Have you met Jennifer, Director of Communications & Engagement in the Faculty of Science? Spend a few minutes getting to know her a little better.
What's your first U of A memory?
I took a classics course as an option in a spring session in my undergrad, so I think it was coming to the Tory building, and just feeling intimidated and inspired all at the same time.
What is the most boring thing about you?
I'm pretty routine and rigidly scheduled - five out of seven days I drink a spinach and mango smoothie - which I think some people see as boring or restrictive, but I find freedom in it.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I have two degrees from the U of A - my undergrad is in art history, and my master's is in communications and technology - but if I was going to start another program, I actually find atomic physics really fascinating. Those have been some of my favourite stories over the years.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
David Bowie. He had such a huge, larger-than-life personality. It was interesting to watch him adapt through the years, and morph with these personas and characters that he put on.
What's something your coworkers don't know about you?
They know a lot about me… maybe just that I think about them a lot when I'm not with them, because I really care about them as human beings.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Don't be so scared to try things and fail. Every time you don't succeed it's an area of growth for the future.
What's a weird pet peeve you have?
People using "impact" as a verb - when I was first studying PR it was not a verb, so now it's ingrained in me. That, and people not using the Oxford comma.
What's your go-to snack on campus? (When we can actually be on campus, that is).
A chai latte and a gingerbread cookie from the CCIS Starbucks.
What's your favourite distraction?
I don't know if it's a distraction… but the thing I do to help me remain focused in the rest of my life is a lot of yoga and meditation. And running. They help me get out of my head and into my body.
An award-winning communicator with more than 15 years experience in all realms of communications, Jennifer Pascoe is the Director of Communications and Engagement in the Faculty of Science. In her role, she focuses on stakeholder relations for the Faculty's diverse initiatives in teaching, research, and community engagement, including summer camps and public programming. A proud UAlberta alum who earned her BA (Hons. Art History) in the early aughts, Jennifer is also a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology program. Her graduate research explored why - and how - scientists use social media to communicate, focusing on knowledge translation, which informs her daily professional practice and strategy.