CapU Blues sports info
Capilano University's 2025 Alumni Awards ceremony took place March 26 at the CapU Lonsdale campus and a former Blues volleyball player was among those celebrated at the event.
Dr. Susan Chang, one of the world's leading experts in neuro-oncology, received the Relevant Award which was one of five honours bestowed to alumni Wednesday.
The first step in Dr. Chang's academic journey began at Capilano College in the 1979-80 academic year, which also saw her don Blues colours and compete with the varsity women's volleyball team. Chang's teammates that year included Teresa Baxter, Caroline Felt, Sue Herman, Kathy Higgins, Michele Lazenby, Nance Loutit, Kelly Scoretz, Cindy Shore, Sherry Trigg, Sara Young, and Pat Wilks.
With no gymnasium or athletic facilities at the time at Capilano's North Vancouver campus, Blues teams trained and competed at Delbrook Community Centre. The Capilano women's volleyball side was coached by Joe Iacobellis, who would go on to become the Blues athletic director in 1991.
"Susan immigrated to Canada with her family from Trinidad where she learned to play volleyball on a cement court," Iacobellis recalled. "Because she was so coachable and bright she quickly learned... on our wood courts. Because of her height and reach Susan became an excellent blocker and hitter.
"She was also an excellent science student and was destined to do great things in her career. I am honoured to have coached her and we are all proud of her accomplishments."
After completing her science program at Capilano, Chang earned a bachelor of science degree from UBC. She got her medical degree at UBC in 1985 before going on to residencies and fellowships at hospitals in Regina and Toronto.
Currently, she is a professor of neurological surgery at the University of California-San Francisco's Weill Institute for Neurosciences.
