A roundup of awards and achievements by Athabasca University faculty, staff, students, and alumni
At Athabasca University, we find inspiration in our students' journeys toward reaching their highest contribution so they can help transform the communities in which they live and serve.
We are equally proud of the work of our researchers, who are tackling important challenges in our communities and beyond, and of the efforts of all team members who support AU's mission.
Do you know a member of the 星空影视community who deserves a high five? 星空影视Accolades celebrates a learning community like no other! Submit an accolade!
April accolades!
- Featured 星空影视researchers making their highest contribution
- MacEwan University Distinguished Alumni Award goes to 星空影视MBA grad
- Three-Minute Thesis competition highlights research excellence
- Architecture prof to represent Canada to the world
- MBA grad to compete at WorldSkills
- Prof publishes new book on the Dead Sea Scrolls
- MBA alum selected chief operating officer of mining company
- Dr. Leslie Main Johnson named 2025 Distinguished Ethnobiologist
- Bachelor of Management grad qualifies for Freeride World Tour
- MBA alum named technology professional of the year
Featured 星空影视researchers making their highest contribution
Four 星空影视researchers like no other have been featured in the ongoing video series, Research with Reach, highlighting the depth and the impact of the important research happening in our community that aims to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.
These researchers are pushing boundaries of knowledge and discovery—and helping to realize AU’s highest contribution.
Learn more about Research with Reach.
MacEwan University Distinguished Alumni Award goes to 星空影视MBA grad
Pauline Smale (Master of Business Administration ’15) is the recipient of .
She is recognized for her dedication to advocating for children, youth, and families—work she currently does as CEO of the . She was also featured in the .
Three-Minute Thesis competition highlights research excellence
Congratulations to everyone who participated in AU’s 2025 3MT competition, held virtually on April 9.
James Davis (Master of Education program) won first place for his presentation about the gamification of learning, earning the right to represent 星空影视at the May 6 Western Regional 3MT, hosted by the University of Victoria.
Maria Rowena Rowando (Master of Education program) took second place for her presentation about leading the shift to blended learning, while Cheyenne Johns (Master of Counselling program) earned third place for her presentation about the unseen work of racialized graduate students.
Architecture prof to represent Canada to the world
Dr. Henry Tsang, associate professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology, will represent Canada at in Osaka, Japan, speaking on the theme of Future of Community Week in May.
He will join other international experts for two panel discussions: the Fireside Chat on Building Inclusive Spaces on May 15 and The Future of Community and Mobility discussion on May 16.
Tsang’s education and work span several continents, and he brings his own Asian heritage to bear in his design work.
MBA grad to compete at WorldSkills
Brandon Walker (Master of Business Administration ’24) has been selected as a expert for Team Canada at .
The WorldSkills competition is an international event that takes place every two years, showcasing skilled trades and vocational training. The 2026 event will take place in Shanghai, China.
Prof publishes new book on the Dead Sea Scrolls
, a professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, has published a new book about the —a topic he has researched for most of his career.
introduces readers to the topic, corrects common misunderstandings about the scrolls, highlights some overlooked issues, and debunks some popular myths and conspiracies.
Perrin’s work in this area is internationally recognized, earning him awards and honours, including the , and the Norman E. Wagner Prize for Innovative Use of Technology in Research.
MBA alum selected chief operating officer of mining company
Paul Chawrun (Master of Business Administration ’06) has been selected as . He will bring more than 30 years of mining industry experience, including gold mine development, operations, and leadership.
Dr. Leslie Main Johnson named 2025 Distinguished Ethnobiologist
The Society of Ethnobiology has named professor emerita the in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the fields of ethnobiology, ethnobotany, Indigenous rights, and material anthropology.
Nominators write in their letter that, “[Johnson] has dedicated over 40 years to advancing our understanding of the intricate relationships between humans and their environments, championing Indigenous knowledge systems, and transforming the way we approach and engage in community-based research.”
Established in 1977, this non-profit professional organization is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the relationships of plants and animals with human cultures worldwide.
Bachelor of Management grad qualifies for Freeride World Tour
(Bachelor of Management ’18) has qualified to compete in snowboard at the in Alaska.
