The University of Alberta Faculty of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of a graduate of the Faculty (LL.B 1988), Ms. Shannon Gullberg, to the newly created position of Director of Academic and Cultural Support. Shannon will commence her responsibilities on March 6, 2013.
This position is an amalgam of the Director of Student Services and Director of Indigenous Student Services positions. The newly formed position of Director of Academic and Cultural Support will have a primary emphasis on academic support (academic support program, exchanges etc., some initial program counselling) and on cultural support (academic and personal support for aboriginal students). Some attention will also be paid to student support generally in the form of student counselling and referrals, liaison with student groups and supporting students in their varied activities. As conceived, the position is indeed challenging, but offers great possibilities, which the Faculty is more than confident that Shannon will handle with confidence.
The Faculty of Law is delighted that Shannon has decided to join the law school in this newly created position. As a graduate Shannon has a solid understanding of legal education and this will strengthen the Faculty's academic counselling efforts. As a practitioner in government and sole practice in the Northwest Territories for 23 years Shannon brings to her task extensive experience in cross cultural settings which will assist in the provision of academic and cultural support to our aboriginal students. She has strong contacts with the aboriginal community in the NWT and is sensitive to many of the issues confronting aboriginals generally. Altogether, Shannon's experience and knowledge will better position the Faculty of Law to provide a more comprehensive and coherent program of academic and cultural support.
Shannon Gullberg was raised primarily in Brooks, Alberta. In 1983 she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Medicine (with distinction) from the University of Alberta, and then practised as a Speech Pathologist for several years in rural Alberta and Edmonton. Shannon returned to the University of Alberta, obtaining her Bachelor of Laws degree in 1988. She immediately moved north to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where she worked in private practice for several years, before accepting a position as Legal Counsel with the Government of the Northwest Territories.
In 1995, Shannon opened her own practice. Her practice included being legal counsel to the Director of Child and Family Services, GNWT; counsel to the Public Guardian, GNWT; counsel to the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; and acting as a Staffing Appeals Officer for the GNWT. She has conducted many high level investigations for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and many Deputy Ministers. Shannon has also acted as Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, sat on the Human Rights Tribunal of the Northwest Territories, and taught law to Business Administration students at Aurora College in Yellowknife.
Shannon Gullberg has travelled throughout the North, giving her extensive experience in cross-cultural settings. Although she has enjoyed her experience in the North, Shannon has expressed that she is looking forward to the challenges of her new position as Director of Academic and Cultural Support at University of Alberta's Faculty of Law.