At the forefront of multiple student-experience enhancing initiatives in recent years, Kathleen Massey has been reappointed for a second five-year term as associate vice-president (students) by the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors.
“We’re excited that Kathleen will continue in her current role, a role that has intensified greatly throughout the pandemic situation,” says U of L Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Erasmus Okine. “Kathleen embodies the student-first focus of the University of Lethbridge and has been instrumental in enhancing student life on campus and recently off campus as well. Her recent work throughout the pandemic experience has been especially important as the University and its students have worked together to make the most of a very difficult situation.”
Over the course of her first term, Massey has overseen valuable initiatives such as the introduction of the MyExperience Transcript, a complement to the academic transcript designed to reflect a student’s curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular experiential learning opportunities; a revised campus-wide sexual violence policy; the development of online resources to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community; and co-hosting the University’s TEDxULeth 2020 event, among others.
“My objective at the University of Lethbridge is to do all I can, in collaboration with student leaders and others, to support students to achieve their goals, to help them develop a sense of purpose by providing meaningful opportunities for growth and development, and to remove barriers to their success,” says Massey.
These programs, among others, have led to increasingly strong enrolment numbers and student satisfaction. For Massey, it sets the stage for the future.
“In Student Affairs, we are focused on working with colleagues and students across the University to create new work-integrated learning opportunities for students, launch student leadership development programs, support the achievement of the University’s enrolment goals, design an inclusive student experience, and to refine our policies, practices, training, and services so they are even more student-focused,” she adds.
Massey came to the U of L in 2017 after holding previous positions at McGill University, University of Calgary, Centennial College and York University. She holds a Bachelor of Political Science from York University and a Master of Leadership from Royal Roads University. She is currently the President of the Groningen Declaration Network, a foundation based in the Netherlands. Her appointment begins July 1, 2022.