Meet the Team

Accessibility Services Team

• 

  Sarah Walz, MEd
  Director, Student Access and Academic Supports

  Biography

  Sarah has worked in post-secondary student services since 2006, and she has been with TRU’s Faculty of Student Development since 2018.
  
  After graduating high school in Northern BC, Sarah’s educational pathway started at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George BC. She completed two diplomas (Human Kinetics and Arts) before transferring east to complete her Bachelor's Degree at the University of Alberta. Sarah later obtained her Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Calgary.
  
  Sarah loves spending time outdoors exploring the Kamloops area with her husband and two little boys. She is also a fitness enthusiast and highly recommends TRU Recreation’s free classes.
  
  Sarah's goal in Accessibility Services is to ensure there is equitable access to the learning at TRU. If students have learning barriers related to a disability or health condition, she strongly encourages them to connect with the AS office. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental values at TRU, and we not only embrace, we celebrate, that diversity on our campuses. She is proud of the role that Accessibility Services plays in the university’s commitment to equity.

• 

  Stacy Peña, BA
  Accessibility Services Advisor

  Biography

  Stacy started at TRU as a Program Advisor for the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism, later moving to the Future Students Office as a Student Recruiter-Advisor.
  
  She studied psychology at the University of California in Santa Cruz, as well as at Hong Kong University.
  
  Her experience working with individuals with various backgrounds, interests, and diverse abilities led her to join the Accessibility Services team in 2019.
  
  As an Accessibility Services Advisor, Stacy offers a comprehensive approach and enjoys seeking out opportunities for self-growth in work and life. When she isn’t at work doing what she loves - supporting students in achieving their vision of success - she enjoys yoga, paddle boarding, camping, and traveling to new countries. She has gone to almost thirty countries, and Iceland is her favourite so far!

• 

  Katie Thomson, BA
  Accessibility Services Advisor

  Biography

  A graduate of TRU, Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2005 and completed her Graduate Certificate in Child and Youth Mental Health in 2011.
  
  Katie has been working with the dynamic team in the Accessibility Services department since 2017, where she pursues her passion for equitable access to education. Her practice is informed by a deep commitment to lifelong learning, building and maintaining relationships characterized by trust, promoting student-centred supports, and reducing barriers for students.
  
  When she isn’t working, you can often find Katie spending time reading or playing games with her husband and son. She is an adventurous cook, and loves sharing her culinary creations with friends and family: food creates community! Katie satisfies her love of adventure and exploration through travel and outdoor pursuits such as hiking, camping, and canoeing.

• 

  Giovanna (Joanne) Salituro, BA
  Accessibility Services Advisor

  Biography

  Jeff joined TRU in the summer of 2018 as a sessional instructor for UEPrep, teaching courses in Adult Basic Education. He continued teaching evenings after joining Accessibility Services during the Fall 2018 semester. He has been working in his current role as an Accessibility Services Advisor since January 2019.
  Jeff graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and Peace and Conflict Studies. After several years of working odd jobs, he returned to school and received a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University in 2010. After graduation, Jeff headed north, living and working in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, until his move to Kamloops in 2018. During that time, he taught in high schools, organized festivals, facilitated sex-education workshops in remote communities, and even had a stint working in film production.
  In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing music, reading, road-tripping, and getting out on the land by foot, ski, or canoe. He also loves to swap stories and share laughs over games of cribbage and Scrabble.
  Most importantly, Jeff brings firmly held principles of equity, inclusion, and social justice to his profession. He believes in the power of education and works hard to support students on their paths to success.

• 

  Sydney LaMarsh, MEd
  Assistive Technology Specialist

  Biography

  Sydney has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Victoria, a TESL certificate from TRU and has completed her Master of Education at TRU.

  Sydney has worked for several years supporting students of diverse backgrounds, complex needs and neurodiversities. In her past role as a Lead Instructor and Transitions Coordinator, Sydney practiced student centered teaching, focusing on developing plans and accessing resources to help students succeed in their individual education journeys. Sydney also worked as an ESL Instructor for TRU World’s International Training Centre through 2018/19.

  Sydney joined TRU in 2022 with the Office of Student Life as the Learning Strategist, Leadership and Mentorship, before joining the Accessibility team.

  When Sydney isn’t in the office, she can be found in the woods, on a mountain, tending to her tropical plant collection or spending time with her partner and their cat, Louie.

• 

  Evelyne Penny, MEd
  Learning Specialist

  Biography

  Evelyne has been a Learning Specialist with Accessibility Services for twenty years, and is a contracted fitness instructor with TRU Recreation.
  
  She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Education from the University of Victoria. She has a TESL Certificate from Thompson Rivers University.
  
  Whenever possible, Evelyne appreciates mountain biking, hiking with her bernedoodle, skate skiing and instructing fitness classes such as Barre, Zumba, Pilates and HITT.
  
  When working with students, Evelyne strives to provide academic strategies that offer the best chance of success. Her favourite career moments are when she runs into former students that she worked with and hears their success stories.

• 

  Sarah Ellis, MEd
  Exams Supervisor

  Biography

  Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in psychology and a Teaching English as a Second Language certificate from TRU in 2013.
  
  Living and teaching abroad was a goal of hers, so after Sarah graduated, she immediately applied for jobs abroad and was hired in Incheon, South Korea. After living and teaching in South Korea for four years, she accepted a teaching job in Bangkok, Thailand, where she taught nursery school for a year. She then returned to Canada, moving to Kamloops in 2018, where she enrolled in the Education Assistant and Community Support program at TRU.
  
  While teaching overseas, Sarah met marginalized students who had diverse needs and learning styles. These experiences encouraged her to pursue employment within Accessibility Services because she is passionate about helping others, breaking down educational barriers, and advocating for people who may not be able to advocate for themselves.
  Sarah is currently completing her Masters of Education degree; when she is not hard at work, she enjoys time with loved ones, camping, fishing, travelling and relaxing outdoors.

• 

  Kathryne Brattland, MLIS BEd 
  Exams Supervisor
  On leave

  Biography

  Before joining the Accessibility Services team in July 2018, Kathryne’s professional pathway was rooted in academic and public libraries in BC and Alberta.
  
  Kathryne received her Bachelor of Education from University of Alberta in 2012, and then completed her Masters of Library and Information Studies at U of A in 2017.
  
  When it comes to working with students, Kathryne enjoys lending her support through co-learning and creative problem solving.
  
  In her down time, she loves cooking, baking, climbing, mountain biking and hiking with her dog.

Accessibility Services Testing Centre