Class Notes

Catch up on classmates, housemates, faculty, and friends.

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Marking career and personal achievements, special milestones and the birth of future Queen's alumni - Class Notes helps you stay in touch with former classmates, housemates, and faculty.

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  • 1990s

    Dilhani Uswatte (née Jayamanne)

    – Artsci’96, Ed’97

    Winter 2022

    Dr. Dilhani Uswatte (née Jayamanne) was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to serve a three-year term on the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the country 91Ƭ ’s only ongoing, nationally representative assessment of student achievement. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Uswatte as the elementary school principal representative on the governing board,” said Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the governing board. “Dr. Uswatte 91Ƭ ’s distinguished record as a STEM teacher, principal, and mentor to fellow educators will strengthen the board 91Ƭ ’s efforts to ensure that The Nation 91Ƭ ’s Report Card informs educational recovery and acceleration efforts nationwide.” Uswatte brings more than two decades of experience working with students, families, and teachers to the position.

  • Andrew Rathbun leans against windows of an old warehouse, holding a saxophone to his chest.

    1990s

    Andrew Rathbun

    – Artsci’92

    Winter 2022

    Saxophonist, composer, and Queen 91Ƭ ’s grad Andrew Rathbun continues to build on his already substantial discography, having recently released two new projects: Semantics, a quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, and Nodes, a new venture that combines tenor-trio with live digital processing, introducing new sonic vistas and landscapes. Listen to  and .

  • Female with dark hair, smiles at the camera.

    1990s

    Laurie Petrou

    – BFA’99

    Winter 2022

    Dr. Laurie Petrou, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and fine art Queen 91Ƭ ’s grad, released her fourth book, Stargazer. The dark academia novel about fame, ambition, and friendship takes place in a fictional remote campus in Muskoka, Ont. Stargazer is in its third printing in the U.K. by publisher Verve Books and was optioned in Canada for a limited TV series by Nikki Ray Media.

  • 1990s

    Robert Gentile

    – Artsci’96

    Winter 2022

    Robert Gentile achieved the 25-year milestone as chief financial officer of the Ontario Liberal Party. Robert was appointed CFO at age 26 before Dalton McGuinty became premier and has seen multiple party leaders and governments come and go. He encourages all Queen 91Ƭ ’s alumni to get involved in the political system, regardless of political stripe, to help strengthen Canada 91Ƭ ’s democracy.

  • 1990s

    Sean Cable

    – Com’94

    Winter 2022

    Sean Cable was appointed chief accountant at Pricewaterhouse - Coopers LLP. He leads PwC Canada 91Ƭ ’s accounting consulting services group, providing technical advice on complex accounting and financial reporting matters.

  • 1980s

    Gordon Whittaker

    – Com’86

    Winter 2022

    After graduating from Queen 91Ƭ ’s, Gordon Whittaker travelled and worked in marketing before returning to complete an MBA at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Six years later, he and his bride moved to Halifax, after completing an eight-month back-packing honeymoon adventure. Soon after landing in Halifax, he was appointed executive director of the Atlantic Film Festival. He also managed an animation studio and was long-time regional director and feature film executive for Telefilm Canada. A six-year stint in real estate acquisition and development was followed by an appointment as the senior director of Side Door, a music platform startup. In June 2022, Gord joined Screen Nova Scotia to lead the organization 91Ƭ ’s film and television studio project – a more than $30-million initiative to build the first ever purpose-built sound stage for the province 91Ƭ ’s growing screen-based industry.