fal 017 horizons - university of regina · 2021. 1. 11. · cheryl zankl kenneth levene naming gift...

PAUL J. HILL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

celebrates 10th Anniversary

HORIZONS

FALL 2017

ADVISORY BOARD TO THE DEAN

Terry L. AllenJolene AntonSamer AwadhMal BarberDave BarnardThomas BenjoeKaren Birss

Mark BorgaresMo BundonAndrew CartmellCadmus DelormeEric DillonJim Dundas Regan Exner

Cory FurmanTyler GroseJim GrundyRobert HaynesPaul J. HillRosanne Hill BlaisdellMichael Hoffort

Peter JacksonKyle JeworskiRichard KiesJohn D. LeeKenneth LeveneDerek LothianMike Marsh

Colin McAllisterScott McGillivrayBernadette McIntyreKim McKechneyDoug McKillopPaul McLellanSteve McLellan

Rachel MielkePrabha MitchellDave PettigrewDon PromhouseCollin PullarBev RobertsonJohn Salmond

Lorne SchnellVal SluthKaren SmithBlair SwystunPhil SymchychShelley ThielVictor T. Thomas

Rob VanderhooftPamela WallinCathy WarnerW. Brett WilsonAndy WolskeCheryl Zankl

Kenneth Levene

Naming Gift DonorKenneth LeveneGraduate Schoolof Business

ADVISORY BOARD TO THE DEAN

Cory Furman

PrincipalFurman IP Law &Strategy PC

Phil Symchych

President ofSymco & Co.ManagementConsultants

Murad Al-Katib(Chair)

President & CEOAGT Food andIngredients Inc.

Colin McAllister

President & CEO,PerspectManagementConsulting

James Welter

PresidentLevene AlumniAssociation

Terry L. Allen

PresidentPivotal CapitalAdvisory Group

Harold MacKay

CounselMacPherson Leslie &Tyerman LLP

Gina Grandy

Associate DeanResearch & GraduateKenneth LeveneGraduate School ofBusiness

Paul J. Hill

Chairman,President & CEOThe Hill Companies

Steve McLellan

CEO,SaskatchewanChamber ofCommerce

Prabha Mitchell

CEO of WomenEntrepreneurs ofSaskatchewan

Frank Hart (Chair)

President, ManagingDirector & Chief RiskOfficerGreystone ManagedInvestments Inc.

Pam Klein

PresidentPhoenix Group

Rick Hagglund

PresidentHill AlumniAssociation

Mo Bundon

Senior VicePresident & ChiefOperating OfficerHarvardDevelopments Inc.

Doug McNair

PresidentMcNair BusinessDevelopment Inc.

Brian Schumacher

Associate DeanUndergraduatePaul J. Hill School of Business

With students representing more than forty countries in our classrooms, the Hill School of Business is having a global impact. We offer a world class education withfaculty who publish in top tier journals and produce business cases used in more than fiftycountries worldwide. We provide undergraduate programs with a wide array of experientialopportunities for our students, leading to their repeated success in business school casecompetitions, and placement in leadership roles around the world.

The Levene Graduate School of Business is a growing destination for upwardly mobileindividuals looking for advanced training in management. We offer an MBA in executiveformat and specializations in Public Safety Management, Engineering Management, andInternational Business along with graduate degrees in Leadership and Human ResourceManagement. With international travel included in all MBA programs, our students seethe world before they change it.

The Hill and Levene programs are supported by a vast network of relationships,which extends around the world. The composition of Leaders Council and our twoAdvisory Boards are world class and a reflection of the vast knowledge andexperience within our global reach.

levene.uregina.cahill.uregina.ca

Jolene Anton

Leaders CouncilPresidentPartner, KPMG LLP

Valerie Sluth

Owner, Managing Principal, Praxis Consulting

Mark Borgares

Leaders CouncilVice PresidentSenior VicePresident, Celero Solutions

Kelly-AnnMcLeod

Senior Liaison toLeaders CouncilFaculty ofBusinessAdministration

John D. Lee

Leaders CouncilDirectorPresident & CEO,EconomicDevelopmentRegina Inc.

David Senkow

Acting DeanHill & LeveneSchools of Business

LEADERS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

LEADERS COUNCIL MEMBERS

Join students from around the world and expand your horizons at the University of Regina. Our business programs prepare students to lead through critical reflection, personal connection,

and consideration for the global community.

E X P A N D

YOUR HORIZONS

To learn more about the business schools at the University of Regina, visit www.uregina.ca/business

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1HORIZONS Fall 2017

contentsDean’s Message 2Meet the Acting Dean 310th Anniversary of the Hill School 4Hill Student Profile – Mason Fedec 6Hill Advisor Profile – Evelyn McRae 7Hill Alumni – tentree 8Levene Alumna – Jessica Theriault 9Hill | Levene Dashboard 10Giving Back to the Profession 12Research Profile – Sean Tucker 13Introducing new Associate Deans 14Introducing new Program Leads 15Welcoming new Faculty Member 16Welcoming new Assistant Dean 17Recognizing Achievement 18Coming Events 20

16CREDITS

Editor:Kelly-Ann McLeod

Original Design & Layout:Bradbury Brand + Design Experts

Publisher:Hill | Levene Schools of Business

Production:University of Regina

ISSN 2371-0039 (Print)ISSN 2371-0047 (Online)

Cover photo caption: Dr. Paul J. Hill, naminggift donor of the Paul J. Hill School of Business

Cover photo courtesy of U of R Photography

2 HORIZONS Fall 2017

2007 was a year of change forthe Faculty of BusinessAdministration, driven by amajor donation from Dr. PaulHill and the naming of thePaul J. Hill School ofBusiness. In this issue ofHorizons we reflect on thepast ten years – the originalgoals of Dr. Hill’s donationand where we are today – andlooking to the future. Overthese ten years we have grownconsiderably as a school withenrollments at record levelsand numerous successesspanning our areas of activity– faculty and studentresearch, student academiccompetitions, and service toour communities.

2017 is also a year of changefor the Hill and LeveneSchools of Business. With thedeparture of Dr. AndrewGaudes after five years asDean, we have begun thesearch for our next Dean tolead us into the next decade.In the meantime I have thegreat honour of serving asActing Dean for the next yearand working with ourincredible staff and faculty tosustain our progress onachieving accreditation, takingthe next steps of our strategicplanning, and continuingdevelopment of our

undergraduate and graduateprograms.

The Dean’s Office welcomestwo new associate deans – Dr.Gina Grandy as AssociateDean, Research and GraduatePrograms and Dr. Saqib Khanas Associate Dean, Academic.I look forward to working withthem, along with BrianSchumacher, Associate Dean,Undergraduate. It’s essentialto have a strong team effort tomeet the challenges of thisperiod of change, and I have astrong team in Brian, Gina,and Saqib. However we can’tdo much on our own. We arefortunate to have experiencedand dedicated administrativeand advising staff who makeour job easier by keeping ourday-to-day operations ontrack. We are also fortunate tohave new Program Leads –Dr. Magdalena Cismaru(research) and RomulusCismaru (international) –joining Dr. Aldene MeisMason (indigenization) andDr. Adrian Pitariu(experiential). In this issue wehear from Gina, Saqib,Magda, and Romulus abouttheir plans and aspirations intheir new roles.

We have a new role in theKenneth Levene Graduate School of Business. Marci

Elliott has joined us asAssistant Dean. You can readabout Marci and her criticalrole in growing the LeveneSchool. We also introduce anew faculty member – JustinFeeney.

