Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns was elected to the national Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) board of directors during the organization’s annual meeting in Quebec City last week.
Dr. Burns will sit as an Alberta representative on the 16-person board. CICan is the national and international voice of Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes and polytechnics, and Dr. Burns’ election will help advance Lethbridge College’s profile among the country’s post-secondary education community.
“I am so proud to represent Lethbridge College in this prestigious position,” says Dr. Burns. “The college is a leader in post-secondary education in Canada, fostered by the innovative, student-focused work of our incredible faculty and staff and our on-going commitment to cutting-edge applied research initiatives. I believe we can be a strong voice in helping to guide the direction of CICan in the coming years.”
Dr. Burns started as the eighth president and CEO in Lethbridge College history in February 2013 after previously serving as Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. In her time in Lethbridge, Dr. Burns has become an active member of the local community, and currently serves as the chair of Economic Development Lethbridge.
“Lethbridge College is an economic and educational driver, both in Lethbridge and across the country, where our graduates make an impact in a wide variety of fields every day,” says Dr. Burns. “This is another opportunity to remain actively engaged and showcase the work being done at the college to a national audience.”
As an organization, CICan advocates strategically at the national and international levels and supports its member institutions as they address challenges and opportunities in the post-secondary education sector.