Massey University Alumni

30/08/2026

Seeing her mother watching proudly from the audience was the moment that meant the most to Itisha Bhadauria as she crossed the graduation stage.

Now graduating with a degree in Animal Science majoring in Genetics and Breeding, Itisha says the moment was made even more meaningful by sharing it with the people who supported her journey from the very beginning.

“My parents and brother sacrificed a lot to let me be here. They put in so much effort, time and emotional support into helping me through my degree, so it was really special that they got to share this moment with me,” she says.

“My partner was another major pillar of support. He was there for me through all the late-night assignments and daily pressures of university. I’m blessed to have so many people in my corner.”

Originally from India, Itisha chose Massey University because of its strong global reputation in veterinary and animal sciences.

“I knew Massey had world-class education, especially in veterinary science and animal science. And I knew New Zealand was a beautiful country. I wanted to come and see what it was all about while advancing my education as well,” she says.

Her passion for animals began at a very young age.

“I’ve always had an immense love for animals since I was about five years old. I always knew I wanted to build my career around helping animals, whether it be a cat or a cow. Just the thought that I might someday be making their lives better gets me out of bed in the morning.”

Not surprisingly, cats remain her favourite animal. “My favourite animal is a cat. I love cats,” she laughs.

Like many international students, Itisha says one of the biggest challenges during her studies was balancing university life with personal responsibilities while still making time to enjoy life outside study.

“Unexpected things can happen at the same time as university. You have to make sure you get all your work done while also having balance, enjoying yourself, exploring the country and doing your assignments. That was probably the most challenging part.”

Alongside the academic journey, Itisha says the friendships and connections she built at Massey became some of the most rewarding parts of university life.

“My favourite memory is meeting new people from all different walks of life through university. Massey has truly introduced me to people who will be lifelong friends.”

Although graduation marks a major milestone, Itisha is already looking ahead to the future. She is currently continuing her studies through a master’s programme and hopes to build a career in animal and cattle science research.

“Next is working on my thesis and hopefully building a career as a dairy scientist. I truly want to make a difference for the better in the dairy industry.”

Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

28/08/2026

Our latest alumni newsletter is now live! We’re excited to share stories, updates and opportunities to help you stay connected with Massey and our wider alumni community.

In this issue, you can:

* Find out more about Massey’s new strategy and what it means for our community.
* Meet inspiring College of Sciences alumni making a difference in New Zealand and around the world.
* Discover upcoming opportunities to connect, including the Golden Alumni Lunch and events in Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
* Join our October Webinar Series for three fascinating talks from expert speakers.
* Explore the latest publications from Massey University Press and be in to win.

We hope you enjoy the latest issue!

Read it here: https://alumnionline.massey.ac.nz/newsletters/alumni-2026-august

27/08/2026

26/08/2026

We loved seeing our alumni and friends come together across our three campuses to take part in our strategy launch last night, make new connections and catch up with familiar faces.

Centred on the theme of connecting people, place and possibility, the strategy reflects our distinctive strengths and commitment to advancing knowledge of the living systems that sustain New Zealand and the world.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter says the strategy builds on Massey’s 100-year history while positioning the university to become New Zealand’s most applied and connected tertiary institution.

“A key part of the strategy is ensuring that Massey becomes a place of lifelong learning – making it easier for graduates and alumni to return to the university whenever they have further education needs.”

24/08/2026

What does it take to help a region grow and thrive? For Massey alumna Tiffany Bower, it starts with being a “people-connector.”

As Industry Development Lead for the Digital Economy at Sunshine Coast Council, Tiffany brings founders, businesses and organisations together, drawing every day on the communication skills she developed through her postgraduate studies.

“My Postgraduate Diploma in Communication has given me a real breadth of skills and knowledge that I draw on nearly every day, in both work and personal life. In fact, I draw on the learning a lot more than I ever thought I would,” she says.

A lot of her current job involves building relationships, advocacy and stakeholder engagement. One of the aspects she enjoys most is working with local startup founders, understanding their goals and challenges, then connecting them with people and organisations that can help.

“In ‘innovation-industry’ speak, I’m often referred to as an ‘ecosystem enabler.’ I find great satisfaction in working out the levers to pull, lighting the pathway for someone and the long-lasting relationships that result.”

The skills she developed through her studies continue to underpin that work, particularly interpersonal communication, strategic public relations, advocacy, strategy development and stakeholder management.

