It is with great pleasure that I officially begin my term as the sixth president and vice-chancellor of MacEwan University. Returning to Edmonton from my time at The University of Winnipeg, I am excited to be on campus, to engage with, listen to, and learn from my new colleagues across the university and from our students.

As I orient myself to campus and begin to learn about our university’s culture, I hope to meet many of you, in-person or virtually, and hear about the work that you are doing, as well as your goals and ideas for the future of MacEwan. I will join the MacEwan Relaunch Strategy Team to support the ongoing work being done to reopen campus for the Fall 2020 term. I am committed to ensuring that our campus, students, staff, and faculty remain safe and supported as we move forward with our relaunch plans.

I look forward to meeting with the Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association and the MacEwan Staff Association in the coming weeks and hear their thoughts on how we can work together to support and recognize our staff and faculty as we move through a time of change in the post-secondary sector. Another priority for me will be to work with our student leaders and the Students’ Association of MacEwan University to continue to provide a quality student experience during these uncertain times. Building relationships and collaborative partnerships across campus and with our external stakeholders and partners will allow us to adapt to and thrive in this changing landscape as we seek new opportunities to best serve our students and community.

Along with managing the ongoing pandemic, our focus this fall will be on the development of the provincial government’s strategy for post-secondary education in Alberta entitled Alberta 2030: Transforming Post-Secondary Education. This strategy will set a vision for the sector and I will work closely with our leadership team and the Board of Governors to show that MacEwan, as an exceptional Undergraduate University, has a vital role to play in the development of the provincial vision and to build strength and resilience in Alberta’s post-secondary sector. As we adapt to changes in provincial public policy and funding, MacEwan will continue to focus on the success of our students and graduates who will be the next generation of leaders and community builders.

You can expect to see me on campus this summer and into the fall. Please do not hesitate to introduce yourself and say hello. I plan to share more information about my first weeks on campus and further thoughts on the work we can do together to clarify the vision for MacEwan and identify the path to get there.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Acting President John McGrath for leading the university through an extraordinarily challenging time as well as for his guidance and support throughout my transition. As a long-time member of the MacEwan community, his leadership has been invaluable to MacEwan, and I know that I would not be alone in saying that his efforts and service are very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Dr. Annette Trimbee

President and Vice-Chancellor