Teaching and learning,research and scholarship, andservice to our communitiesare the primary areas ofactivity of the Hill and LeveneSchools of Business. Thisissue includes examples of ouraccomplishments in each ofthese areas. Both Hill andLevene School graduates arefeatured with stories of theirsuccesses and impact alongwith a story about MasonFedec, current Hill studentand president of the HillBusiness Students’ Society.Another story features Dr.Sean Tucker’s research intoworkplace safety, in particularinvolving young workers. Inother stories Evelyn McRaeprovides insight into the roleof an academic advisor andher experiences serving thestudents of the Hill Schooland Dr. Morina Rennie’ssubstantial service to theaccounting profession isfeatured. Clearly theUniversity’s motto, “As OneWho Serves,” is viewed as more than just words and as areal call to action.

I know you will enjoy readingabout the Hill and LeveneSchools of Business in thisissue of Horizons – about ourgreat people, ouraccomplishments, andinteresting facts about us –and getting to know us better.

In my twenty-five years at theUniversity of Regina I haveseen the changes from theFaculty of Administration tothe Faculty of BusinessAdministration to the Hill andLevene Schools of Businesswith significant growth in sizeand reputation. As I near thetwilight of my career, I amproud to be part of thisincredible place. Our studentsand alumni, our staff andfaculty should be proud ofwhat we have become andwhat we can do. I lookforward to the coming yearand turning the controls overto the next Dean.

Our future is bright ….. “itgets better.”

David Senkow, PhD, CPA, CG A

Acting DeanHill and Levene Schoolsof Business

DEAN

’SMESSAG

E

U of R Photography

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3HORIZONS Fall 2017

When University of ReginaProvost Dr. Thomas Chasecame to see David Senkowafter Andrew Gaudes decidedto accept the position of Deanof the Goodman School ofBusiness at Brock University,Senkow thought Chaseintended to consult with himabout who might be a goodcandidate to serve as ActingDean for 2017-2018.

Instead, to Senkow’s surprise,“He was there to see if Iwould take on the role.”

Senkow said no. Afterteaching for 43 years,including a quarter of acentury at the U of R, he’dbeen thinking more abouttransitioning to retirement.“My mindset was, I’m easingout of this, not jumping in.”But the Provost waspersuasive. “He appealed to

my sense of, ‘It would be goodfor the Faculty.’” Senkowtalked to his wife, and toothers at the university, andsays the almost universalresponse was, “‘We thoughtyou’d be good for it, but wedidn’t think you’d want to doit.’”

Realizing he would have a lotof support, Senkow changedhis mind, and on July 1,became Acting Dean for aone-year term.

Senkow, who grew up inSelkirk, Manitoba, earned aBachelor of Commercedegree and MBA from theUniversity of Manitoba, then adoctorate from the Universityof Minnesota. He returned tothe University of Manitoba tobegin his teaching career,moving to the U of R in 1992.Nine years ago he becameAssociate Dean (Academic).

His teaching has focused onmanagement accounting andaccounting theory forundergrads, and in thegraduate programs, financialand management accountingfor managers.

Although the university willbe searching for a new Deanduring Senkow’s year, he’s not

formally part of that process.“My primary responsibility isto do the things a Dean needsto do so that the Facultycontinues to operate, toensure we maintain ourmomentum on a variety ofthings, including accreditationand the development of ourstrategic planning, to ensure asmooth transition fromAndrew to the next Dean.”

One focus will be helping thetwo new Associate Deans, Dr.Saqib Khan (Academic) andDr. Gina Grandy (Researchand Graduate Programs) filltheir roles.

Even though, throughworking closely with Gaudes,Senkow thinks he had as goodan idea of what is involved inthe role of Dean as anyonecould have, he finds, now thathe’s taken it on himself, thatbeing Dean is “kind of like asurprise every day.”

“Most everything thathappens in the Faculty comesout of or into this office,” heexplains. Then there’s theengagement with the Deans’Council, the University’sLeadership Team, LeadersCouncil, advisory boards,donors…the list goes on andon.

Of course, some surprises arepleasant, he notes: “My firstofficial event as Dean was togo to the Rider home openerin the new Mosaic Stadium, inPaul Hill’s suite.”

Senkow has “modestobjectives” for his term:mainly that the accreditationand strategic planning effortswill have moved forward andthe new Associate Deans willbe operating smoothly, so thatwhen the new Dean isappointed, “they’re notdealing with issues, but cancome in, get their bearings,and then move on to the nextphase for the school.”

He concludes, “Overall,looking back, I’d like to beable to say that I broughtstability: not in the sense thatnothing is changing, but thatwe’re in a good place.”

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

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DAVID SENKOWTAKES OVER AS ACTING DEAN

Dr. David Senkow, Acting Dean

I’D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAYTHAT I BROUGHT STABILITY:NOT IN THE SENSE THATNOTHING IS CHANGING, BUTTHAT WE’RE IN A GOODPLACE.“ ”

U of R Photography

When Paul and Carol Hillmade a gift of $10 million in2007 to the undergraduatebusiness school at theUniversity of Regina theystated their intent to help agood school move to being anoutstanding school. In arecent interview Paul Hillnoted proudly that teams ofstudents representing theschool are regularly placing inthe top three in business casecompetitions, an importantmeasure of how the schoolstacks up against its peers.

“The Hill School wonBusiness School of the Year in2017 at JDC West,” Hill says,referring to the annual three-day event that brings togetherteams of about 50 topstudents from 12 businessschools across western Canadafor an academic casecompetition. “Hill studentscan compete with those fromany business school.”

Record student numbers,success in businesscompetitions, and greateropportunities for students andfaculty to expand their careerhorizons were some of themeasurables Paul Hillenvisioned when theUniversity of Reginaannounced the school naming

in November 2007. Hill, whois President and CEO of theHill Companies and HarvardDevelopments, had a specificvision in mind in how theinvestment would beportioned out.

“Paul is a big thinker,”observes Garnet Garven, whowas Dean of the Faculty ofBusiness Administration at thetime, and who worked withHill in organizing the gift. “Heknows that nothing happenswithout other parties beinginvolved, and he has thepatience and the commitmentto put the pieces together. Hewanted the school to be thebusiness school in westernCanada and beyond,” Garvensays.

At the time Hill was thinkingabout how he could supportprogramming at CampionCollege, the Jesuit-runaffiliated college at the U of R,encourage a closerrelationship between theRichard Ivey School ofBusiness (where he earned hisMBA and is currently a boardmember) at WesternUniversity in London,Ontario, and the businessschool at the U of R, for thebenefit of all three. Inparticular, Hill wanted to

encourage greater use of thebusiness case study method inthe U of R’s undergraduatebusiness program. Inconversations with Dr.Benjamin Fiore SJ atCampion, Dean CarolStephenson at Ivey, and DeanGarnet Garven at the U of RHill asked, “How can we pullall this together?” The resultof those conversations, andmany others, was aninvestment of $7 million toestablish the Paul J. HillSchool of Business; $2.5million for the developmentof a partnership with the IveySchool – including Hill-IveyScholarships of $40,000 tosupport an exchange of topstudents wishing to completetheir final two years at theIvey Business School; morethan $600,000 for the Pauland Carol Hill Scholarship inBusiness Ethics; and another$600,000 to Campion Collegeto establish the Paul and CarolHill Scholars in CatholicStudies.

David Senkow, who iscurrently acting Dean of theHill and Levene Schools ofBusiness, was involved in“putting flesh on the bones” ofthe agreement with Iveyfollowing the announcement.The developing partnership,

he says, definitely gave theHill School opportunities thatwould otherwise have beendifficult to take advantage of.Both Senkow and AndrewGaudes, who was Dean from2012 to June 2017, point tothe benefits of student andfaculty exchanges with Ivey,which is the top school inCanada and second only tothe Harvard Business Schoolin producing business casesused by students around theworld.


U of R Photography

Dr. Paul J. Hill, naming gift donor of the Paul J. Hill School of Business andPresident & CEO of the Hill Companies

1,544

HILL SCHOOLCELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARYBY: BILL ARMSTRONG

THE HILL SCHOOL HAS GROWN FROM

IN FALL 2007 TO 1,194 STUDENTS

HILL STUDENTSIN FALL 2017.