“It’s proof that a strong grounding in communication theory and practice translates directly into real-world impact.”

Read more:

A ‘people-connector’ is how alumna Tiffany Bower describes her role helping businesses, industries and the wider Sunshine Coast region grow and thrive.

20/08/2026

Our alumni had a wonderful time reconnecting in Papua New Guinea! It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up, make new connections and celebrate our Massey community.

More Pacific events are coming soon! Join us in Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands to connect with fellow alumni.

Samoa
Monday 31 August 6pm-8pm
Upolu Room, Taumeasina Island Resort, Apia
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/massey-university-event-in-samoa-tickets-1996918795874

Tonga
Tuesday 1 September 6pm-8pm
Lave’itavake Lounge and Terrace, Nuku’alofa
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/massey-university-event-in-tonga-tickets-1997514374265

Cook Islands
Wednesday 2 September time 6pm-8pm
Nautlius Resort Restaurant, Nautilus Resort, Muri Beach, Rarotonga
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/massey-university-event-in-cook-islands-tickets-1998394559924

We look forward to seeing you there

19/08/2026

Fifty years, more than 3,000 graduates and countless lives changed.

For half a century, Massey University’s Bachelor of Social Work has prepared graduates for a profession built on compassion, advocacy and social justice.

This year, Massey is marking the programme’s golden anniversary alongside Aotearoa Social Workers’ Day, celebrating five decades of educating practitioners who are often described as the “human face of a caring society”.

Read more: https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/fifty-years-of-social-work-generations-of-impact/

17/08/2026

“Communication starts with listening.”

For Dr Angie Enoka, communication has always been about making sure people are heard. A media studies graduate, Angie has carried that belief from her early career in journalism through to her doctoral research and now into her role leading Māori and Pacific communications at the Ministry of Education.

Her journey began when she arrived in New Zealand from Samoa as a scholarship student in the late 1990s. Studying communication and journalism opened her eyes to the power of storytelling and the responsibility communicators have in shaping how communities are understood and represented.

After beginning her career in journalism, she returned to Massey for postgraduate study while working full time. Her research potential led her directly into a PhD examining how Pacific seasonal workers were portrayed in New Zealand print media.

Today, Angie leads Māori and Pacific Communications at the Ministry of Education, championing authentic representation, meaningful talanoa and community engagement built on trust.

Reflecting on her own journey, Angie says becoming the first Samoan fa’afafine (transgender woman) to graduate with a PhD in Media Studies from Massey is both an honour and a responsibility.

“Achievement is never a journey taken alone. I carry with me my family, my Samoan heritage, my fa’afafine identity and all those who supported me.”

Read more:

For Dr Angie Enoka, communication has always been about making sure people are heard. A media studies graduate of Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Dr Enoka has carried that belief from her early career in journalism through to her doctoral research and now into her role leading Māori and...

12/08/2026

Not every career path begins with a clear plan. After finishing her bachelor’s degree at Massey University and feeling unsure about her next step, Sophie Marsden took a chance on teaching.

Originally from Manawatū, Sophie attended the University of Otago before returning home to be closer to family and complete her bachelor’s degree at Massey University, where she now lives, teaches, and continues to build her future.

When reflecting on how she arrived at teaching, Sophie admits the path was not always clear.

“I remember, I was finishing my Bachelor’s, and I had no idea what to do. I didn’t want to do a theoretical Master’s at that point, and suddenly an ad popped up for teaching, and my mum’s a teacher, and so I was just like, why not give it a go?”

What began as a practical next step soon developed into a genuine passion as she pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (Primary).

“So I decided I’m primary. In the end, I really love school because you are kind of like a role model in each school. My mum’s a great role model. She teaches in high school, but you can always teach high school later on. But at the moment, my passion lies with teaching younger kids.”

Balancing study with full-time work was not always easy, but Sophie credits the people around her for helping her reach the finish line.

“My lecturers really pushed me through when I was getting to the end. I was working full-time while studying, and they went out of their way to make sure that I graduated and I got everything done ready to start my job.”

Now preparing for the next chapter of her teaching career, Sophie hopes her journey encourages others who may be considering study alongside work commitments.

“I think I was lucky in the fact that I got my full-time job, so I was teaching before I had my qualification, so that made it easier for me, but I think it’s also making sure that you make time for things outside of study. Study takes over a huge chunk of your life, and it’s not always going to be that way.”