many professional accomplishments include creating a psychometric lab and building an extensive library collection to support student research. Dr. Connors writes, “Psychology is now among the largest majors on campus. Graduates have gone on to medical and dental schools, and allied health programs. Some choose to take graduate training in mental health studies such as social work and counseling psychology.” Dr. Connors is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association. His research area is the history of psychology, and he has been an invited researcher for five years at Dalhousie University where he joins other scholars during the summer for pursuing his research interests. His retirement plans are to “maintain my health and continue projects on the history of Canadian psychology.” Shirley Freed came out of retirement to chair the School of Education for the past three years. She and Allan, her husband, had moved from Andrews University, Michigan, to Lacombe to be near family. She writes that helping Burman seemed “the ‘right thing’ to do. But the transition was a steep learning curve primarily because of the strong connections that needed to be maintained with Alberta government ministers of education, the Alberta deans of education (a group of 10), the North American Division, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.” During her tenure as chair, Dr. Freed wrote and received grants for integrating the new Alberta Teaching Quality Standard into all courses with analysis across the program, renovating two classrooms for active learning, setting up a much-needed student lounge, and providing students with unique learning opportunities in Cambodia. Dr. Freed strengthened the online summer program by developing new and relevant courses. She also fostered increased research activity among her faculty. Perhaps most important of all her accomplishments are the friendships she built for Burman with the deans of education at Alberta’s nine other universities. Dean Jennifer Tupper from the University of Alberta writes, “Before you finish your time as dean, I wanted to express how much I have loved knowing you and working with you these past three years. Your care, commitment, leadership, and humour have lifted up AADE [the Association of Alberta Deans of Education] in all the best possible ways. You'll be missed.”
Meet Your Board Burman’s Board of Trustee members come from across Canada. Some of these are ex officio—that is, they are members by virtue of the positions they hold in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Others are elected by local church constituents. Kwasi Ansah-Adu was elected president of the Quebec Conference of Seventhday Adventists in 2016 and has served on Burman’s board since 2017. He has pastored for 35 years, partly in Africa and presently in Quebec. Pastor Ansah-Adu’s relationship with Burman goes back to 2007. He and his wife, Lydia, supported their daughter’s studies at the university for three years. He sees his role as a board member to help the university in four main ways: continue with a clear focus on its mission, recruit highquality faculty and students, maintain its good image in the community, and remain in a strong financial position. Victor Dingman is a businessman. He is part owner and operator of a lumber/ sawmill in Coaticook, Quebec, and has lived in nearby Austin his entire life. He writes, “Being a third generation Adventist by choice, I am proud of my heritage. I have always encouraged our youth in their commitment for spreading the gospel.” Leading by example, Victor is an elder in the South Stukely Church (the oldest SDA church in Canada), and for many years has served on the Quebec conference board and as a lay member at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He has been on the Burman University board for the past 13 years. He serves not only his church, but also as an elected official in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Victor and his wife, Guylaine, have been married for 36 years. They have three children: Samantha, Joshua and Lisa. Before serving on Burman’s board, Victor was never farther west than North Bay, Ontario. The two primary challenges Victor sees for Burman’s board are keeping the university identified as Canada’s choice for Adventist higher education and guiding the university in meeting the needs of young people for today and tomorrow. He believes that the university must become visible and maintain a strong presence in Central Alberta. To that end, he is encouraging the university to invest in new programs and research to maintain a healthy student body. Readers are invited to share questions, concerns or suggestions about the direction of Burman University with any board member.
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