5HORIZONS Fall 2017

The exchanges includeopportunities for Hill facultyto attend one-week immersivevisits to Ivey to experiencethat school’s approach todelivering business cases andto collaborate with Iveyfaculty on case writing. Since2009 the partnership hasproduced 27 Hill-Ivey casesfocusing on western Canadianbusinesses, with more than37,000 copies being used inschools in 66 countries. Inaddition, Hill-IveyScholarships were establishedto enable students at the HillSchool to spend their final twoyears completing theirdegrees at Ivey–31 have beenawarded to date. While thetraffic so far has been fromHill to Ivey, Paul Hill hopesthat as the Hill School’sreputation increases, studentswill come the other way andlearn first-hand about westernCanada’s resource-basedeconomy.

During his time as Dean,Gaudes points to severalinitiatives designed to advancethe school’s brand, and tobuild its reputation. The HillSchool established an alumniassociation in 2012, creating agreater sense of communityamong graduates. Leaders

Council was established in2013, and an advisory board in2014, creating two-waychannels for members of thecommunity to learn moreabout the activities anddirection of the school, andfor the school to get the wordout about its achievements, hesays. To help create acollective identity Gaudes ledstaff and faculty in updatingtheir mission and visionstatements in 2013, anddeveloping a five-yearstrategic plan for the periodfrom 2016 to 2021. “The planis an important device incommunicating how theschool sees itself, and where itis going,” he explains. TheSchool also needs a strategicplan in order to be accreditedby EQUIS (a worldwide bodythat promotes high qualitymanagement education), headds.

University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. VianneTimmons says the tenthanniversary is an opportunetime to note that the supportof the Hill family has beencritical to the Faculty ofBusiness Administration andthe university as a whole. “Bylending his name anddedicating his time to the Paul J.

Hill School of Business, PaulHill continues to createopportunities for students andserve as a role model for thenext generation of businessand community leaders in theprovince.”

During the interview aboutthe tenth anniversary Hillmade it clear that it is amilestone, but not the end ofthe story. His vision hasevolved and taken on a newform, reflecting the changingworld of business. Digitizationand emerging technologies

associated with artificialintelligence will disrupt older business models and createnew opportunities, Hill says.

“The future is dynamic,exciting and uncertain; Ienvision a new, iconic businessschool building designed tofacilitate case teaching, createan agri-business centre, hostan entrepreneur start upbusiness incubator, and tofacilitate collaboration withthe business community,” Hillsays. “That is the next biginitiative.”

Designer’s rendering of a concept for a potential business school building.

Photo Courtesy of Kiriako Iatridis Photography

Carol and Paul Hill

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Mason Fedec had justreturned from a month inShanghai, China, when he satdown to talk about hisexperiences as a student of theHill School of Business. Heand eleven other students hadspent the month attendingclasses at the ShanghaiUniversity of Accounting andFinance, as part of the HillSchool’s Study Abroadprogram. At the time Fedecwas completing the third yearof his Bachelor of BusinessAdministration degree with amajor in Accounting. Initiallyit was a shock, he says, tocome from a country of 35million to a city with thatmany people, but anexperience he wouldrecommend to anyone.

“Being immersed in adifferent culture with adifferent language anddifferent food was a beneficialand awesome experience,” hesays.

Fedec is involved in severalother outside-the-classroomexperiences. He is one of 12students who sit on the boardof directors of the 70,000-member Canadian Associationof Business Students. Herepresents students on thesearch committee establishedto search for a new Dean forthe Hill and Levene Schools,and on the committeeworking to have the schoolaccredited with EQUIS, aninternational organization thatencourages improved businesseducation by assessing allaspects of business schools’activities. Fedec’s primary roleis to provide information toEQUIS about the quality ofstudent life on campus. And,he recently joined the HillSchool’s JDC West accountingteam, which will compete inthe 2018 JDC West BusinessCase Competition.

Earlier in 2017 Fedec waselected President of theschool’s Business Students

Society (BSS), after previouslyserving as the society’s VPFinance.

“The Hill BSS is like anumbrella organization overother student clubs andorganizations,” Fedecexplains. “I campaigned tosupport those organizationswith funding and resources sothey can host events thatboost the Hill School brand,and create networkingopportunities for students.”

His candidacy and electionmight never have happened,however. After completing hissecond year Fedec receivedthe $40,000 Hill-IveyScholarship, supporting himto complete his degree at theIvey School of Business atWestern University. After twoweeks he realized theexperience wasn’t what hethought it would be, and hearranged to return to the HillSchool. “I had the dream,”Fedec explains, “but what Iencountered wasn’t what I

thought it would be. I have noregrets about coming back.”

Participating in the nationalbusiness students associationhas enabled Fedec to networkwith others and learn fromthem, first-hand. Since beingelected he has attended aconference in Halifax with thepresidents of other businessstudent societies to learnmore about what to expect inthat role, and participated in aleadership retreat inLennoxville, Quebec. Soonafter returning from China heheaded to a nationalleadership conference hostedby Deloitte. He also took twoclasses over the summer. Life,he concedes, can be “quitehectic”. Once he graduates in2018 he hopes to work for anaccounting firm in Toronto orVancouver and earn his CPAdesignation. A return toschool for an MBA may befurther down the road, hehints.

MASON FEDECIMMERSED IN STUDENT LIFE

U of R Photography

BY: BILL ARMSTRONG

Mason Fedec, Hill BSS President

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7HORIZONS Fall 2017

U of R Photography

EVELYN MCRAE WATCHES OUT FOR HER KIDS

Evelyn McRae is one of thosepeople you figure would bedescribed as a “peopleperson” in their high schoolyearbook. And, it’s much morethan a cliché. McRae, who isan academic advisor forstudents in the Paul J. HillSchool of Business, regularlyrefers to “my students” and“the kids” in talking about thevarious jobs she has held atthe university. Appropriately,her 32-year career with the Uof R began working withstudents as a front line clerkin the business office, a workplacement while she wasstudying at the SaskatchewanTechnical Institute (nowSaskatchewan Polytechnic).During two reorganizationswithin the university she wasbumped from BusinessAdministration and HighSchool Liaison before landingin the CommunicationsOffice. Not for long, though.

“I missed the kids,” McRaesays, “so I applied for anopening in the Co-operativeEducation office.” McRaenotes proudly that the U of RCo-op program was the first ofits kind established in westernCanada, and it is a strong one.“Before my students areplaced in a work term, I tellthem. ‘You have a job when

you graduate if you work hardduring your work placement.’”

During her 17 years workingwith students in the Co-opprogram McRae noted thatthe job was changing. More ofthe contacts with students andemployers were taking placeonline, rather than face-to-face, and she wasn’t getting toknow the kids or employers asshe used to. In 2007 shemoved into her current job asacademic advisor with the HillSchool. Ironically, many of hertasks – promoting universityexperiences, determining Co-op eligibility and discussingcareer paths upon graduating– are areas where she drawsfrom her previous experience.

“I am very supportive of mystudents from start to finish,”McRae says. “When I meetmy first year business students

they are excited becauseuniversity is a new experience.My fourth and fifth years areequally excited as they arecompleting their degrees andentering the workforce.However, my second andthird years need a littlemotivation to keep focused onthe end result. They will befinished before they know it,”she says.

McRae’s responsibilitiesinclude monitoring students’academic progress, preparingthe Dean’s Honour List ofstudents, and providinginformation and advice tostudents in the Bachelor ofBusiness Administration(BBA), Diploma, Excellence,Hill-Ivey, and Co-operativeEducation programs. Forexample, students in the BBAprogram may need one-to-onecounseling to select requiredcourses for any of sevenoptional majors they canchoose from. “While it’s anautomated system,understanding the timing andavailability of classes theyneed can be overwhelming,”she explains.

