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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 11
Lewis a perfect fit for Alumni post
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
WALKER ON THE FAST TRACK
Kathy Lewis is the new president of the University of Lethbridge Alumni Association.
BY STACY SEGUIN
J
oking that some might call her career path “checkered” – she prefers eclectic – retired nurse, Kathy Lewis (BN ’83, MEd ’99) is both nervous and excited to take on the role of University of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) president this year. Lewis began her nursing career in the early 1970s after receiving her RN certificate from the Holy Cross School of Nursing, but a phone call from a University recruiting officer would lead Lewis to explore a whole new world of possibilities. “I was married, had two young children and was working as a nursing sessional instructor at the Lethbridge Community College. The University was just starting the nursing program and I was asked to enrol. I remember thinking, ‘Gee, why are you contacting me?’ I really didn’t feel that I had what it took academically, but you know the old saying: success breeds success. I found myself completing courses and did very well. I surprised myself,” says Lewis, who completed her BN (with distinction) in 1983. With an undergraduate degree in hand, Lewis says doors opened to her that had formerly been closed. She landed a job as a discharge planning co-ordinator for St. Mike’s Hospital and eventually began working as a home care co-ordinator for the Lethbridge Health Unit. Working as a sexuality educator and counsellor in the 1990s, Lewis decided to pursue her master’s degree. “I had always liked the teaching part of my job so I opted for a master’s in education at the U of L. My supervising professor was Dr. Cynthia Chambers. She was such an inspiration; she had a lot of life experience as a wife, mother, educator and writer and she
brought that experience to the classroom,” says Lewis. “By coincidence, Ron Chambers taught me my last class, which was a drama elective. It was one of the most rewarding classes I had in all my University time. Here I was, almost 50, and I found myself in class pretending to be a cow. “That is what the university does; it gives you that opportunity to open up to a broad range of ideas, people, experiences and possibilities.” Despite her busy schedule with family, work and schooling, Lewis has always made community service a priority in her life. She has served on various boards, including the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the Lethbridge Community Band Society and the Allied Arts Council, and has been a canvasser for a variety of different organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association. In 2002 she was nominated to the University Senate to which she dedicated six years of service. In 2008, while attending a Senate meeting, Lewis volunteered to join the ULAA. “It was not in my life plan to be on the Alumni Council, but the University is such a positive force, certainly in my life and in the community. It is a major employer in the region, we have excellent research going on, wonderful fine arts and contribute to educating our population. I often say that Lethbridge is a different place because people in the 1960s had a vision. We can be proud of that and proud of the people who made all this happen,” says Lewis. “Being a part of the ULAA is a valuable opportunity. I am very much a believer in working together; where we may have shortcomings in experience or knowledge, others fill in. Together we all contribute to the betterment of our society.” During the past two years
G E T T H E FA C T S • Lewis is a proud mother and grandmother. • A member of ULAA since 2008, she served as ULAA vice-president from 2009 to 2011. • Lewis plays clarinet with the Lethbridge Community Band Society, and is also a former concert planner. • Lewis is a former ESL tutor with the Lethbridge Public Library. • In 2009 she completed her RN re-certification through Grant MacEwan University. the ULAA has revised its constitution and by-laws to ensure that the association continues moving in the right direction, maintaining its focus on building relationships with the community, students and alumni. “In Spring 2012, thanks to the hard work of Cheryl Meheden and her committee, we will be launching a Fiat Lux ring as part of our 45th Anniversary celebration at the U of L. We hope every alumnus will want to have one and wear it with pride,” says Lewis. “Our alumni chapters are essential. Together we are over 32,000 strong. We are represented on the Board of Governors, the Senate and many University committees. Our voice is at the table of decisionmaking and our participation is vital to the success of this institution. I would encourage each alum that when the timing is right and the opportunity to get involved knocks – open the door.”
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Alumna Jillian Walker is quickly building off her U of L education as she takes a key position with Elevated HR Solutions.
University of Lethbridge alumna Jillian Walker (BMgt ’11) is elevating her career to new heights, having just accepted an important position with Calgary-based human resources firm Elevated HR Solutions. As a mature student at the U of L’s Calgary campus, Walker was already a human resources professional while pursuing her degree. She has since parlayed her business savvy into a job as vicepresident of client experience, and will help to open a new Vancouver office based on the Calgary model. Lorne Williams, Calgary campus instructor, says, “It is exciting to hear of Jill’s appointment into this amazing position. As one of our top graduates, she’ll bring energy, motivation, creativity and commitment to anything she undertakes.” Walker, who was most recently employed as an engagement specialist for the City of Calgary, says her experience working for a large organization gave her “the opportunity to transfer to new departments and go on projects within human resources to continually broaden my skillset.” In that time she worked with managers who “taught me an incredible amount about human resources, life, family and friends. I learned about what I value in an employer/manager.” Walker pursued the position with Elevated HR because she was eager for change and an opportunity to grow professionally. “I knew that it would evolve and I would have the opportunity to utilize my strengths in a challenging
and creative organization,” she says. Walker is fresh off a first-place win in the KPMGsponsored What Makes a Top-10 Employer student video contest. In addition to an Apple iPad, she was given the opportunity to travel to Toronto to meet with the KPMG CEO as well as CEOs from Rogers Communications, Steam Whistle Brewing Company, Gap Adventures and Starbucks Coffee. While in Toronto, Walker maximized her opportunity and also managed to meet with other corporate representatives. She is grateful for the valuable experience, which helped her solidify her career goals. “It gave me more credibility in my industry – it was face time with a lot of people that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to,” she says. “It further developed my personal brand and what I was passionate about.” Walker also credits her time at the U of L for helping her make important connections to the business world. “If I take away anything from my experience, it was meeting instructors Dr. Kelly Williams-Whitt and Lorne Williams. Those people and those contacts, having those two in my life and having them support me these three years has been incredible,” she says. “They are truly in the profession and in the industry for the right reasons. They had my back through everything.” Walker is relocating to Vancouver this fall to commence her new position.