“Meet the CEN” is a series that shines a spotlight on the dynamic individuals who make up the heart of UBC’s Community Engagement Network (CEN). As we continue to foster collaboration, learning, and community-building within the realm of community engagement at UBC, it’s our pleasure to share the stories and insights of those who drive this essential work forward.
Meet Angela Han!
Angela is the Community Engagement Strategist with UBC Okanagan’s University Relations team. Angela plays a key role in strengthening connections between UBC Okanagan and the communities it serves, ensuring partnerships are built on reciprocity and shared purpose. As chair of the UBCO Community Partnerships Table, she collaborates with over 50 campus partners to facilitate coordination, information sharing and referrals. In this interview, Angela shares her approach to meaningful engagement, highlights a collaboration helping local businesses navigate U.S. tariffs, and offers resources and advice on how UBC faculty, staff, and community partners can work together in ways that are thoughtful, effective, and mutually beneficial.
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Edits have been made to this written Q&A for clarity, style, and tone.
How do you support community engagement at UBC?
As a Community Engagement Strategist, I focus on strengthening how University Relations connects with the community. Whether you’re a community partner organization looking to collaborate with UBC Okanagan for the first time, or a long-standing partner interested in deepening your relationship with our campus, my goal is always to build respectful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial relationships between UBC Okanagan and the communities we serve.
While public events remain a key part of our outreach at University Relations, I place a strong emphasis on listening to the challenges and needs of our community partners. It’s about understanding their goals, interests, and perspectives, and working together on initiatives that address community priorities in mutually beneficial ways.
In my role as Chair of the UBCO Community Partnerships Table, I also collaborate with over 50 campus partners who voluntarily come together to facilitate communication, coordination, and information-sharing on community engagement and partnership-building—both internally and externally. It’s a work in progress, but as a collective, we’re striving to ensure our community engagement efforts align with shared values and purpose.
By leveraging the dynamic resources we have on campus, we aim to create lasting and sustainable partnerships that contribute to the well-being and development of our community.
Can you share a memorable example of community engagement success?
Recently, our campus leadership met with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and learned that U.S. tariffs are a significant concern for local businesses and industries. In response, we collaborated with the Chamber to co-develop a capstone research project for our fourth-year Faculty of Management students focused on strategic scenario planning. Our students are thoroughly researching historical precedents related to tariffs, exploring best practices for mitigation strategies, and identifying opportunities to future-proof businesses against potential impacts.
What’s a resource or initiative UBC staff and community partners should know about?
If you’re a community engagement or partnership development lead at UBC Okanagan and you’re interested in coordination, information sharing, and facilitating referrals, I encourage you to connect with the UBCO Community Partnerships Table. For those looking for meaningful learning opportunities to enhance their community engagement work, you can also reach out to me about the UBC Community Engagement Network (CEN). We encourage participation in CEN events across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, and registration is often open to community partner organizations as well.
Connect with Angela
As a leading public university with strong research capabilities, UBC Okanagan is a hub of knowledge and expertise across many fields. By collaborating with UBC Okanagan’s academic experts, researchers, and students, we can co-develop projects and innovative solutions that address significant challenges affecting our communities—both locally and globally.
If you’re interested in partnering with UBC Okanagan, start by contacting the Community Engagement Office at University Relations. Or feel free to reach out to Angela directly at angela.han@ubc.ca.