Each convocation, the Department of Linguistics congratulates our graduating students in graduate and undergraduate programs. This spring we celebrate 50 graduate and undergraduate students who completed their degrees during the transition from in-person, to online, and back to in-person instruction.

Congratulations to all of our graduates! We look forward to seeing what you accomplish next!

This convocation, Dr. Kelli Finney, PhD graduate from the Department of Linguistics received the Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation medal as one of SFU's most outstanding graduate students. Kelli joined the department in 2015 and defended her Doctoral Dissertation, Negotiating Meaning in X̱aad Kíl (Northern Haida), in January 2022.

Kelli also acted as the student speaker in Ceremony A. In her address, Kelli said to her fellow grads:

"Convocation is a time for each of us to celebrate our achievements. These took hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, and are a major accomplishment. But convocation is also an opportunity to thank the many, many people who contributed to that accomplishment, and to recognize their sacrifices for us and their dedication to us.

It’s also an opportunity to reflect on how, as we leave the SFU community, we might all be better at being in relationship with those around us. Thank you again and congratulations to my fellow graduands, and the friends, family, colleagues, and mentors who supported us, guided us, challenged us, and now celebrate with us in our achievement."