It is with mixed emotions that I share that April-Dawn Blackwell has accepted an exciting new role as Associate Vice-President of Professional and Continuing Studies at Brock University.

April-Dawn came to Humber in 2018 to take on the role of Associate Dean Pathways in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Innovative Learning. In this role, April-Dawn has provided exceptional leadership to enhance programming, processes, and partnerships. Among her many accomplishments are her championing of GAS faculty to create a Sustainability Stream and two Specializations in our pathway programs, which have attracted the attention of the David Suzuki Foundation, Maclean’s College Guide and Polytechnics Canada; the redesign of the Technology Certificate to differentiate it as unique in the GTA; and, the creation of the first provincial EDI Working Group within the GTA Regional Planning Team for Dual Credit.

April-Dawn has also worked with departments across Humber to improve processes in support of student retention and success; of note is her work on changes to the mid-semester Financial Deregistration practice, and on the creation of a new Financial Resources Hub for students.

During the challenges of the COVID pandemic, April-Dawn has worked tirelessly with faculty to enhance student opportunities and supports, creating a robust advising framework for GAS students, partnering for new programming options for students with multiple Faculties, running a COIL learning opportunity in GAS, enhancing the use of OERs and expanding Dual Credit course offerings. She has also made significant contributions to Humber through her committee work on EDI, Healthy Campus and SEM Student Success and Retention.

While April-Dawn will be missed by many here at Humber, including myself, we wish her continued success in this next step in her professional career. Please join me in congratulating April-Dawn.

Vera Beletzan
Senior Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Innovative Learning