Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Magrath and I’m the only one in my family who didn’t attend the University of Lethbridge. After high school, I started pre-med at the University of Calgary but found that this path was not to my liking.
I switched programs and completed a BA with a major in archeology, a field I found fascinating. It was a considerable change in direction for me but it was a positive one. What interested me most was the conservation of artifacts after they were found.
I met my future husband, Doug, when I had a summer job with the Alberta government in Calgary and he, too, was working for the government. He referred to me jokingly as having been issued by the government. We married in 1988 and had two children and lived happily. However, with changing employment and personal situations, we decided to move back to southern Alberta.
Prior to joining ULethbridge, I worked with the Westwind School Division as an educational assistant in Magrath, where I assisted teachers and students from preschool to Grade 12, sometimes all in one day.
How long have you been at ULethbridge and what do you do here?
I became a Records Officer in the Office of the President in January 2008, when Dr. Bill Cade (LLD '12) was president. It was intimidating to come to the President's Office for my interview but Bill was one of the first to welcome me. At that time, I took care of Central Records, including records for the executive offices and contracts for all the facilities, as well as agreements with other universities, official minutes for the Board of Governors (BOG) and the General Faculties Council (GFC). At that time, all the records were paper. I also performed other duties as assigned that included reception and, at one point, being the admin support for the Board of Governors Speaker Series and the Women Scholars’ Speaker Series. In addition, I helped out with events like Board dinners and GFC receptions. I think I have only missed maybe three Chancellor's Dinners in all my years at the University.
Over the years, my role at the University evolved and expanded, which has taught me to be flexible to change. As my career at ULethbridge progressed, I filled the role of Records Administrator for a time, later becoming the Governance Assistant and ultimately Governance Officer.
As Governance Officer, I currently support the Board of Governors, GFC, and the GFC Academic Quality Assurance Committee. This role includes duties such as completing all the agendas and minutes and providing support for those groups. I also provide administrative support to Jodie Gallais, Director of the University Secretariat, and Martha Mathurin-Moe, Vice-Provost, Accessibility, Belonging, and Community, in a wide variety of their responsibilities.
In my 17 years here, I’ve always worked in the President’s Office area, but I’ve moved desks six times. I am now finishing out my days before I retire at the same desk that I started at in the file room. There have been three university presidents and several new buildings constructed on campus. During my tenure, I've worked through the transition from paper record-keeping to electronic records. I’ve enjoyed my time here. We have a great team in the Governance Office and I have been privileged to be the work mom to some of my younger colleagues! It’s been a great opportunity to learn and grow. I have met and got to work with some fantastic people. The University has seen some highs and lows, but we’ve always had a good team to get us through.
What's the best thing about your job?
One of the best things about my job here is the variety of challenges. From the beginning, every day offers something new. Also, my responsibilities around managing records gave me a great deal of insight into the function of the different departments within the University as I was required to examine many of the records the departments produced. Now, I’m fortunate enough that I get to know what’s going on with the Board, as well as the GFC. I am privileged to get to see both the academic and the business side of the operation and management of the University.
You're set to retire on April 15 — what are your plans?
I’m looking forward to a more relaxed pace. My husband and I plan to be able to go camping more this year. We’re going to spend some time in Vancouver with our daughter, who recently moved there. I’m looking forward to having more time for crafting and gardening, doing jigsaw puzzles and crocheting. My granddaughter, Sophia, will be able to spend more time with us. She is eager to learn how to sew! She wants me to make her some doll clothes, so I’ve got to dust off the sewing machine. And there’ll be lots of babysitting in our future, as my husband and I look forward to the arrival of a new grandbaby in June. I wish my colleagues at the University all the best. Please stay in touch!