Hamelin bids a fond farewell to University of Saskatchewan

Thirty-five years after graduating from USask and going on to lead multiple multi-million-dollar fundraising initiatives in Calgary, Hamelin (USask Bachelor of Science, Home Economics, Class of 1988) came full circle and returned to her alma mater in 2022 to help lead the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of the university and the history of the province. As one of the primary leaders of USask’s bold initiative to drive donations to a whole new level, Hamelin helped the university raise $572 million in the remarkable Be What The World Needs comprehensive campaign that concluded with a financial flourish on June 30, 2025.

As she prepared for her final days on campus and her new plans to spend more time with cherished family, Hamelin sat down for five questions with On Campus News to reflect on her time at USask and the memories made to last a lifetime.

1. How special has it been to come full circle and return to your alma mater to conclude your remarkable career?
It is especially meaningful to have come back to my hometown and my alma mater to finish my career by leading the largest fundraising campaign in Saskatchewan history. The fact that I could share my expertise with a city, an institution, and people I respect, admire, and care deeply about has given me a sense of peace as I end my career. Thanks to all the incredible people who support USask, we were able to succeed as a team, and I am proud to have been a part of this remarkable group.

2. When you look back on the campaign, at what point were you confident the goal would be reached?
To be very honest it wasn’t until early January of 2025 that we became fairly confident that we would make the $500 million goal before June 30, 2025. We knew that we had a lot of principal and transformational gifts that were going to come in, but the timing was speculative. The number and value of gifts that closed in the last six months of the campaign was remarkable and allowed us to overshoot our goal and reach the $572 million.

3. In addition to the highlights of the campaign, do you have another favourite memory from your time here?
I have so many wonderful memories from my time here, it is hard to pick just one. It’s not a memory as much as it is a feeling, and that is the culture of philanthropy that has been created at USask. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry, stakeholders have embraced giving as a key value at USask and understand how powerful philanthropy can be in achieving our goals. I’ve seen a real shift, and I am so proud of us as a collective that we have embraced giving and community in this way.

4. How satisfying is it to see how much the university’s reputation has been elevated over the past four years?
I would say the university’s prominence and reputation has been particularly elevated over the last 10 years. I just can’t believe that USask is the same university I graduated from in the late ’80s. The increase in research funding and output, the number of world class research institutes, the growth in student numbers and quality of education, the spot we hold as a highly regarded U15 university – it is all very gratifying. As the leader of University Relations, I am very proud to know that our incredible communications and marketing team played a huge role in communicating our successes and raising our profile. The development team and campaign put us on the map across Canada with our huge campaign success. Our Alumni and Strategic Engagement area and our Operations and Services area matured and elevated to meet the challenges of the future. And the Huskies just had the winningest season on record! Truly, my heart is full.

5. What’s next for you, and how much are you looking forward to retirement without deadlines and timelines?
I wish I could say that I am looking forward to retirement, but I really do love USask and this job and would probably stay until I am 90 years old if I could! My family situation requires that I step away and reduce my work schedule to a slower pace. I plan to remain as a volunteer on a couple of not-for-profit boards, and I will do a little bit of consulting here and there, just to keep my mind busy. I am excited about having more time to spend with my husband and kids and will enjoy some travelling. As an alumna of USask, I won’t be far away, and I will always have USask in my thoughts and in my heart. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve USask.