Athabasca University Board of Governors
Huntrods, Richard
Mr. Richard Huntrods is the Academic Coordinator and Undergraduate Program Director with the School of Computing and Information Systems. Dr. Huntrods has taught professionally at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the University of Calgary, and Athabasca University. He holds a Master of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Calgary.
Gould, Elena
Ms. Elena Gould is the Director of Education, Culture and Language with Athabasca Tribal Council. She was previously a Manager of Indigenous and Rural Relations with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and a Program Analyst with the First Nations Development Fund with Alberta Indigenous Relations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Native Students from the University of Alberta.
Hobal, Jackie
Ms. Jacqueline Hobal is an educator, administrator, and leader in public education. She is a classroom teacher, consultant, curriculum supervisor, school principal, and author. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta, she taught in the Faculty of Education. She is a long-serving volunteer with Rotary and has served as President of the Rotary Club of Athabasca and Edmonton West. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree and graduate degrees in Curriculum Development and Design and Curriculum Implementation from the University of Alberta.
Morrill, Roger
Dr. Roger Morrill practices dentistry in the town of Athabasca and operates a family grain farm. He is a former two-term mayor and previous town councillor with the Town of Athabasca. He is a past recipient of the Diamond Jubilee medal for his community service. He holds a Doctor of Dentistry degree and a Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) from the University of Alberta.
Nelson, Byron Warren
Mr. Bryon Warren Nelson is the Managing Partner with Inns Law. He serves as a member on the Alberta Fatalities Review Board, a director with Food Banks Alberta’s Provincial Board of Directors, and is a longtime volunteer with the Shriners Hospitals for Children. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary, and received his law degree with honours from the University of Wales, Cardiff. He was admitted to the board of the Law Society of Alberta in 1998.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Nelson is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Spagnolo, Larry
Mr. Larry Spagnolo is the Vice President and General Manager of Emerson Zedi Cloud SCADA Solutions. Prior to, he served as Chief Commercial Officer and President of Zedi US with Zedi Inc., and held several leadership positions with TELUS and Sony Canada. He is currently a board member of uDigit Systems and a former member of the Board of Governors of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s School of Business, MacEwan University, Rotman School of Management-University of Toronto, and York University, with studies in business and administration.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Spagnolo was directly appointed in August 2019 on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
de Bever, Leo
Mr. Leo de Bever is the Chairman of Nauticol Energy and the Chairman of Cachet Energy. He sits on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, is a fellow to the Mountain Pacific Group in Seattle, and is a Senior Fellow to C.D. Howe Institute. Mr. de Bever was previously the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Investment Management Company.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. de Bever is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Gnatiuk, Don
Mr. Don Gnatiuk recently retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Grande Prairie Regional College. He has served as a member, chair, and vice chair of numerous boards – including the Grande Prairie Airport Commission, Colleges and Institutes Canada, Greater Edmonton Foundation, Bredin Centre, and the Alberta Economic Development Authority. He is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, holds an MBA in Executive Management from Royal Roads University, and has a degree in Fire Science from the University of Cincinnati.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Gnatiuk is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Leckelt, Dan
Mr. Dan Leckelt is the Vice President of Data Center Solutions with Johnson Controls and Co-Chief Executive Officer with Lindan Equities Ltd. He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Leckelt is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Lovelace, Terry
Mr. Terry Lovelace is self employed as a Project/Construction Manager. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Project Management Professional, and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Alberta.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Lovelace is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Van Rooijen, Lori
Ms. Lori Van Rooijen is the President of Larkspur Group. She has held senior leadership positions at the University of Calgary, Athabasca University, and was Vice President of Engagement at the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly Alberta College of Art and Design). She currently serves as a Chair of the Glenbow Board of Governors, and previously was the Chair on the Southern and Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Board and YW Calgary Board. She has been a director on the boards of the Kelowna Art Gallery, Reynolds-Alberta Museum, and the Alberta Museums Association. Ms. Van Rooijen holds an M.L.I.S. from the University of Alberta, and a B.Ed. and a B.A. from Western University.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Van Rooijen is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Willier, Wilfred
Mr. Will Willier is a lawyer with Willier and Company, where he practices in Aboriginal law, business law, criminal law, family law, and civil litigation. He has previously been General Counsel for Enoch Cree Nation, as well as house counsel with Siksika Nation. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Augustana University College.
Competencies required for members of The Governors of Athabasca University include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Willier is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.
Arcilla, Monica
Ms. Monica Arcilla started working for Athabasca University in 2020 as a Senior Administrative Assistant, and she is currently the OneAU Project Lead. She previously worked as an Administrative Assistant with Alberta Health Services and as an Executive Assistant at the Canford Institute of Technology. Ms. Arcilla holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management degree from Grant MacEwan University and an Adult Education Certificate from the University of Calgary.
Kuzio, Brenda
Ms. Brenda Kuzio has been a sole practitioner lawyer practising almost exclusively in labour and employment law. She has taught in both models of teaching (academic expert with the Student Support Centre and Individualized Study Tutor) at Athabasca University since 2000. She serves on administrative tribunals in the capacity of a panel member on three-person boards, as well as a sole adjudicator, ombudsperson, or mediator. She served on the Alberta Human Services Appeal Panel and is currently a member of a 2nd Level Long Term Disability Income Appeal panel for the Government of Alberta and AUPE. She has volunteered on boards and for many years was involved in the founding of the community-based Alberta Avenue Initiative.
Bhasin, Sunny
Mr. Sunny Bhasin is currently a Doctoral Candidate of Business Administration at Athabasca University and currently serves as Chair of the Athabasca University Graduate Students’ Association. He is the Senior Manager of Enterprise Architecture and Strategy with Bell Canada. He previously served as a member with the National Advisory Council of the International Scholarship Foundation and is the former Chair of the Canada-India Business Council. Mr. Bhasin is a professional Engineer and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Engineering and in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta.
Ramirez, Diana
Ms. Diana Ramirez is a student enrolled in the Bachelor of Professional Arts with a Major in Human Services at Athabasca University. She currently serves as Vice President Finance and Administration of the Athabasca University Students Union. She is an undergraduate student majoring in human services at Athabasca University. Ms. Ramirez also volunteers as a community organizer for the Latin American community. She works closely with migrant workers with precarious status and their families. Advocating for marginalized communities is a passion of hers that is driving her to pursue law school. Ms. Ramirez holds a Settlement Studies diploma from NorQuest College.
Cleveland-Innes, Martha
Dr. Martha Cleveland-Innes is a Professor of Open, Digital, and Distance Education at Athabasca University. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration, a Master of Arts degree in Sociology of Adult Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Calgary. She is Editor-in-Chief of the bilingual Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology and the co-author of open source publications “The Guide to Blended Learning,” “Participant Experience in an Inquiry-Based Massive Open Online Course,” and “Principles of Blended Learning.”
Dr. Cleveland-Innes served as a member of the Advisory Group for Digital Literacy with the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education from 2021 to 2022 and was the Virtual Educator in Residence at the National University of Singapore in fall 2022. Dr. Cleveland-Innes has also been a Visiting Professor of Pedagogy at Mid-Sweden University since 2018. July, 2024.
Lehmann, Jan
Ms. Jan Lehmann is the President of the Athabasca University Students’ Union for the 2024/25 academic year. She is a student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree program with a Major in Biological Sciences and a Minor in Psychology. She is a Registered Massage Therapist and the owner of Blessed Be Wellness & Beauty Inc. in Vegreville. She holds a diploma in Business Administration Management from Reeves College and a diploma in Massage Therapy from MaKami College. Nov 2024.