McRae also prepares Hill-IveyScholarship recipients for theexperience of moving tocomplete their degrees at

another school. (Studentsselected for the Hill-IveyScholarship spend their firsttwo years at the Hill Schooland receive $40,000 tocomplete their degree at theIvey School of Business atWestern University.) Sheensures they take the correctclasses to complete therequirements of a Diploma inBusiness Administration fromthe Hill School, and alsoencourages them to “comeback home” when theygraduate, and considerthemselves alumni of bothuniversities.

McRae notes she is at thestage in her career where herwork is coming full circle:“I’m starting to see some ofmy students’ kids.”

BY: BILL ARMSTRONG

I AM VERY SUPPORTIVEOF MY STUDENTS FROMSTART TO FINISH.“ ”

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Evelyn McRae, Academic Advisor at the Hill School of Business


The idea behind the tentreelifestyle apparel company isbrilliantly simple: for everyitem purchased, tentree plants10 trees.

To date, that approach hasseen more than 15 milliontrees planted in 12 countries.And tentree’s long-term goal iseven more ambitious: to plantone billion trees by 2030, andbecome the mostenvironmentally progressivebrand on the planet.

It all started right here inRegina, through the efforts ofthree Regina-born-and-raisedalumni of the Paul J. HillSchool of Business: DavidLuba (BBA ’14), and brothersKalen (Diploma ’09) andDerrick Emsley (who did hisfirst two years of business atthe Hill School).

“We came up with the ideawhen I was on a studentexchange with the Universityof Manoa in Honolulu,” Lubaexplains. “Kalen came to visit,and we spent a couple ofweeks doing all sorts ofoutdoor activities.” They notedhow many trees were being cutdown for new resorts. “We gotto thinking, ‘Nothing out there

gives the consumer theopportunity to give back to theenvironment.’”

Another inspiration: during ahike, the two met some girlswearing shoes by TOMS,which gives a pair to a child inneed for every pair sold. Davidcalls that “tangibility.” Anotherexample is United by Blue,which takes one pound of trashout of the ocean for every itempurchased. “It’s hard toimagine the benefits of a basicorganic item, but when youmake it tangible, it becomesmuch more real.”

Focusing their company ontree-planting came naturally,because Kalen and Derrickhad run a carbon-offsettingcompany (planting trees for oilcompanies) while attendingLuther College High School.Derrick, now the CEO,brought an investment bankingbackground to tentree. “Weneeded a real leader to help usgrow the business,” Luba says.“He was the perfect partner.”

Today, just five years after itsfounding, tentree is “growingexponentially,” David says. Itcurrently employs 25 people inthe Vancouver and Regina

offices, and another 16 salesrepresentatives workingaround North America.

“We have four pillars,” Davidexplains. “The first is trees: nomatter what, 10 trees areplanted for every itempurchased. The second ismanufacturing: everything ismanufactured responsibly. Thethird is communities: we wantto make sure the communitieswe are planting with are betteroff. The fourth is ecosystems:we want to make sure the treeshelp out the local ecosystems.Everything we do, we focus onmaking those pillars stronger.”

Derrick and Kalen bothreceived the Hill-IveyScholarship, which providesfunds for Hill students tospend their third and fourthyears at the Richard IveySchool of Business at theUniversity of Western Ontario.The brothers credit thescholarship with providing a“gateway to Toronto,” as wellas giving them the opportunityto experience other industriesand study with “amazingprofs.”

But equally important weretheir studies in Regina, where

they learned the basics ofbusiness—bettercommunication skills—andmost importantly, became partof the local businesscommunity, which madestarting a business here an“amazing” experience.

“The professors were sosupportive, and our friendsand family were supportive,”David says. “It could neverhave had the success it had ifwe hadn’t started it in Regina.”

To current students, thetentree trio offers this advice:“Think outside the box when itcomes time to determine whatpath you’ll take. Dive into yourcareer with abandon. Don’tthink of it as a job.”

And, most importantly, “Becurious!”

TENTREE FOUNDERS: HILL ALUMNIBY: EDWARD WILLETT

HILLALUMNI PROFILE

Photo Courtesy of tentree

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Kalen Emsley, David Luba and Derrick Emsley during theirDragons’ Den pitch in 2012. The trio landed a deal for tentreewith Arlene Dickinson and Bruce Croxon on the show

Jessica Theriault, P.Eng., thefirst woman to chair the boardof the Saskatchewan MiningAssociation (SMA), hadalready served in a director’srole at Mosaic for several yearsbefore she decided to take thenext step in her formaleducation, enrolling in theExecutive MBA program atthe Kenneth Levene GraduateSchool of Business, fromwhich she graduated in 2015.

Her personal goal? To becomea better strategic leader. “I waspersonally and professionallyready for the MBAexperience. It was definitelythe next challenge at the timethat I was looking for.”

Theriault chose the LeveneSchool for several reasons. Sheknew other graduates from

Mosaic, she knew she couldwork full-time while she tookthe program, and, mostimportantly, the school offeredher a face-to-face educationright here in Saskatchewan. “Ididn’t want a distanceeducation program,” she says.“I knew I wouldn’t be aseffective in that kind oflearning environment.”

She has represented Mosaicon a number of industryassociation environmentalcommittees, not only with theSaskatchewan MiningAssociation, but also theSaskatchewan PotashProducers Association,Fertilizer Canada, and theSaskatchewan Chamber ofCommerce.

While Theriault says she washonored to be elected the firstwoman chair of the SMABoard in March, she hastensto point out that the SMA hashad an “amazing” femaleleader for several years:President Pam Schwann.“She’s well-respected in themining industry and known asan industry expert throughoutthe provincial and federalgovernments.”

The Saskatchewan miningindustry is working hard toincrease women’s participationin the industry, not only in thetrades, but in leadershippositions, Theriault notes.Mosaic is ahead of theindustry as a whole. Whereasin Saskatchewan only about 14per cent of the industry workforce is made up of women,women make up 24 per centof the workforce at Mosaic,and fill approximately 27 percent of the engineering, EHS(environment, health, andsafety) and technical roles.

Theriault says her ExecutiveMBA from Levene providedher with expanded strategicleadership and managementskills, improvedcommunication skills, a morein-depth understanding of thebusiness world, and valuableaccounting and financial skills.

As well, she says, “It providedan opportunity for personalgrowth in a supportivelearning environment, withaccess to leading andaccomplished educators in alocal Saskatchewan classroomsetting.”

Of equal importance were theconnections made, to

professors, educators, and,most of all, the other membersof her cohort.

“Our MBA cohort was put intothe same situation andtogether had so much incommon, juggling demandingcareers and continuing oureducation at the same time,”she says. “The experience iswhat really binds us together,and that support continuesbeyond the MBA program. Imet a talented group ofincredible individuals andmade memories andfriendships that will last alifetime.”

She concludes, “It’s anexperience I will never forgetand definitely recommend toothers.”

9HORIZONS Fall 2017

U of R Photography

Jessica Theriault (MBA ’15), Director of Environmental Affairs forthe Mosaic Potash Business Unit

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

LEVENEALUMNIPROFILE

JESSICATHERIAULT: LEVENE ALUMNA

IT’S AN EXPERIENCE I WILLNEVER FORGET ANDDEFINITELY RECOMMEND TOOTHERS.“ ” H

The Hill School provides Excellence Scholarships to students with a high school average of 85% or higher. In Fall 2017, 126 students received this $1,000 scholarship.

126Students

NEWLY REGISTERED HILL STUDENTS50% from Regina

25% from elsewhere in Saskatchewan

3% from elsewhere in Canada

22% international

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EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIPSTotal Active Students

FALL 2013 FALL 2014 FALL 2015 FALL 2016 FALL 2017

1,489 1,433 1,482 1,536 1,544

New Registrations

FALL 2013 FALL 2014 FALL 2015 FALL 2016 FALL 2017

396 427 428 501 488

REGISTERED HILL BUSINESS STUDENTS

In Fall 2017 the Hill School of Business registered 289 international students into our programs, from 36 countries.

