Dean of Students Leadership Team

Ravina Sanghera (she/her)

Vice-Provost and Dean of Students

Ravina Sanghera (PhD) is the Vice-Provost and Dean of Students and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Previously she served as Associate Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Student Services in the faculty, leading in areas of student mental health and wellness, access and accessibility, professional identity formation, student-faculty relationships and academic excellence. She is committed to fostering a meaningful, uplifting and personal student experience in which students flourish and impact the university community and beyond. She aims to position the Office of the Dean of Students as a leader in student affairs, an ally for the colleges and faculties and a hub of critical resources for the campus community.

Sandra Rein (she/her)

Associate Dean (Dean of Students)

Sandra Rein (PhD) has over 6 years of administrative experience, most recently as Associate Dean (Research) at University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus. She is a professor of Political Science and her teaching and leadership focus on experiential and community service-learning, study abroad and international relations. Since 2016, Sandra has held various positions at Augustana and has been recognized with the Betty Ostenrud Award and a Teaching Leadership award for her commitment to teaching excellence and to student support. Throughout her career Sandra has shown she is deeply invested in the success of students. In her role as Associate Dean (Dean of Students), she will support: academic success, undergraduate research and discovery learning, coordination of student care in urgent situations and implementation of student and academic initiatives that support the policy work in the Office of the Dean of Students.

Shana Dion (she/her)

Assistant Dean, First Nation, Métis and Inuit Students

tânisi nitotemtik. Shana Dion, nitisiyihkâson ekwa nehiyaw iskwew niya Kehewin Cree Nation ochi niya.

Hello, my friends. My name is Shana Dion and I am a Cree woman from Kehewin Cree Nation. It is important that I introduced myself in Cree because it grounds me in who I am, where I come from and who I am accountable to.

As Assistant Dean of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Students, Shana Dion is dedicated to supporting the development of institutional culture, space, systems and support that nurtures FNMI student success now and for the next seven generations yet to come. Previously she was the Director of First Peoples' House for over 9 years, nurturing relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities on and off campus. Prior to joining the U of A, she managed the National Addictions Awareness Week Campaign for 5 years with the Nechi Institute and traveled across Canada to promote healthy addictions-free lifestyles to First Nation communities. She believes the work of decolonization requires people that are willing to challenge policies and historical practices. At times it means breaking generational curses, institutional barriers, systemic racism, and micro and macro aggressions that are endemic within all of our institutions. This journey requires us all to be innovative, inspirational and impactful enough that the students generations from now feel the legacy of love we have left behind. She prays that she can soften the trails with her moccasins just a little bit more as her nehiyaw Ancestors gracefully did for her. 

Kevin Friese (he/him)

Assistant Dean, Student Health and Wellness

Kevin Friese’s (MEd) career has focused on a diverse set of commitments relating to students and student affairs taking him from student recruitment to student affairs and student health and wellness. With over twenty years of experience in the field of health and wellness, Kevin has the privilege of leading a multidisciplinary team of health professionals on campus who use a holistic health and wellness framework to support the well-being of students, their families, faculty, and staff. He has a passion for supporting the health and well-being of our campus with a vision of creating communities in which each person is empowered to flourish and achieve their full academic and life potential. Kevin completed his MEd at the University of Alberta in 2017 in the Higher Education Administration and Leadership program and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta. 

Laura Huxley (she/her)

Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, Care and Accountability

Laura Huxley (MA) has worked on campus supporting students since 2012 and has held several roles within Residence Services and the Office of the Dean of Students. Through her various roles on campus, Laura's work focuses on student leadership development, orientation and transition programs, student group programming, student conduct, crisis response and case management. Laura completed her MA at Royal Roads University in 2018 in the Higher Education Administration and Leadership program and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph. She is honoured to lead several teams who work tirelessly to support the student experience on campus both in and outside of the classroom. 

Dunsi Strohschein (she/her)

Assistant Dean, Community Wellness Supports

Dunsi Strohschein (PhD) leads the Community Wellness Supports unit and the Sexual Assault Centre, overseeing a multi-disciplinary team that includes psychological support and crisis management services for sexual or gender-based violence survivors, community well-being programs, education, and health promotion initiatives. She is also an adjunct professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. She has over 20 years of experience working in diverse corporate and academic environments. Through her experience in healthcare, public health, and the social services sector, she is deeply committed to advancing the health and well-being of communities by integrating community voices with evidence-based methodologies. Over the last two decades, her contributions span critical areas where she has driven impactful change and innovation in public health, healthcare, and the social services sector.

Sarah Wolgemuth (she/her)

Assistant Dean, Student Life

Sarah Wolgemuth (BKin, MEd) currently serves as the Director of Student Experience Strategy at the University of Alberta, where she leads the development and implementation of Igniting Purpose: The Student Experience Action Plan. With a distinguished career in Student Affairs, Sarah has held several key positions at the university, including Assistant Dean of Student Life in the Office of the Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Residences, and Director of Student Services and Admissions in the Faculty of Law. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology (honors) from Brock University and a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of Alberta. Passionate about enhancing student success, she is driven by a deep commitment to fostering positive, meaningful student experiences.

Note: Sarah is currently seconded to the Deputy Provost (Students and Enrolment) office as Project Lead of the Student Experience Action Plan.