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 AU community who deserves a high five? AU Accolades celebrates a learning community like no other! Submit an accolade!
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
- AU 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 International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (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 ONYX Magazine. McGowan is the CEO of Protexxa, a cybersecurity software and services company. She founded the Black Arts & Innovation Expo and empowers senior leaders to combat systemic racism within the innovation economy.
McGowan also co-launched the multi-million-dollar women focused angel fund Phoenix Fire as well as The Firehood, 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 King Charles III Coronation Medal. Stange is president and CEO of ATB Financial, 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
AU faculty co-author second book on cities
Two Faculty of Business professors have published an ebook, Sustainable and Smart Cities. 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 Mitigating Climate Change: The Emerging Face of Modern Cities.
Arts grad publishes poetry chapbook
Dorothy Bentley (Bachelor of Arts, English Major ’21) wrote and published Nature Divine, 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 AU 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 AU Press Remix Imprint and listed in repositories for global access.
Learn more about the value of open educational resources with the AU Library’s OER Guide.
Alumn appointed to Alberta ag council
Ian Chitwood (Doctor of Business Administration ’24), has been appointed to Alberta Agricultural Marketing Council. 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 Institute for Credentialing Excellence. Hinkley is the CEO of the National Association of School Nurses, 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 ’05) has published his fifth book titled, Weekend Wisdom: Weekly Reflections of Lessons Learned. 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 AU grad appointed director of economic revitalization at Mokwateh
- AU 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 UBS’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, Project Female Founder.
“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, AU associate professor of women’s and gender studies, has recently contributed to The Queerness of Psychoanalysis: From Freud and Lacan to Laplanche and Beyond.
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 Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 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 King Charles III Coronation Medal for the work she has done with Canadians for Properly Built Homes (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 International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering 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 Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect (CILAR).
Golnaraghi is the founder and president of Accelerate Her Future, 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 St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake (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 AU 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. 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.
AU grad selected chief executive officer of pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
Mauro Chies (Master of Business Administration ’08) has been selected chief executive officer of pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
“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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