GPA OF BBAwas the average GPA of Bachelor of BusinessAdministration graduates for Spring 2017 convocation.Of those:

Earned Great Distinction(over 85% PGPA)

Earned Distinction(over 80% PGPA)

11 32

75.24%


THE HILL SCHOOL WELCOMES MANY VISITING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HERE ON EXCHANGE:

47 students from 17 countries 2016

45 students from 16 countries



January 2017 to date

2015

2014

THE HILL SCHOOL SENDS MANY STUDENTS OUT ON INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AND STUDY TOURS:

44 students to 7 countries2016

34 students to 6 countriesJanuary 2017 to date

28 students to 8 countries

2015

35 students to 5 countries2014

LEVENE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

$80,000Over $80,000 in scholarshipsare available to Levene students.

Across all Levene Graduate Programs for Fall 2017

62% FEMALES38% MALESAcross all Levene Graduate Programs for Fall 2017

RECOMMEND TO A FRIEND100% of respondents would recommend the Levene Graduate School of Business to a friend.

Based on a survey of graduating students in June 2017*

E

On average, students in the Levene Executive MBA have 14 years of experience.

2017On average, students across all Levene Graduate Programs (Levene MBA, MAdmin Leadership, MHRM, Masters Certificates) have 6 years of experience.

11HORIZONS Fall 2017


Professionals, from doctorsand engineers to lawyers andaccountants, often speak of“giving back to the profession.”

Dr. Morina Rennie, professorof accounting in the Faculty ofBusiness Administration, hasbeen able to give back morethan most through hervolunteer work with theChartered ProfessionalAccountants of Canada (CPACanada) and as a member ofthe Audit Committee of theProvince of Saskatchewan.

Born and raised in Moose Jaw,Rennie has an accountingdiploma from SIAST (nowSaskatchewan Polytechnic), aBachelor of Commerce and anM.Sc. in Accounting from theUniversity of Saskatchewan,and a Ph.D. from theUniversity of Alberta. Sheobtained her CertifiedManagement Accountant(CMA) and CharteredAccountant (CA) designationswhile employed at the publicaccounting firm, Peat,Marwick, Mitchell (nowKPMG). The CMA and CAwere separate designations atthe time, but unified in 2012,along with the CertifiedGeneral Accountants, underthe banner of the CharteredProfessional Accountants ofCanada (CPA Canada).

At the University of Reginashe’s now taught accountingfor some 30 years. Herresearch interests haveincluded the history of thepublic accounts of Canada, taxcompliance, public-privatepartnerships, and auditor-client relationships, and it washer research that led to herfirst opportunity to serve herprofession at the national level:she was appointed to theAuditing and AssuranceStandards Board (AASB), theboard that develops auditingstandards that Canadianauditors are required to followwhen performing financialstatement audits.

There are three such standardsetting boards in Canada. Theother two set standards for thepreparation of financialstatements in the private sectorand the public sector, and afew years after serving on theAASB, Rennie was invited tojoin the Public SectorAccounting Board (PSAB).

Serving on that board hashelped with her currentresearch into PSAB’sorigination and importance.She also found it interestingand inspiring to work with theother members of thestandards-setting boards, amixture of private and public-

sector accountants. “Theircareers are incrediblydemanding, and yet they’retaking many days away fromtheir work to serve theprofession for nocompensation.”

Most recently, Rennie hasbeen appointed to CPACanada’s competency mapcommittee. A competencymap, she explains, depicts “allthe knowledge that a personneeds to become a CPA, thecompetencies they need toacquire.”

Before the CharteredAccountants, CharteredManagement Accountants, andCertified General Accountantsunited, each profession had itsown map. The unifiedcompetency map developedafter the unification is nowundergoing a major revision.“It’s a very interesting process,”Rennie comments. “We’rehaving to decide what qualitiesare important, what knowledgeis important for a professionalaccountant to have, and howwe convey that information.It’s quite challenging.” Rennie is also one of theprovincial representatives whoannually review the finalcompetency examination forstudents seeking to become aChartered Professional

Accountant. In a four-daysession, “we give feedback onwhether the exam is accurateand fair,” she says.

Shelley Thiel, the CEO of CPASaskatchewan appreciates thetime Morina has dedicated tothe CPA profession saying,“Morina's contributions havebeen extensive, particularlyrelated to education andstandard setting - she has had asignificant impact on theprofession and we appreciateher knowledge andenthusiasm.”

In March, Rennie wasappointed to the AuditCommittee for the Province ofSaskatchewan, which assiststhe Standing Committee onPublic Accounts, the ProvincialAuditor, the Minister ofFinance, the MinisterResponsible for CrownCorporations, or the StandingCommittee on Crown andCentral Agencies as requested.

“I’ve been very lucky to havesome very interestingopportunities to contribute tothe profession,” Rennie notes.

She adds, “I’ve learned a lot.”

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

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GIVING BACKTO THE PROFESSION OF ACCOUNTING: MORINA RENNIE

Dr. Morina Rennie, Professor (Accounting)

U of R Photography


Dr. Sean Tucker’s researchinterest in occupational healthand safety is both professionaland personal. When he was ayoung, inexperienced workerhe had what he describes as aformative experience in hislife: while working onscaffolding four levels aboveground, a plank he wasstanding on gave way. As theplank fell he was able to graban exposed beam and swinghimself onto another plank,averting a serious injury.

It’s no surprise, then, thatTucker, an associate professorin the Faculty of BusinessAdministration, is involved inresearch projects focusing onimproving safety for workers.Those projects, Tuckeremphasizes, involvecollaborating with WorkSafeSaskatchewan (a partnership ofthe Workers Compensation

Board and the provincialMinistry of Labour Relationsand Workplace Safety),employers, the SaskatchewanFederation of Labour, SafeSaskatchewan and a number ofsafety associations. Several ofthe projects are organizedthrough the Centre forManagement Development(CMD) in the Faculty, whichoffers business-consultingservices and conducts researchfor clients, while also providingshort-term, practical workexperience for students, andopportunities for faculty toapply their expertise to helpbusinesses and organizationssolve problems and grow.

Through the CMD Tuckerconducts an annual survey onsafety culture for the 620organizations that have signedthe Saskatchewan Health andSafety Leadership Charter, andprovides survey support for theSafe Saskatchewan Mission:Zero Awards. He credits thesuccess of these projects to thesupport of student researchassistants. He also notes that,“our current occupationalhealth and safety work isdriven by needs in theprovince; so our projects areaddressing real challenges,”says Tucker.

One such research project,funded by the SaskatchewanWorkers Compensation Board(WCB), was the first to gatherhard data to test if and howCEOs influence injuriesamong front-line workers.Tucker teamed up with DayleEhr (BBA ’14, U of R) and Dr.Tunde Ogunforowora,University of Calgary, to gatherdata from 2,700 employees,1,400 supervisors and 229 topmanagers in 54 public andprivate sector organizations todetermine what influenceCEOs have on safety. Thestudy found that CEOs shapethe priority their seniormanagers put on safety. Inturn, those managers cascadethe message down tosupervisors and front-lineworkers to create an effectivesafety culture that reducesinjuries among frontlineemployees.

Phil Germain, the WCB’s vice-president of Prevention andEmployer Services,appreciates what Tucker’sresearch reveals. “It seems likea cliché, but the researchpoints to the fact that safetystarts at the top,” Germainsays. “Leaders must be visible,and their actions and wordsmust be aligned.”

