I am pleased to announce the appointment of Cheryl Earle as associate vice-president (AVP), Financial Services. Cheryl has more than 20 years of financial management experience in both the public and private sector, most recently at the University of Alberta where she served as director of Finance and Administration for their ITS area for eight years. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant designations.

As AVP, Cheryl will be responsible for managing MacEwan’s core business processes, including operating and capital budgets, treasury and investment management, controllership, procurement and financial operations. She will collaborate with university leadership to prepare MacEwan’s operating and capital budgets and will work closely with faculties and business areas to provide sound financial operational support to ensure consistency across the university.

The AVP is the second-most senior financial role within the university and is responsible for inspiring and providing leadership to the areas that provide financial reporting, resource planning and procurement services to the university. The position reports directly to me, and I am looking forward to working closely with Cheryl to provide sound financial advice and guidance to the university.

The search was conducted by executive search firm Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada), owned and operated as Optimum Talent. As chair of the search committee, I would like to thank its members:  Helen Ngan-Paré, AVP Human Resources; Dr. Allan Gilliland, dean, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications; Mike Gallagher, director, Budget and Resource Planning; Kenway Yan, director, Financial Services; Khalaf Al-Jarrah, assistant professor, Department of Accounting and Finance; Dr. Kristine Peace, associate professor, Department of Psychology; Soraya Granados Abad, senior Advisor, Procurement and Contract Services; and Larissa Williams, VP Operations, Students’ Association of MacEwan University.

I would also like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Kenway Yan and Mike Gallagher, who stepped in as co-acting AVPs, Financial Services while still managing their own busy portfolios.

Cheryl’s first day at MacEwan will be July 12.

Sharilee Fossum
Vice-President, Finance and Administration & CFO