Flavour of the Month: London Fog Tea Latte
We asked Niki Glenning, LFS Alumni Relations Manager, for her favourite flavour for the winter months:
“My February flavour is the London Fog tea latte as it’s a warm and soothing drink perfect for this chilly season. Though its original creator remains highly elusive, it’s said that this drink is from Vancouver and combines Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and a hint of vanilla.”
How long have you worked in LFS and what is your role?
I joined LFS in 2011 as a Development Officer. This was my first job in Canada as I had immigrated to Vancouver from Liverpool, England just eight weeks earlier and joined the LFS Development and Alumni Relations (DAE) team, based in MacMillan for the start of the September 2011 school year. I was in that role for seven years, and then applied for my current role as LFS Alumni Relations Manager in 2018. My first day in this role was Spring Graduation, which is my favourite time of year on campus.
Part of my role is to collaborate with UBC Ceremonies and Events and alumniUBC in planning and delivering receptions and events that celebrate the new grads. Seeing alumni return to be Alumni Representatives on the Chan Centre stage — seeing how proud they are and congratulating new grads as they begin their journey, is one of the best parts of alumni relations, connecting students and alumni.
What is something that you are proud of that you have accomplished in your career?
I have been lucky to have had a varied career over the years, from dancer to fundraiser, from magician’s assistant to alumni relations. However, one of my proudest accomplishments in my career in alumni engagement is in the collaboration with LFS Student Services Team in the longest running mentorship program at UBC. Through this partnership we have been able to grow the number of participants this year to 361 with 76% of mentors returning – and many new mentors this year were student mentees. It is a perfect cycle of student to alumni and vice versa; our mentors and students inspire each other.
What is the highlight of working in LFS?
The people and pets! Every day, whether in-person or on Zoom, staff, faculty, students, alumni, and sometimes their pets, connect to either collaborate on a project, share their weekend stories, bring in potlucks or walk together in Walk for Joy challenge. LFS is the ‘friendly faculty’ and although I graduated with a Bachelor and a Master of Arts from Liverpool University, England, my special ‘alma mater’ is LFS!
Your Flavour of The Month is London Fog tea latte. Why is it your favourite?
A London Fog tea latte is a great pick-me-up during our winter months. The unique flavour is the bergamot of Earl Grey tea and I’ve heard it called a ‘hug in a mug’.
And finally, you have been with LFS and UBC coming on 13 years, do you have any items you’d like to add to your UBC bucket list?
UBC Vancouver campus is the most breathtaking place I’ve ever worked. Before I emigrated from England, I visited the Musuem of Anthropology and noticed the signage for different places on the UBC campus and wanted to visit more. Working and playing on campus, my bucket list has grown, but near the top is Nitobe Memorial Garden, the Pacific Museum of Earth, and another visit to the Greenheart Tree Walk.