The study’s findings have beenshared at conferences acrossNorth America and in trademagazines, and alsoincorporated into the Healthand Safety Leadership Charter,which was formed by SafeSaskatchewan to encourage acultural shift in the wayinjuries and injury preventionare viewed in workplaces andcommunities. SafeSaskatchewan CEO GordMoker says the researchconducted by Tucker and hiscolleagues has shown leadershow they can engageemployees and assist inpositioning health and safety asa core value. “Many of the 600-plus organizations that havesigned the Charter are seeinginjury rate reductions thatresult in lower operationalcosts, a more vibrantworkforce, and happieremployees,” Moker adds.

In his current research Tuckeris collaborating with partnersin injury prevention tounderstand factors thatcontribute to workplacefatalities in the province.

Dr. Sean Tucker, Associate Professor (Human Resource Management)

U of R Photography

OUR CURRENTOCCUPATIONAL HEALTHAND SAFETY WORK ISDRIVEN BY NEEDS INTHE PROVINCE.“ ”

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BY: BILL ARMSTRONG

RESEARCHINGSAFETY

MATTERS


Two new Associate Deanshave been appointed, withoverall mandates to expandstudents’ learning andresearch opportunities,support faculty members intheir teaching and research,and to increase connectionswith the community andamong potential employers.

Dr. Gina Grandy, AssociateDean, Research andGraduate ProgramsDr. Grandy expects to do a lotof listening during the firstfew months in her new role.She is eager to gain a betterunderstanding of the needsand views of various internaland external stakeholders toensure the curriculum andstudent experiences are ofhigh quality in terms ofacademic rigour and inmeeting student andemployer expectations.

“We offer unique programsdelivered by highly qualifiedfaculty,” Grandy says. “Ofcourse, strong programs canalways be improved, and Ilook forward to hearing moreabout how we might enhancewhat we do.”

During her time as actingAssociate Dean for six monthsprior to this appointment,students in the Levene Schoolexpressed a desire for moreopportunities to learn fromand engage with the businesscommunity. “Members of theLevene Advisory Board andLeaders Council are alreadyinvolved in a number ofways,” she notes, “but wewould like to augment thoseconnections, so that businessleaders fully appreciate howour graduate programs arepreparing students to tacklethe challenges theirorganizations are facing. Wewill also create morementoring, networking andcareer developmentopportunities for ourstudents.”

Grandy’s role also involvessupporting research for theHill and Levene Schools.

Having served as the ProgramLead, Research, last year, shehas an appreciation of the“exceptional” research beingdone by faculty members, andplans to raise awareness ofthat work.

“I want the Hill and LeveneSchools to be top of mindwhen a business, governmentbody or community group islooking for expertise on atopic that relates to our coreareas of research.”

Dr. Saqib Khan, AssociateDean, Academic Teaching excellence,experiential learning and agreater emphasis on thebusiness case method areamong the priorities Dr. SaqibKhan will pursue as heassumes the role of AssociateDean, Academic. Khan sayshe will work with the Faculty’steaching committee tofacilitate high qualityteaching, and to explore waysof recognizing teachingexcellence.

“I will also collaborate withthe teaching committee toenhance the teachingworkshops, and offer them ina more formal manner,” Khansays. A few years ago, hecontinues, the Faculty offeredthe Ivey Case teaching/writingworkshop, but a large numberof faculty members havejoined the Faculty since then.

Khan – who has publishedfour Hill-Ivey cases, withanother three to be publishedin the near future – says hewould like to collaborate withthe Dean and the IveyBusiness School to conductthe workshop for the Facultyagain.

In his new role he will alsowork with the committeereviewing undergraduateprograms to ensure what isbeing offered is consistentwith the Faculty’s five-yearstrategic plan. “Being a leaderin experiential education ispart of the mission and visionin the plan,” he notes, “so Iwill work with my colleaguesto incorporate experientiallearning into the curriculumso that every student canparticipate in theseopportunities.”

H

U of R Photography

BY: BILL ARMSTRONGDr. Saqib Khan, Associate Dean (Academic)Dr. Gina Grandy, Associate Dean (Research & Graduate)

ASSOCIATEDEANS SUPPORTTEACHING,RESARCH AND COMMUNITYCONNECTIONS


The Program Leads withinthe Faculty of BusinessAdministration work to betterprepare students for theirfuture employment, ensuringthey are capable offunctioning effectively withinthe interconnected,international business world,and have the skills to conductor draw on research to helpthem meet whateverchallenges they may face.

For this fall, two new ProgramLeads have been appointed.Dr. Magdelena Cismuru istaking up the mantle ofProgram Lead, Research,replacing Dr. Gina Grandy,the new Associate Dean ofResearch and GraduatePrograms, while RomulusCismuru is the new ProgramLead, International, takingover from Dr. Saqib Khan,now the Associate Dean,Academic.

Dr. Magdalena Cismaru,Program Lead, ResearchDr. Magdalena Cismaru ispassionate about teachingbusiness research methods—which makes her an ideal fitfor her new position asProgram Lead, Research.

A Professor in the Faculty,Cismaru studied consumerbehavior at the University ofHouston, where she earned aPh.D. in Marketing. Her work

in the area of social marketingand health decision-makinghas been widely published in avariety of journals, includingMarketing Theory, Journal ofAdvertising, InternationalMarketing Review, SocialMarketing Quarterly, andJournal of College Teachingand Learning.

Everyone does research allthe time, she points out (forexample, when buying a car orgoing on vacation), but notvery completely orsystematically. “We want toinspire students to doresearch more totally, givingthem a better chance to makegood decisions,” she says.

Among other things, shehopes to identify national andinternational researchcompetitions in whichstudents can participate. “Wewould like teams of studentsfrom the Hill and LeveneSchools competing andexcelling in research.”

Cismaru aims to provide everystudent with an opportunity toparticipate in research beforegraduation, whether in or outof class. While research takes“knowledge and skill andpatience,” she notes, once youunderstand the process, youreap enormous benefits.

“Anyone can benefit in anytype of job by knowing how to

do research,” she says firmly.“It is very unlikely you will beunemployed if you’re a goodresearcher.”

Romulus Cismaru,Program Lead,InternationalFor Romulus Cismaru, theposition of Program Lead,International is a natural one:he’s always had a passion fortravel, leaping at anyopportunities to go abroad.

Born in Romania, Cismarustudied Engineering andManagement of TechnologicalSystems at the UniversityPolitehnica of Bucharest. In2003 he earned his Master ofScience in MechanicalEngineering from theUniversity of Houston. Aftermoving to Regina he startedworking in the Faculty ofBusiness Administration as anInstructor in OperationsManagement.

As the new program lead, hehopes to help studentsunderstand why opportunitiesto study abroad are important,and assist them in takingadvantage of them. He hopesto do much the same forfaculty members, expandingtheir opportunities to teach orconduct research abroad.Helping the school achieveEQUIS accreditation, whichrequires an international

component, will also be afocus.

In addition, he hopes tobolster support for theschool’s own internationalstudents, who face stressfulnew experiences far awayfrom their family, friends, andsupport systems. “Because Iwas one myself in Houston, Ihave experience with the kindof things that make your lifebetter,” he notes. “I hope I’llbe able to improve things.”

He hopes the experience willbenefit him, as well. “This is aleadership position that willoffer me opportunities Ihaven’t had before.”

“I believe internationalexperience gives you a better,more accurate view of theworld, and at the end of theday makes you a betterperson,” Cismaru concludes.“I’m trying to help peoplehave that experience and getthe best opportunities fromthat experience.”

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

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PROGRAMLEADS SUPPORTRESEARCH ANDINTERNATIONAL

Dr. Magdalena Cismaru, Professor (Marketing)Romulus Cismaru, Instructor (Operations Management)

U of R Photography


For any new faculty member,the first year at a new schoolmarks the start of a newchapter in life. For JustinFeeney, it marks more thanone: not just the start of histeaching career at the U of R,but the start of his life as amarried man.

