2025: UVic Alumni in the News
December 12, 2025
It was a good year to be a UVic grad. In 2025, alumni led research projects, published award-winning articles and books, grew their businesses and received recognition at home and abroad for their work.
Kim Bolan
Veteran crime reporter Kim Bolan, BA ’81, who earned a UVic degree in English and Creative Writing, received a for Excellence in Legal Journalism. Bolan specializes in covering gangs and organized crime, and was honoured for her piece “
Paige Cey and Julia Letizia
Paige Cey, BCom ’21, and Julia Letizia, BSc ’22, the UVic grads behind the wellness-focused energy drink, Benny, are still shaking things up. The recently received a nod from in its 2025 “30 Under 30” list and Forbes magazine's list.
Nathan Fielder
UVic business grad turned comedian Nathan Fielder, BCom ’05, was nominated for two prime- time this year for his critically acclaimed TV show The Rehearsal, which wrapped up its second jaw-dropping season (if you know, you know) earlier this year. Fielder and his show were nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, to fellow Canadian Seth Rogen and The Studio in both instances.
James Hamilton
UVic Computer Science grad James Hamilton, BSc ’87, is known as the brilliant engineer who lives on He’s always got something interesting on the go as Senior Vice President and at Amazon Web Services.
Sean Holman
Sean Holman, BA ’99, received the Jack Webster Foundation’s The annual award honours a BC individual or organization that makes a significant contribution to journalism in the province or addresses a community’s needs and benefits via journalism. Holman is the Wayne Crookes Professor in Environmental and Climate Journalism in UVic’s Department of Writing and helms the
Deb Miller Landau
Deb Miller Landau, BFA ’96, continued to make news in 2025 with her Oprah-endorsed award-winning true-crime book A Devil Went Down to Georgia Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton (Pegasus Books). Miller Landau gave a popular online talk for UVic alumni, was featured in the Torch, and her book was included in the UVic alumni book club.
Val Napoleon
UVic law professor and alumna Val Napoleon, LLB ’01, PhD ’09, is the academic lead for , an exciting . As part of Next Steps, five Indigenous communities will rebuild their legal systems.
Maxwell Nicholson
, a financial technology firm led by UVic Economics grad Maxwell Nicholson, BA ‘19, continues to grow. Nicholson also scored a BC Business
Karen Solie
Earlier this year, UVic English grad Karen Solie, MA ’95, received one of the highest honours in Canadian literature—the 2025 Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry for her book . If that weren’t enough, Solie was also named co-winner of the . The award annually honours new poetry published in the U.K. and Ireland by emerging and established poets.
Tania Willard
As far as Canadian art prizes goes, it doesn’t much bigger than the . Championing visual arts in Canada, the $100,000 prize is one the largest for contemporary artists in the world. This year’s recipient is UVic arts grad Tania Willard. Willard is a mixed Secwépemc and settler artist whose research intersects with land-based art practices. She graduated from UVic in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. She’s also a recipient of a 2025 ɬíɬəl ʔa kʷs ƛ̓kʷəxnəq Skʷukʷəlstəŋəƛ̓ | SIÁMĆEȽ | UVic Distinguished Alumni Award.