She took a 10-year break from snowboarding to focus on her mental health, returning to the sport two years ago.
“I had an undeniable feeling that snowboarding was what I was meant to do again,” . “I’m so glad I listened to that gut feeling, and my heart.”
MBA alum named technology professional of the year
Roberta Wasylishen (Master of Business Administration ’12) has been named technology professional of the year by .
“To every woman working to build her space in STEM—especially in industries where our voices are still underrepresented—this one’s for you. Let’s keep leading, innovating, mentoring, and making space for the next generation. Let’s keep raising the bar!” .
March accolades!
- Indigenous health researcher appointed AU’s fifth Canada Research Chair
- Indigenous business program director earns accounting honour
- Researcher's paper among the 10 most cited
- MBA grad honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
- MBA grad receives King's pin
Indigenous health researcher appointed AU's fifth Canada Research Chair
has been appointed Canada Research Chair in Resurgent Methodologies for Indigenous Health.
Ray, who is Anishinaabe from Opwaaganasiniing (Red Rock Indian Band), joined 星空影视in 2024 as an associate professor in the Faculty of Health Disciplines.
Ray’s research program will address several significant gaps in Indigenous health research. Specifically, the implementation of Traditional Healing for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases, the inadequate engagement of health research with land and settler colonialism, and the urgent need for Indigenous-led governance and data management solutions.
Ray becomes AU’s fifth Canada Research Chair. The other chairs are Dr. Scott Ketcheson, Canada Research Chair in Hydrological Sustainability; Dr. Mickey Vallee, Canada Research Chair in Sound Studies; Dr. Terra Manca, Canada Research Chair in Regulation, Social Governance, and Inequities in Health; and Dr. Angela Workman-Stark, Canada Research Chair in Rights-Based Organizational Development.
Related: Lana Ray appointed Canada Research Chair in Resurgent Methodologies for Indigenous Health
Indigenous business program director earns accounting honour
Dr. Robert Andrews, assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Indigenous Business program in the Faculty of Business, has been named a .
The Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta awards fellows to members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and performance throughout their career and within their community.
Andrews was recognized for his efforts to increase Indigenous representation in business and accounting.
Researcher’s paper among the 10 most cited
’s paper, International Transactions in Operational Research, is among the top 10 most-cited papers published by the International Federation of Operational Research Societies in 2023.
Sigué is vice-dean of operations in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and a marketing professor in the Faculty of Business.
MBA grad honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
Angela Adsit (Master of Business Administration ’21) has received the prestigious for her advocacy for Indigenous rights within Indigenous territories and her passion for helping Indigenous People assert their right over their own land, communities, and resources.
Adsit is CEO of , a business development company in British Columbia that partners with First Nations to leverage their territorial rights and title while managing sustainable and profitable business ventures.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or who have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
MBA grad receives King’s pin
Shaukat Khan (Master of Business Administration ’15) has r from the Canada’s House of Commons. Khan is recognized for his commitment to building communities through organizations. That work includes , , , and .
Khan is currently a senior regional manager at .
February accolades!
- IRRODL marks 25 years of innovation in open and distributed learning
- MBA grad receives international impact award
- Science profs earn academic excellence awards
- MBA grad honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
- 星空影视faculty co-author second book on cities
- Arts grad publishes poetry chapbook
- MBA grad appointed CEO of Babcock Canada
- Computer science profs developing openly licensed textbooks
- DBA grad appointed to Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council
- MBA grad appointed board chair
- MBA grad publishes fifth book
IRRODL marks 25 years of innovation in open and distributed learning
Since 2000, AU’s (IRRODL) has been a global leader in open-access education. Celebrating 25 years, the journal continues to push boundaries in research, technology, and equity in education.
By providing free access to groundbreaking research, IRRODL has helped shape the conversation around online and distributed learning, supporting UNESCO’s goal of education for all.
Related: Read more about IRRODL’s impact and legacy
MBA grad receives international impact award
Claudette McGowan ( Master of Business Administration ’11) has received an International Impact Award by . McGowan is the CEO of , a cybersecurity software and services company. She founded the and empowers senior leaders to combat systemic racism within the innovation economy.
