Alum of the Month: Stephen Hextall

Getting involved in extracurricular groups while attending university can change your educational journey. 

VIU alum Stephen Hextall experienced this for himself when he shifted his learning focus and moved towards an education path and career in climate change adaptation and mitigation. This was the result of taking classes with Dr. Jeff Lewis and becoming the Awareness of Climate Change through Education and Research (ACER) Coordinator. The organization is a public outreach initiative led by a group of undergraduate students under the guidance of faculty.  They help people understand climate change and its effects through talks, presentations and hands-on activities.

Hextall graduated in 2019 from VIU’s Geography program and is now a Policy Analyst for the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. We caught up with him to talk about his time at VIU.

Tell us a bit about your experience at VIU and in your program.

I loved my time at VIU. I have made enduring friendships from being part of the university’s rugby team, which provided a great opportunity for me to meet students from across a spectrum of different programs and with different interests. 

My focus on geography gave me a great educational experience with a small cohort and superb, knowledgeable and invested professors. They want you to succeed while also allowing you to explore other areas of interest.

How did your program prepare you for your current role in the workforce?

I went on to complete a master’s degree in environmental policy, which aligned well with a lot of the learning I had done throughout my time at VIU. The comprehensive offerings throughout the program gave me the foundational knowledge I needed to succeed in my further education and then on into my career. I think those core competencies, styles of writing, research and critical thinking are so well taught that I have been able to apply them to new situations and quickly learn new skills to fit into different roles.

Can you share an experience where one of your professors made an impact on your learning experience? 

When I first started at VIU, I was planning to go into the educational program to become a teacher. After taking a few classes with Dr. Jeff Lewis, I was involved in ACER and moved towards an education and career related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. I think that shows the amazing influence Jeff’s fantastic education and relationship with his students can have on them.

What are you most proud of since completing your program at VIU?

It has to be my wonderful family, with my two daughters, now nearly three and five.

Tell us about your experience volunteering for ACER and its impact on you.

This program had such a phenomenal impact on my time at VIU and my choices since pursuing a career within the public service, working closely with Indigenous organizations on habitat restoration and climate change adaptation. As the ACER coordinator, I developed a strong understanding of climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and the actions we can take to reduce our climate impact. It was so exciting getting out into the community to give presentations and engage with schoolchildren. It gave me confidence in public speaking and built my skills in creating articulate but concise presentations.

What advice would you give VIU students following a similar trajectory as yourself?

If you have the capacity in your undoubtedly hectic schedules, try to join extracurricular groups, sports clubs or organizations. They can make your time at university a more comprehensive experience and build your networks and skills for the future. They can also be a great way to make friends with similar interests to yours and are a lot of fun!