Amirsadegh Kashanipour and CJ McGillivray are recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Leader in the UBC Community and Beyond Award, recognizing their dedication to community change at UBC and beyond our campus.
Amirsadegh Kashanipour, Social Work
Amir made significant contributions to organizations and communities both on and off campus. Within the School of Social Work, he has held several leadership positions, including Co-Chair of the Equity Committee. At the heart of this work was a commitment to creating positive change and supporting the School’s focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
More broadly, Amir worked with notable community organizations in the Lower Mainland, including the North Shore Disability Resource Centre, the Crisis Centre of BC, and the Immigrant Services Society of BC. He also founded Ototutor, an initiative supporting immigrant families by matching students with tailored resources and training to ease their transition into Canadian academic and cultural life.
Who made the biggest difference in your experience at UBC Arts?
Early on, I found myself waiting for direction, hoping someone would show me the path, define my purpose, or create opportunities for me. Over time, I realized that meaningful growth comes from within.
I began to take ownership of my experience: stepping outside my comfort zone, actively seeking opportunities, and reaching out to build connections. UBC provided the environment, but it was through self-initiative, persistence, and a commitment to growth that I was able to engage fully. My journey became one of “me versus me,” constantly striving to grow, improve, and make the most of every opportunity.
What version of you arrived at UBC, and what version is leaving?
When I arrived at UBC, I lacked certainty, comfort, and control. I was navigating challenges, self-doubt, and moments where even others questioned whether I belonged in university. At the time, I was searching for direction and trying to find my footing.
If you had told that version of me that I would graduate as an Outstanding Leader representing the Faculty of Arts, I would not have believed it. Today, I leave as a confident and grounded leader, committed to being a steady source of support for others in moments of uncertainty.
The challenges I faced did not define me; they refined me. Those experiences built resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful impact in others’ lives.
What are you taking with you from your time at UBC Arts (that isn’t on your transcript)?
During my time here, I pushed beyond my own expectations and learned to strive for more. Whenever I face moments of doubt in the future, I will look back on the challenges I overcame and the progress I made at UBC, and that will continue to fuel my motivation to keep creating meaningful change.
I also carry with me the relationships I have built. UBC became more than a university; it became a community and a home. The people who supported, challenged, and inspired me will remain a lasting part of my journey. I leave with deep gratitude, no regrets, and the confidence that I gave my all, and that my impact will continue beyond my time at UBC.
CJ McGillivray, Honours English Literature
CJ has advanced undergraduate research and publishing, reaching students both at UBC and across Canada. She founded the UBC Undergraduate Shakespeare Conference and the Between Time and Text independent journal that expanded opportunities for students to share their research. Her approach to leadership reflects a strong commitment to thoughtful collaboration, working closely with contributors, from poets and essayists, to editors and illustrators.
CJ was also a co-editor for The Garden Statuary, an undergraduate English journal, and launched the UBC Student Journal Community of Practice. Through this, she supported undergraduate researchers in refining and polishing their work with meaningful feedback and created opportunities for collaboration across student-led journals and publications.
Who made the biggest difference in your experience at UBC Arts?
There are multiple people who inspired me, championed my ideas, and could see in me what I could not see in myself. Dr. Richard Cavell showed me the academic value of thresholds and duality. Dr. Janice Ho gave me the blueprint for coordinating a successful conference. Dr. Dallas Hunt showed me that you can be an academic and a poet without ever having to choose.
Working for UBC English Language and Literatures, Niroshi Sureweere showed me how to blend kindness with professionalism. Jenn Suratos showed me how to lead with integrity and course correct . Christie MacLeod guided me through every academic roadblock or opportunity, sharing endless insight and encouragement. Vi Addams from UBC History showed me how to build on my existing strengths and communicate complex ideas to people outside my discipline.
Outside the classroom, my peers Liliano Yao and Sloane Madden helped me understand the value of collaboration over competition. Taylor Zaremba and Caitlin James showed me the definition of unconditional support.
What version of you arrived at UBC, and what version is leaving?
I am more confident in my desire to pursue a career in academia and substantially more confident about the value of combining creative and academic interests. The version of me that arrived at UBC was someone pulling away from theatre and moving toward literary analysis. But the person I am today gets to combine those passions and bring a more holistic version of myself to all my academic research and my creative projects. I am still idealistic, still eager to consume media and appreciate good storytelling, still curious and unsettled about some things, still competitive about others. And I still get excited when people ask me what I do and I get to tell them that I study Shakespeare for fun.
What are you taking with you from your time at UBC Arts (that isn’t on your transcript)?
One of my absolute favourite parts about coordinating the UBC Undergraduate Shakespeare Conference is getting to hear about the successes of past participants and committee members. Seeing them get accepted to competitive grad schools, hearing about their other conference acceptances and publications, I could not be prouder or happier for them. University is an inherently competitive environment, and many of us struggle with perfectionism, myself included. I find that being in community, focusing on intentional collaborations, and getting to celebrate other people’s successes helps me stay inspired and motivated through my own wins and losses. Those positive, collaborative relationships and the learning experiences we get to share are things that cannot be expressed on a transcript.
