Nov. 16, 2023
Meet the donors who are sparking positive change at UCalgary and the Snyder Institute
Matt and Tara Brister: 35+ years
From UCalgary, Matt and Tara Brister received the type of education that allowed them to thrive in the competitive energy sector. They appreciated the foothold their degrees provided — and never forgot it.
“UCalgary puts people in a pretty good relative position to succeed,” says Matt, BSc’81, who — with his wife, Tara, BSc’82 — was recently presented with an Arch Award recognizing alumni service to UCalgary. “(Coming out of the Department of Geology and Geophysics), I can say that we were well-equipped to compete very well.
“So, once we were able, it was natural for us to want to give back.”
The couple’s giving to UCalgary goes back more than 35 years, including sponsoring the construction of the Experimental Lung Suite at the Snyder Institute and setting up a professorship in geoscience.
Through Calgary Foundation, the philanthropists continue to support strategic initiatives such as the Snyder Institute’s Catalyst Fund for Innovative Research and the Live Cell Imaging Laboratory at the Cumming School of Medicine, and other priorities locally and internationally.