The World Isn’t Black and White

You received your MA in Sociology from our Department in 1975. Could you talk about some key lessons or skills gained during your Master’s degree, and how they might have helped prepare you for your upcoming position as Chancellor?

It was a different time, a wonderful time, when there was an emphasis on taking education just for the sake of learning. Looking back, that was a luxury. And so I was just able to study what I found interesting in areas like sociology and philosophy. I learned about not jumping to conclusions, looking at alternative points of view, and applying concepts to different situations. These are the skills that have served me the most, and that I think are important to the chancellor role. The world isn’t black and white.

I never would have anticipated being the chancellor of the university, if I ever had a game plan for my life. And that willingness to be very open to things is something that universities teach. When I finished my degree the chair of the department at the time suggested an internship with the provincial government, and I ended up staying in government for fifteen years doing policy work both in education and advanced education. So that was my first leap into the unknown, and it started with an internship.

So following on that, what do you wish the Alberta public knew, or understood, about the role of the social sciences and arts at the University?

It is so important to develop a person rather than just teach content. Because content is everywhere, and it’s relatively easy to learn and regurgitate. But the ability to analyze and apply that content to different situations and problems is in short supply. Those are the kinds of complex skills employers are actually looking for.

That pursuit of greater knowledge and understanding to unlock some of the world’s biggest problems is where fields like sociology come in. The university, and a focus on the research done there, allows a springboard for identifying problems and solutions, especially for complex, ongoing issues. And ultimately, it’s the pursuit of knowledge that makes us human.

You champion university-community relations. Why is this important to you, and maybe especially now, in times of both budget constraint and COVID-19?

The university is a special place, but it needs to get better at understand and listening to multiple communities and voices. In times of great challenge, those connections become all the more important. You know, I think the university is so well respected, but people just don't honestly know exactly what they respect about it. I don't think they know enough about how significant it is to the future of the province.

The silence after the first round of budget cuts was one trigger for me applying for this role. I was waiting for the loud advocates to stand up and say something. Why didn’t we hear from them? We need to get louder, so people understand the value of the university. And one can be loud in very positive ways!

So overall, I am both very attracted to the challenges of these times and overwhelmed by them. Over the next little while I’ll keep listening to lots of people--in the community, faculty, administration, and students. It’s so important to listen to students!

When you set up your University Senate office, what is one object you know you will put in it, and why? And when you complete your term as Chancellor, what do you hope to leave behind, at least figuratively?

The university has quite an astounding art collection, so I'd love to hang a painting. I love art. Maybe also a couple of my go-to books.

As for what I hope to leave behind? I hope it’s a deeper feeling of connection between universities and communities. A big university is a place that belongs to everyone. That sounds so big, but I think it has to be the aspiration.