents’ Alumni Awards, the Emerging Alumni Awards and the Indigenous Community Alumni Awards.
Science of hair
Recipient of the Presidents’ Alumni Award, Dr. Jennie Christensen is the CEO and founder of TrichAnalytics Inc., a leading global laboratory whose methods have revolutionized wildlife biomonitoring and represent a major leap forward in environmental sustainability. One of her most notable studies overturned the longstanding theory that lead poisoning doomed the crew of the 1845 Franklin Expedition, instead pointing to a severe zinc deficiency as the likely cause.
“From the age of six, I struggled with trichotillomania—a compulsive hair-pulling disorder linked to OCD. It shaped my childhood and my self-perception in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. But during my PhD at UVic, I discovered something unexpected: the incredible science of hair. The more I learned, the more my perspective shifted. Now, I can confidently say I’m probably the only hair-obsessed toxicologist analyzing hair today.”
‘Innovation, not limitation’
Emerging Alumni Award recipient Dr. Sahar Sam earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria, building on her master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Shiraz University in Iran. Driven by a passion for clean technology and sustainability, she founded Solaires Entreprises Inc., which specializes in photovoltaic solutions designed to generate electricity from both indoor and outdoor light. Sahar says growing up in Iran, where resources were scarce and energy unreliable, shaped her interest in sustainable solutions.
“My focus became clear: to develop solutions that would ensure future generations never have to worry about energy scarcity the way I did. That mission led me to solar and clean transportation technology, where I’ve dedicated my work to creating a future powered by innovation, not limitation.”
‘Swiss Army Inuk’
Indigenous Community Award recipient Aaju Peter is an Inuk lawyer, activist, educator and sealskin clothing designer. In 2005, she was part of the inaugural graduating class of the Akitsiraq Law program—a partnership between UVic Law, the Akitsiraq Law School Society and Nunavut Arctic College. In 2012, she received the Order of Canada. She continues to defend Inuit rights in Canada and Greenland, raising global awareness of the challenges facing Inuit communities and fighting to preserve their language and culture, especially the seal hunt.
“I call myself the Swiss Army Inuk, which means you have to be able to do many things. As an Aboriginal, twice-colonized person, you get exposed to so many things. You learn so many new skills. You get to see the world very differently than just being in a small community. Taking part in international laws and legislation and the fact that I can affect change just as a tiny person—that’s amazing.”
2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
Presidents’ Alumni Awards
- Jennie Christensen, PhD ’08
- Thom Garfat, BA ’74, PhD ’96
- Leopoldo Infante, MA’85, PhD ’90
- Cassandra Miller, BMus ’05
- Suromitra Sanatani, BA ’85
- Laurel Schafer, PhD ’99
- Jill Schnarr, MBA ’18
- Tania Willard, BFA ’98
Emerging Alumni Awards
- Chari Arespacochaga, MFA ’15
- Katie Gamble, BCom ’18
- Sahar Sam, PhD ’16
Indigenous Community Alumni Awards
- Crystal Clark, BFA ’02
- Verna Miller, BA ’96
- Aaju Peter, LLB ’05, Cert. ’22
- Marcia Turner, Cert. ’96, Dip.’05, BA ’12