McGowan also co-launched the multi-million-dollar women focused angel fund as well as , a movement focused on increasing the participation, leadership and prosperity of women in technology.
Science profs earn academic excellence awards
Two science professors were awarded AU’s 2025 Academic Excellence Awards
Dr. Oscar Lin , professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems, received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision in recognition of his consistently high level of service to students, to his colleagues, team members, and his dedication to the university.
Dr. Junye Wang , also a professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems, received the President’s Award for Research and Scholarly Excellence, which recognizes his exceptional research and achievements enhancing AU’s stature as a comprehensive academic research university.
Related: Using AI to personalize learning
MBA grad honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
Curtis Stange (Master of Business Administration ’00) has received the prestigious . Stange is president and CEO of where he leads a team of 5,000 staff that serve over 830,000 clients and business owners.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or who have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Related: Athabasca University a career 'catalyst' for banking CEO
星空影视faculty co-author second book on cities
Two Faculty of Business professors have published an ebook, Dr. Terry Beckman, associate dean of research and accreditation, and Dr. Anshuman Khare collaborated on the work, which provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges modern cities face in the context of climate change and urban development.
This is the pair’s second book on cities. The first one was .
Arts grad publishes poetry chapbook
(Bachelor of Arts, English Major ’21) wrote and published , a poetry chapbook.
Writing in free verse, her poems are grounded in place—the forest and mountains, and the valleys of southern Alberta.
In addition to her poetry, Bentley wrote a young adult novel, Escape from the Wildfire.
MBA grad appointed CEO of Babcock Canada
Anthony March (Master of Business Administration ’18) has been appointed CEO of Babcock Canada. Babcock is an international defence, aerospace, and security company operating in the U.K., Australia, Canada, France and South Africa.
March joined Babcock Canada after 21 years of military service as naval technical officer. He began as director of engineering in 2018 and, in 2020 took on the role of vice-president engineering.
Computer science profs developing openly licensed textbooks
Two 星空影视computer science courses may soon have openly licensed textbooks after two professors earned support for their efforts to create open educational resources (OERs).
Both COMP 351 (Dr. Stella George) and COMP 369 (Dr. Harris Wang and academic expert Walter Ridgewell) will receive comprehensive publishing support for the development of openly licensed textbooks through AU’s OER Publishing Support Program. Completed OERs are released under the and listed in repositories for global access.
Learn more about the value of open educational resources with the
Alumn appointed to Alberta ag council
Ian Chitwood (Doctor of Business Administration ’24), has been appointed to . As a member of council, Chitwood will oversee agricultural marketing boards and commissions to ensure they are implementing best practices, provide policy advice to the minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, and administer legislation for the agricultural industry and government.
MBA grad appointed board chair
Terri Hinkley (Master of Business Administration ’05) has been appointed board chair of . Hinkley is the CEO of the , an organization based in the Washington, D.C. area. She has over 10 years of association management experience, having held executive positions in both individual membership associations and certification boards.
Grad publishes fifth book
Mike Mack (Master of Business Administration ’02) has published his fifth book titled, . Each chapter contains a selection of Mack’s favorite reflections from the past year. Weekend Wisdom is for leaders, teams, or individuals who have the desire to learn, grow, and better navigate and prepare for each week.
January accolades!
- MBA grad wins UBS Female Founder Award
- Associate professor part of groundbreaking anthology exploring queerness in psychoanalysis
- Doctor of Business Administration student receives prestigious award
- Dr. Karen Somerville honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
- MBA grad appointed president of prominent Canadian pharma association
- MBA grad appointed chief operating officer at BCfresh
- DBA grad awarded Aspiring Innovator of 2024
- MBA grad selected president and CEO of St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake
- Two-time 星空影视grad appointed director of economic revitalization at Mokwateh
- 星空影视grad selected chief executive officer of pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
MBA grad wins UBS Female Founder Award
Claudette McGowan (Master of Business Administration ’11) has won ’s Female Founder Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievements by female entrepreneurs in fintech and enterprise tech and is judged on their commitment to diversity, financial record, potential and leadership.