Feeney proposed to hisfiancée, Sarah Ridley, inWascana Centre, although itdidn’t go exactly as planned.“She was going to move thecar, grabbed the keys from mypocket—and found the ringbefore I proposed. We wereboth totally awkward for thenext 15 minutes, and finally Isaid, ‘I’m just going to do ithere.’ She said ‘yes,’ foolishly.”

It was an auspicious start(momentary awkwardnessaside) to his first year in theUniversity of Regina’s Facultyof Business Administration,where he will be teachingclasses in organizationbehavior, staffing,performance management,and human resourcesmanagement.

Feeney grew up inMississauga, and attended the

University of Toronto, wherehe obtained a B.Sc. inPsychology in 2009. Hedecided to pursue a moreapplied branch of psychologyfor his first graduate degree,earning an M.Sc. in Industrialand OrganizationalPsychology from theUniversity of Western Ontarioin 2011. That led naturallyinto human resourcesmanagement, and teaching ata business school. Currently,Feeney is in the final throes ofearning his Ph.D. from theUniversity of WesternOntario.

Feeney applied to severaluniversities for positions andreceived several offers fromschools in the U.S., but onlyone from Canada: the

University of Regina. “When Icame here I really loved thecampus,” he says. “The peopleare completely collegial anddown to earth, from the Deandown through the facultymembers.”

In fact, he noted, when heproposed to his fiancée, theywere staying with facultymember Sandeep Mishra,whom he calls “super-welcoming.”

It wasn’t just the staff, though.“I was really impressed withthe whole program andenvironment,” he says. Stayingin Canada also appealed tohim because of the unstablepolitical and workenvironment with which U.S.schools are currentlycontending.

In addition to teaching,Feeney will continue hisresearch, which is focused onthree primary areas:improving the accuracy andacceptance of performancemanagement systems,improving the utility of hiringtools such as personality testsor job interviews, andimproving applicant reactionsto hiring tools.

Feeney is excited to startteaching and getting to knowthe students. Some of thecourses are new to him, andhe’s looking forward todeveloping those, particularlyin areas that relate directly tohis research. “We get todevelop our own courseswithin reason,” he notes. “I’mprovided with enoughfreedom to enrich courseswith my expertise, to addmore value to the students.”

Finally, Feeney says he’slooking forward to getting“immersed in Regina culture,”which can mean only onething: There’s a Rider jerseyin his near future.

U of R Photography

JOINING THE FACULTY OF BUSINESSADMINISTRATION MARKS THE START OF MORE THAN ONE NEWCHAPTER IN LIFE

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Justin Feeney, Assistant Professor (Organizational Behaviour)

WHEN I CAME HERE IREALLY LOVED THECAMPUS…THE PEOPLEARE COMPLETELYCOLLEGIAL AND DOWNTO EARTH…“ ”

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

FOR JUSTIN FEENEY,


When Marci Elliott read thejob description for the newly-created position of AssistantDean for the LeveneGraduate School of Business alittle voice kept saying,“Marci, apply here.” She did,was hired, and began her newrole in mid-June.

In brief, the Levene Schoolcreated the Assistant Deanposition with a mandate toincrease graduate studentenrollment, developsupportive partnerships withcorporate and governmentpartners, and increase theprofile of the Levene Schoolprogram offerings. Everythingin her work history, Elliottexplains, lined up with therequirements listed. Thathistory included ad agencyexperience, the VP ofMarketing for the then newly-launched Women’s TelevisionNetwork, Director ofMarketing and Developmentfor the National ScreenInstitute, and most recently,six years as Executive Directorof the MBA program at theAsper School of Business atthe University of Manitoba.

“I’d done a lot of good work atthe Asper School,” she

explains. “Admissions werewell up; I’d achieved at thelevel that I’d been hired for.The timing was right for achange, and I do like change.”

Using and interpreting thedata that she gathered for thejob interview and in her newrole, Elliott has a range ofinitiatives in mind, particularlyin the areas of targeted digitalmarketing, users’ experienceof the school’s website,enriched student experiences,changes to the school’s onlinepresence and improvementsto its reputation forcompetitiveness. For example,the school seems to bemissing what she describes asa younger wedge of potentialstudents, perhaps because it isperceived as too small to becompetitive with its largercounterparts, or simplybecause the right mediumhasn’t been used to reachthose audiences. She wants tocorrect that perception andtargeting issues to attractthose younger students.

“I think the Levene Schoolpunches above its weight,”Elliott says. “When studentsenter competitions they place

and sometimes win. So, weneed to send students to morecompetitions, where they willrecognize that they cancompete, and to get that goodnews out to the public and theorganizations that supportstudent experiences. Justbecause the school is smalldoesn’t mean we aren’t good.”Enhancing the studentexperience and increasingenrollment will also enhancethe school’s ability to gainaccreditation withinternational organizationslike EQUIS, which willfurther increase its profile, sheadds.

Elliott is reaching out tocollaborate with individualsand areas within the universityto take advantage of the talent

and expertise available. She isworking with URInternational to increasestudent enrollment at thegraduate level and to developrelationships internationallyfor the Levene MBA inInternational Business and theMBA in Public Safety.Another collaborativeinitiative, a pilot project topromote the Levene programwith a Faculty within theuniversity, will come tofruition in the fall, she hints.

The current environment mayseem like a difficult one forthe university, Elliottobserves, but for her, difficulttimes are exciting, becausethey push people to thinkdifferently about how to usethe resources they have. It isone thing to want to helpcreate meaningful change, shesays, and another to come intoan environment that isreceptive to change. “Duringthe job interview I got thefeeling there is receptivenesshere. Taking on the challengebecame an irresistible draw.”

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I THINK THE LEVENESCHOOL PUNCHESABOVE ITS WEIGHT.“ ”

Marci Elliott, Assistant Dean, Levene School

U of R Photography

BY: EDWARD WILLETT

NEW ASSISTANTDEAN DRAWNTO THE CHALLENGE


Murad Al-Katib, chair ofthe Levene Advisory Board, wasnamed EY World Entrepreneurof the Year at an awardceremony held in Monaco inJune 2017.

Dr. Eman Almehdawereceived $10,000 in researchfunding from SaskatchewanCenter for Patient OrientedResearch (SCPOR) for herproject, “Studying the impact ofEmergency DepartmentOccupancy at Regina GeneralHospital on patient length ofstay and outcomes”.

Dr. Eman Almehdawehas been granted a tenuredappointment and promoted tothe rank of Associate Professorin the Faculty.

Bruce Anderson returnedto his position as an Instructorin the Faculty of BusinessAdministration, and assumedthe role of Executive Lead,Outreach as of July 1, 2017,after filling the role as theAssociate Vice-President,Development at the U of Rsince July 2014.

Dr. Robert Anderson isthe recipient of a President’sResearch Seed Grant for hisproject entitled“Entrepreneurship as a Vehiclefor Effective Participation in theGlobal Economy “On One’sOwn Terms””.

Dr. Robert Anderson wasreappointed as an InternationalResearch Fellow with the Centrefor Aboriginal Economic Policy

Research at Australian NationalUniversity (ANU) for the periodof May 2017 to June 2018.

Thomas Benjoe (DAdmin’09 and BBA ’11 (FNUniv)),received the Outstanding YoungAlumni Award at the Universityof Regina’s Alumni CrowningAchievement Award ceremonyin October 2017.

Dr. NourheneBenYoussef is the recipientof a President’s Research SeedGrant for her project entitled“Audit Committee Diversity andTimeliness of Restated EarningsDisclosure”.

Dr. NourheneBenYoussef has beengranted a tenured appointmentand promoted to the rank ofAssociate Professor in theFaculty.

Dr. Shelagh Campbellhas been granted a tenuredappointment and promoted tothe rank of Associate Professorin the Faculty.

Dr. Magdalena Cismaruwas appointed as the ProgramLead, Research for two yearscommencing July 1, 2017.

