Trent University Alumni Association AGM Introduces New Leaders

Outgoing President Jess (Gemma) Grover Honoured with Tony Storey Alumni Service Award

The annual general meeting of the Trent University Alumni Association saw the organization making some big changes, including new leadership and a revised council structure. It also represented an opportunity to celebrate outgoing Association president, Jess (Gemma) Grover ’02.

The AGM, which took place this past Saturday, also featured updates from Trent Chancellor Stephen Stohn ’66 and Associate Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni, Sherry Booth ’98.

Ms. Grover, who has served on TUAA Council for almost 12 years, 6 of that in the role of President, was honoured with the Tony Storey Alumni Service Award, presented to an alumni volunteer who has demonstrated a significant and long-term commitment to the Trent University Alumni Association (TUAA). She will continue to serve on the TUAA in the role of Past President.

“Jess has helped to take the TUAA to new levels, and we are ever so grateful for her time, enthusiasm, and leadership over an incredible 12 years with the TUAA Council, 6 of those as President,” said Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement Lee Hays ’91.

New co-presidents, Stephen Brown ’86 (BA History & Politics) and Alma Barranco-Mendoza ’90 (BSc Hons. Computer Science and Mathematics and MSc Applied Modelling & Quantitative Methods) were elected as part of the AGM proceedings.

Mr. Brown is the CEO of FUSE Create, a full-service agency specializing in social, digital, content, CRM and experiential marketing. He has maintained a longstanding relationship with the TUAA through his volunteer work as a Life After Trent mentor and member of the Trent Alumni Strategy Advisory Committee. Fuse Create led the production of Grad From Your Pad, Trent’s online graduation event, for the past two years.

Mr. Brown is a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Master of Ceremonies for the CMA Awards and leads the team responsible for setting the future direction for Canada’s largest marketing awards. He was also the Chair for the CMA's National Convention and the Chair of Fashion Cares, Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser.

Dr. Barranco-Mendoza is Co-Founder and CEO at Infogenetica Solutions Ltd., a company that develops and produces natural dietary health supplements and cosmetics. She was formerly chief information officer for the Canadian Space Society (CSS), where she led the development of their national web, cloud and program management, IT security and social media strategy along with other CSS executives and board of directors. Dr. Barranco served as a tenured Associate Professor at Trinity Western University (TWU) where she was also the co-founder and co-director of the Gender Studies Institute and the Research Institute of Chronic Conditions and Aging.

She is a Life After Trent mentor, member of the West Coast Alumni Chapter Leadership Committee, and a former guest speaker at Trent Talks. First arriving at Trent as an international student from Mexico, Ms. Barranco-Mendoza has maintained strong ties with Lady Eaton College and the Trent International Program.  

The Annual General Meeting also saw the introduction of a new leadership structure, with new committees to assist in Alumni Benefits & Services programming. You can view the new leadership structure here: https://mycommunity.trentu.ca/tuaa