Contact Us

Jessica Thoms, Director of Development & Alumni Relations; Executive Director, Capilano University Foundation

Jess Thoms Jessica joined the Development & Alumni Relations Office and University Foundation in the fall of 2005. Working with the University's Executive and Foundation Board, her focus is on engaging philanthropic support for the University. With the development of the Alumni Association, she is thrilled to work with the newly established Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Capilano, Jessica worked with a variety of not for profits. She holds an Masters in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and a post graduate certificate from Georgian College. She is an Advisory Board member of the Georgian College Fundraising and Resource Development program, as well as a past Alumni Board member and faculty member.

Alison Bailey, Development Assistant

Abailey@capilanou.ca - 604.984.4983

Alison Bailey Alison has been an integral part of our development team since the fall of 2003. She is responsible for the processing of gifts; record & file management and event coordination including donor thank you nights and President's Circle Events. She is always upbeat and offers creative input on projects.

Prior to this, she spent 10 years as a Program Assistant in the Asia Pacific Management Cooperative Program at Capilano College. She honed her skills in event coordination and public relations traveling to Asia each year to assist with the organization of their student mid-term conference. Alison was also the "point person" for all alumni inquiries spanning world-wide. In addition, she worked in the private sector as a show coordinator for three very successful annual consumer shows as well as administrative assistant, for the publisher of the Expo'86 World Festival Magazine. She is also a graduate/alumna of the Retail Management Program at Capilano.

Janis Connolly, Alumni Liaison

Jconnoll@capilanou.ca - 604. 990.7968

Janis Connelly Janis joined Capilano University in April 2006 as Capilano's first Alumni Relations Officer. Since joining the University, Janis has been involved in establishing programs and services that engage and benefit alumni and students as future alumni of Capilano University.

Janis' alumni relations experience includes managing alumni networks for the UBC Alumni Association and editing the alumni magazine at the University of Western Ontario. She is a past chair of the UBC Alumni Achievement Awards dinner and co-founded the UBC alumni network in Taiwan. Janis graduated from UBC with a BA and Diploma in Secondary Education and in her spare time volunteers for the Canadian Diabetes Association and enjoys painting, long distance running and travelling.

Tim Schoahs, Senior Development Officer

tschoahs@capilanou.ca - 604.983.7566

Tim has been at Capilano University since 2006 and joined the Office of Development and Alumni Relations in the summer of 2010. Tim will be working with individuals and corporations to build support for university programs and increase financial assistance for students.

Tim was educated at the University of Toronto and prior to Capilano ran an adventure company that offered wilderness safaris in BC, the Yukon and Alaska. He also worked for a luxury tour operator as a cycling guide later managing their international division to such destinations as Provence, Morocco and Viet Nam. More recently Tim was a participant in the Sea-to-Sky Leadership Forum and was awarded the Peter Cundill Scholarship to attend the Aspen Institutes Executive Seminar.

Passionate about Squamish, his new found home, Tim has served as a volunteer board member for the Squamish Sustainability Corporation, Tourism Squamish and the Squamish Public Library.

Alex Kershaw, Annual Giving Officer

akershaw@capilanou.ca - 604.990.7937

Alex Kershaw joined the Office of Development and Alumni Relations in the summer of 2008. As the Annual Giving Officer, she works with donors and oversees annual and endowed funds which provide essential financial assistance for students.

Alex is an alumna from the Business Administration program at Capilano and believes that her practical educational experience from Capilano helped launch her career in advertising and marketing. She graduated form Simon Fraser University with a BA in Psychology and Linguistics as well as a certificate in Teaching English as a Second language. She brings to the position her diverse experience from the corporate and not for profit worlds, where she worked at a leading advertising agency in client services/brand management and served on the board of directors of a North Vancouver preschool. She enjoys working with people and fostering relationships.