McGowan will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to take part in an exclusive accelerator training program, .
“Winning the Female Founder Award 2024 [will] amplify our mission to combat cyber vulnerabilities, as over 50% individuals online have been impacted by cyberattacks or scams. This recognition will fuel us to protect more businesses and individuals, fostering a safer digital world for all,” said McGowan.
Prof part of groundbreaking anthology exploring queerness in psychoanalysis
Dr. Tobias Wiggins, 星空影视associate professor of women’s and gender studies, has recently contributed to .
This collection includes contributions from queer and/or trans psychoanalytic scholars, analysts, and activists. Each chapter approaches queerness from a different angle and together is a call to accept and further the representation and inclusion of queer, and in particular trans, people within psychoanalysis.
Wiggins draws on his own personal and professional experiences and in his essay, Gird Your Loins! The Transgender Psychoanalysts are Coming!, he offers an unapologetic critique of the transphobia embedded in clinical psychoanalysis.
His broader research focuses on transgender mental health, queer and trans visual culture, clinical transphobia, accessible community-based wellness, and psychoanalysis.
Doctor of Business Administration student receives prestigious award
Doctor of Business Administration student Karen McCarthy has received a 75th Anniversary of Confederation Medal from the . As a recipient of the prestigious award, McCarthy is recognized for her commitment and contributions to the community and strengthening identity and pride within the province.
Dr. Karen Somerville honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medal
Dr. Karen Somerville, an academic coach in the Faculty of Business, has received the for the work she has done with (CPBH), a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to healthy, safe, durable, energy-efficient housing for Canadians.
Awarded in the U.K., Australia, and Canada, the medals have been presented to select members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the public service, and individuals who made significant contributions to the country or achieved accomplishments that brought credit to Canada. This is the first time Canada has issued a commemorative medal to mark a coronation.
“I am so honoured to receive this recognition for the work CPBH has done, particularly during our 20th anniversary year,” said Somerville, the non-profit's co-founder.
MBA grad appointed president of prominent Canadian pharma association
Noella Dallaire (Master of Business Administration ’20) has been elected president of the Canada, the leading industry association supporting Canadian pharma and biopharma manufacturing communities. Dallaire served on the organization’s board for two years before beginning her new role.
MBA grad appointed chief operating officer at BCfresh
Steve Roosdahl (Master of Business Administration ’16) has been appointed chief executive officer of BCfresh, a grower-owned and operated company that works with over 70 family farms.
"The company's commitment to its grower-owners and focus on sustainable local agriculture align perfectly with my vision for the future of produce," said Roosdahl.
DBA grad awarded Aspiring Innovator of 2024
Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi (Doctor of Business Administration '15) has been awarded Aspiring Innovator of 2024 by (CILAR).
Golnaraghi is the founder and president of , a leading career accelerator in Canada that provides tailored programs by and for Black, Indigenous, and racialized women pursuing careers in business and STEM. Since 2019, the foundation has served more than 2,000 participants across its range of offerings including its signature Fellowship Circle program.
MBA grad selected president and CEO of St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake
Kelli-Ann Lemieux (Master of Business Administration ’19) has been selected president and chief executive officer of (SJGHEL). Lemieux joining SJGHEL from Health Sciences North, where she served as vice-president of surgical and clinical services and President of Sudbury Vascular Laboratory Ltd.
Two-time 星空影视grad appointed director of economic revitalization at Mokwateh
Jonathan Parenteau (Bachelor of Management ’18, Master of Business Administration ’24) has been appointed director of economic revitalization at . Mokwateh is an Indigenous-owned consulting agency that works with corporations, governments, and communities toward sustainability, equitable solutions, and shared prosperity. Parenteau is originally from the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement in northern Alberta and now calls Ottawa home.
星空影视grad selected chief executive officer of pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
Mauro Chies (Master of Business Administration ’08) has been selected chief executive officer of .
“I am honoured and excited to join a diverse team of experts who not only enable the right drug options to be offered to patients across Canada but also create value for our health system,” said Chies.
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