Dr. Magdalena Cismaruwas appointed as the Faculty’sinaugural Conexus ResearchScholar in Financial Wellbeingfor a two year termcommencing July 1, 2017.

Romulus Cismaru wasappointed as the Program

Lead, International for twoyears commencing July 1, 2017.

Marci Elliot was hired as thenew Assistant Dean, LeveneSchool.

Justin Feeney was hired asan Assistant Professor in theFaculty in the area ofOrganizational Behaviour.

Dr. Janice Foley retiredfrom the Faculty of BusinessAdministration after 17 years ofservice.

Dr. Janice Foley wasawarded the title of ProfessorEmerita in the Faculty ofBusiness Administration.

Dr. Gina Grandy wasappointed as Associate Dean,Graduate and Research for athree-year term commencingJuly 1, 2017.

Dr. Gina Grandy wasappointed to the internationaleditorial board for the journalManagement Learning.

The Hill School and Enactusstudent group hosted Prince'sOperation Entrepreneur for thefifth year under the guidance offaculty members Dr. LisaWatson and Lee Elliottand student project managerJon Lipoth in August 2017.The Hill School's program saw20 participants graduate afterthe week long bootcamp.

Two new Hill-Ivey Casespublished:• Dr. Chris Street with Ivey author Dr. Rob Mitchell entitled “Challenges and Opportunities at the Protospace Makerspace”• Dr. Chris Street with

Ivey author Dr. Rob Mitchellentitled “Business Modelsand the Online VentureChallenge (A): The DecisionOver Version 2.0”

RECOGNIZIN

GACHIEVEM

ENTS

Kenneth Levene receives an honourary doctorate fromPresident Timmons

U of R Photography

Faculty of Business Administration Long Service Awards recipientswith Dean Andrew Gaudes. Left to right: Morina Rennie, MarilynStaseson, Andrew Gaudes, Wendy Tebb

U of R Photography

Levene student AurpaDeb Nath, was therecipient of the LeadersCouncil GraduateScholarship in honour ofW. Brett Wilson at theLevene Dinner in May2017. Mr. Wilson was thekeynote speaker at thedinner and presentedAurpa with the award.

Members of the Hill andLevene Schools ofBusiness were honoured atthe U of R’s Long ServiceRecognition Awards in Aprilincluding:Wendy Tebb for 35years of service; Dr.Morina Rennie for 30years of service; Dr. Robert Anderson,Dr. Youngsoo Kim,Janice Leibel, Dr.Jean-MarieNkongolo-BakendaandMarilyn Stasesonfor 15 years.

Hill student Eric Hollowaywas the recipient of the LeonGoldman Scholarship at theSpring 2017 Convocation.

Dr. Saqib Khan wasappointed as Associate Dean,Academic for a three-year termcommencing July 1, 2017. Hill student MitchellKilgore was the recipient ofthe Faculty of BusinessAdministration Dean’s Medal atthe Spring 2017 Convocation.

Welcome to the 2017/2018Levene Alumni Association’sExecutive including: James Welter (BEng ’00,EMBA ’14), President; Rick West(BSc ’97, EMBA ’14), VicePresident ProfessionalDevelopment; CharlesSylvestre (CDP ’99, CCS ‘ 02,MBA ’14), Vice President AlumniRelations; Bob Newis (CCS ’87,BAdmin ’87, BA ’94, MBA ’15),Treasurer; Charlene Oancia(CA ’14, EMBA ’16), Secretary.

Welcome to the 2017/2018 LeveneGrad Students’ Association (LGSA)Executive including: Shaelja Sharma, President;Anusha Subramanian, Vice-President; Kalyan Venkta,Treasurer; MeenakshiKathiar, GBUS representative;

Khaleel Soomro, MBArepresentative.

Dr. Sandeep Mishra receivedfunding through the Faculty’sDean’s Research Grant program forhis project entitled “Relativedeprivation, stress and health” inSpring 2017.

Dr. Sandeep Mishra wasappointed to the editorial board forFrontiers in Psychology:Evolutionary Psychology andNeuroscience.

Dr. Sandeep Mishra hasbeen granted a tenuredappointment and promoted to therank of Associate Professor in theFaculty.

Dr. David Senkow wasappointed as Acting Dean for aone-year term commencing July 1,2017.

Marilyn Staseson retired fromthe Faculty of BusinessAdministration after 16 years ofservice.

Dr. Andrew Stevens has beengranted a tenured appointment andpromoted to the rank of AssociateProfessor in the Faculty.

Dr. Morina Rennie has beenappointed to the Audit Committeeof the Province of Saskatchewan.

Hill student Evan Wellman wasthe recipient of the Leaders CouncilUndergraduate Scholarship inhonour of Elyse Allan in Fall 2017.


U of R Photography

U of R Photography

David Senkow with his Wally trophy

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Kenneth Levene was presented with anhonourary doctoratedegree at the U of R’sSpring 2017 Convocation.

Dr. David Senkow wonthe Super Gas category atthe Medicine Hat RacewayNHRA National Open inMedicine Hat, Alberta onJuly 29.

Aurpa Deb Nath (centre) receives the Leaders Council GraduateScholarship from Leaders Council President Jolene Anton and LeveneDinner speaker W. Brett Wilson.


COMING

EVENTS

Annual Levene Business Dinner in May 2017

U of R Photography

Hill Advisory Board meetingWednesday, October 25, 2017

44th Annual Hill Business Dinner(Including Exclusive Leaders Council Q&A)

Featuring keynote speaker Elyse Allan,President & CEO of GE CanadaWednesday, October 25, 2017

Levene Advisory Board meetingWednesday, November 1, 2017

Hill Case CompetitionThursday, November 9 through Saturday, November 11, 2017

Dream, Girl documentary screeningWednesday, November 15, 2017

Leaders Council Executive and Hill and Levene Advisory Board meetingTuesday, November 21, 2017

Leaders Council AGMTuesday, November 21, 2017

“What is Business Admin?”Prospective High School student eventThursday, December 7, 2017

Hill BSS “Taste of Networking” eventWednesday, January 25, 2018

Hill Advisory Board meetingWednesday, April 25, 2018

Levene Advisory Board meetingMay 2018

Annual Levene Dinner(Including Exclusive Leaders Council Q&A)

May 2018

Hill Legacy Ring CeremonyWednesday, June 6, 2018

University of Regina Spring Convocation(Including Hill and Levene Schools)Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Hill Legacy Pin CeremonyFriday, September 21, 2018

University of Regina Fall Convocation(Including Hill and Levene Schools)Friday, October 19, 2018

Hill Advisory Board meetingWednesday, October 24, 2018

45th Annual Hill Business Dinner(Including Exclusive Leaders Council Q&A)

Keynote speaker tbaWednesday, October 24, 2018

KENNETH LEVENE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Information Sessions

Wednesday, November 15, 2017Tuesday, December 5, 2017Wednesday, January 17, 2018Tuesday, February 13, 2018Thursday, March 15, 2018Thursday, April 5, 2018

GMAT Prep WorkshopGraduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Two-day Preparation Workshop

Saturday, March 10 & Saturday, March 17, 2018

You can find more information about the information sessionsand GMAT prep workshop, and RSVP by visiting:levene.uregina.ca

Leaders Council is made up of the best of the business community, who lend their expertise, perspective and vision to advance the Hill and Levene Schools of Business.

Enjoy mentoring opportunities, access to student resumés, networking events and much more.

As a Leaders Council member, you will support undergraduate and graduate scholarships, research scholar appointments, as well as student travel to case competitions.

Learn more about Leaders Council at leaderscouncil.ca

Inspire tomorrow’s leaders today.

Join Leaders Council and help shape the future of business.

E X P A N D

YOUR HORIZONS

levene.uregina.cahill.uregina.ca

[email protected]

[email protected]

fal 017 horizons - university of regina · 2021. 1. 11. · cheryl zankl kenneth levene naming gift...

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