Announcing the new dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. Shauna Reckseidler-Zenteno
Following a competitive international search, we are pleased to announce Dr. Shauna Reckseidler-Zenteno has been selected as Athabasca University’s (AU) Dean, Faculty of Science & Technology.
Shauna brings both commitment and experience to this role. She is passionate about science and technology and excited for the possibilities that lie ahead as the faculty and the institution move into the next 50 years.
Shauna is the current Vice Dean, Operations in the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) and an Associate Professor of Biology in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at Athabasca University. She is the former Program Director for the BSc Human Science program and the former Chair, Centre for Science. In her 15 years at AU she has participated on several university and faculty committees and been involved in many initiatives across the institution, including her contributions to the Athabasca University Strategic Plan Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities, the Imagine Learning Framework, and implementation of the FST and FGS strategic plans.
She also participates in a number of external partnerships in research and online education and is the Athabasca University representative on the NSERC Leader’s Network. Shauna is a member of the Athabasca River Basin Research Institute, and her research focuses on the metagenomics of microbial communities in northern Alberta water as a determinant of aquatic system health. She has experience in leadership, strategic planning, Indigenous reciprocity, enhancing student services, graduate and undergraduate programming, engaging with multi-disciplinary units, connecting the energy and abilities of students, faculty, and staff, and innovations in education.
Shauna’s first day as dean will be September 14. She is excited and honoured for the opportunity to work with the FST, across AU, and beyond, to elevate teaching, research, and the learner experience.
We also want to thank Dr. Douglas MacLeod for taking on the role of Interim Dean for FST beginning in January of this year. Douglas has ably led the Faculty through a time of transition, serving as a strong advocate for innovative programs and approaches that have moved the Faculty and the University forward. He is happy to be returning to his principle role, providing visionary leadership for AU’s pathbreaking architecture programs.
