What’s your background in security?
My experience has not been limited to a single industry. I can claim that I have successfully applied my skills in both the private and public sector in addition to my experience in the post-secondary sector. The progression in my career has included an aspiration for more and different challenges, and I have grown with each of my experiences. I established my expertise in the management of security programs with the City of Edmonton and built upon that experience in the application of countless safety and security solutions for a national security integrator in many diverse business sectors. More recently, I have assisted several medium sized municipalities and a national museum in the initial development of their safety and security programming.
How long have you been at the U of L and what do you do here?
I am currently the executive director for Campus Safety — an appointment I have held since February, 2018 and one that provides me with rewarding challenges, and a daily sense of personal accomplishment. In this role, I collaborate regularly with other senior managers in the development of strategies for Security, Safety and Emergency and Risk Management programs for which I am directly responsible, and that significantly affect the experiences of our entire campus community.
What challenges has the pandemic brought for you and your team? What has been the biggest takeaway?
The pandemic has been a tremendous strain on all of us, but especially on the limited safety and security resources at the University. It has taught everyone very valuable lessons that will serve us well into the future, but I have personally learned how resilient my own team of dedicated professionals is. We have been buffeted by daily challenges that have bounced us from one crisis to the next, but we have always responded with enthusiasm and purpose.
Even through the exhaustion that we have all experienced, this pandemic has shown me how interconnected we all are, no matter what function we serve in the organization, and that we all share in the stresses and successes of the University.
Like everyone else, I hope that this pandemic will end soon; it has been the epic struggle of my career to date, but when it is over, I will always remember how we all drew together to solve the problems we encountered one by one.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
In my private life, you may see me de-stressing by tossing a Frisbee with my chocolate Lab, watching the Edmonton Oilers, or listening to ‘70s and ‘80s pop/rock music (no better era for music!!)