When Sandy Vanderburgh left Alberta to broaden his academic experience on the West Coast in the early 1990s,
he kept open the option of a return to his native province.
A doctorate and a wealth of experience later, Vanderburgh has returned to Alberta as Lethbridge College’s dean of Applied Arts and Sciences. In his new position, he’ll be responsible for the college’s School of Environmental Sciences, a role he takes on with pride.
“It’s a critical time for the environment, with soaring oil prices, global warming, rising sea levels, carbon trading and more, there are issues that are not just going away,” says Vanderburgh. “We are putting pressure on ourselves in ways that never existed before. We need to find new ways to understand our planet. Continued population growth and urbanization places even greater pressure on our natural environments.
“Our programs are turning out graduates who respect our planet and its resources and habitats and who may be the very ones to develop the necessary solutions.”
Vanderburgh comes to Lethbridge, with his wife Tanya and two young children, from Douglas College in New Westminster where he was dean of science and technology. He earned his doctorate from Simon Fraser University in physical geography in 1993, and taught at University College of the Fraser Valley for 14 years, serving as head of the geography department.
Not a suit-and-tie academic, Vanderburgh has spent considerable time in the field, mapping the North Okanagan Valley’s water resources and studying the coasts of Oregon and southern Washington, employing technology in his research.
Vanderburgh says he chose Lethbridge College because of its emphasis on students and its determination to become a college of distinction by 2011.
“Placing a priority on students is something I believe in,” says Vanderburgh. “It’s why I’m committed to the college system. At Fraser Valley, students interacted with faculty and staff, just as they do at Lethbridge College.
“The college has also set some lofty goals in its vision to be a premier comprehensive institution. It has a strong reputation already with a good brand and visionary leadership, and it’s building on tradition.”
“They’ve set a goal to be recognized as a College of Distinction, and Environmental Sciences is one the distinguishing program areas that is key to achieving that vision. That’s something I want to be part of.”
