Sheila LeBlanc appointed director, continuing education

As part of our ongoing efforts to build connections with the Calgary community and enhance teaching and learning, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Sheila LeBlanc as director, continuing education effective June 22, 2015.

Sheila joins the University of Calgary as a proven senior continuing education professional with a passion for lifelong learning. As director, corporate learning and continuing education at Grant MacEwan University, Sheila oversaw comprehensive continuing education programs, as well as customized contract training and business online program development and delivery. She previously worked as a consultant at the University of New York in Prague to help them acquire an international-quality accreditation for their business school — the first university in Central Europe to acquire this accreditation. Sheila has also worked at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Capilano University as an instructor and training developer. In addition to her extensive experience in post-secondary education, Sheila has been a management consultant specializing in talent and organizational development.

Sheila holds a doctor of business administration degree in higher education management from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, as well as a master of business administration in leadership and organizational change from Simon Fraser University and bachelor of administrative studies, business management and marketing from Thompson Rivers University. She has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and presented at a variety of conferences both nationally and internationally. Sheila is a highly-regarded teacher in the area of business management.

As director of continuing education, Sheila will be a member of the extended deans’ leadership team. She will work with all of the deans and vice-provosts on a collaborative model of continuing education that will help the University of Calgary achieve our Eyes High vision. Sheila will also be a champion for attracting and engaging a diverse student body.

I would like to thank the members of the advisory selection committee for their terrific work in bringing Sheila to the university: Jim Dewald, Florentine Strzelczyk, Lynn Taylor, Kevin McQuillan, Kurtis Kinnear, Lorna Prediger, Natasha Rajcevic, Ken Ruller, and Tam Pozzobon.

Additionally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Scott McLean who has led continuing education for the last decade. Scott has been an excellent leader of his community, and did a superb job of developing a solid foundation for continuing education at the university. We are thrilled that he will remain part of the university as a professor in sociology.

Please join me in thanking Scott for his service and in welcoming Sheila to the University of Calgary.

Dru Marshall
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)