INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / November 13, 1991 New faculty and staff profiles Applied Programs Division Secretary Rashida Ismail W orking in an academic atmos- phere inspired Rashida Ismail to take a few courses herself. Before moving to Vancouver and joining Douglas College last summer as the Applied Programs Division Secretary, she worked at Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. While holding a variety of positions there, she took courses in public ad- ministration and French. “I enjoy working in an academic atmos- phere. It inspires you to continue studying yourself.” Ismail left her native Uganda for Canada in 1969, a difficult move for most people, but easier for her due to the absence of a language barrier. “The language was in my favour, because English was the medium of instruction in Uganda,” she says. Languages and travel are among her interests; she once spent part of a summer in France on an intensive French course, and has travelled to East Africa twice, most recently last year with her husband. ON oF) NLS Perinatal Programmer Susan Hammond Ovttawa native Susan Hammond says she’s glad to be back in B.C. for the second time. The new Perinatal Programmer for Com- munity Programs & Services grew up in B.C., playing basketball and volleyball for Burnaby Central, before moving to Toronto with husband John. Fortunately, they were transferred back. “| love living in Vancouver. There is so much to do here in the city here, while in Toronto you’re always trying to leave town to do things,” says Hammond. Activities on the to- do list include a study diet of tennis, visits to Stanley Park with daughter Elizabeth, and cross-country and downhill skiing. She completed her B.Sc. in Nursing at UBC and worked in local hospitals before getting into adult education as a community health worker. She also teaches nursing courses at UBC. Her position at Douglas College is ideal since it allows her to com- bine teaching and nursing. “I really enjoy teaching,” Hammond says. Eventually, she plans to complete a Masters in Adult Education. ™ Therapeutic Recreation Instructor Barbara Yost Things have changed for the better in the field of therapeutic recreation, says Therapuetic Recreation Instruc- tor Barbara Yost. “One of my first jobs was in a hospital where all they offered people was bingo,” says Yost. “Now attitudes have changed. People realize how important therapeutic recreation can be to the self-esteem and recovery of patients.” Therapeutic recreation uses physical activity to assist patient recovery. Originally from Minnesota, Yost completed her Masters in Adaptive Physical Education at the U. of Oregon. As a PE teacher, she noted that opportunities for children who are obese or have physical or learn- ing disabilities were limited. “It’s been gratifying because over the past 20 years we have changed public attitudes about fitness and sports, the whole participation thing, and we have also done this with special-needs people.” Yost enjoys trips to the Oregon Coast and spends about 15 week- ends each year at Monashee Chalet, an alpine recreation business she operates with husband Adolf, near Blue River. ™