Convocation medals honour SFU’s best and brightest

Jennifer Krentz, BA, Psychology

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences

Jennifer Krentz graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a minor in criminology. During her time at SFU, she volunteered as a research assistant in several psychology labs and recently served as the SFU undergraduate representative of the Canadian Psychological Association. Her thesis examined the inclusion of risk and protective factors in forensic reports. It earned several awards, including second place for the Best Undergraduate Paper Award from the American-Psychology Law Society and the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence.

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Anya Sass, BA, Political Science and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Anya Sass is graduating with a bachelor of arts in political science and gender, sexuality and women's studies. She is passionate about human rights and has volunteered extensively with refugees through private sponsorships and teaching English to newcomers. She left Vancouver for a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town in 2019 and later volunteered at organizations in Cape Town that provide settlement and advocacy services for refugees. As part of that work, Anya oversaw a large-scale food distribution effort at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Read more about Anya.

Galvin Gar-Kit Huen, BSc, Biomedical Physiology

Faculty of Science

Early on at the Claydon Lab, Galvin Huen fell in love with research through the excitement of discovery, where meticulous benchwork and laborious problem-solving were at the nucleus of his work with stem cells. Outside of the lab, he was privileged to engage with SFU both as a representative who advocated passionately on behalf of fellow students, and as an advisor on committees that shaped the student experience.

Patricia I. Coburn, PhD

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology

Coming to SFU in 2011 to undertake her master’s studies in law and forensic psychology, Patricia Coburn stayed to complete her PhD in the same discipline, graduating with top honours.

Coburn’s doctoral thesis, The Effects of Cross-Examination on Children's Reports, revealed the adverse effects of cross-examination on children’s accuracy and consistency in testifying, particularly if the children have experienced repeated or multiple events of trauma and abuse. Approximately half of the children who testify as complainants in court are children who experienced multiple traumatic events, and yet the research Coburn undertook for her thesis had never been studied. Coburn not only undertook this research, but she also did so in an exemplary manner, receiving a SSHRC Canada Doctoral Scholarship.

SFU’s professor and chair of psychology, Deborah Connolly, supervised Coburn throughout her graduate studies at SFU and says, “I would not ordinarily say this; however, in this context I think it is relevant. Trishia completed this work as a mother of four children; the youngest was just a few months old when data collection started. I say this to highlight Trishia’s outstanding organizational skills, efficiency, rock-solid work ethic, and collaborative working style. She truly is the full deal.”

Coburn is a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University where she continues to conduct research on memory and issues related to vulnerable witnesses.