Michael Barr
Closing Keynote – Friday, March 8, 2019 @ 9:00 am
Michael Barr is Associate Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of Mount Royal University. Michael provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, resilient and secure information technology environment throughout the University. The primary responsibilities for IT at MRU is continually supporting student success through focus on strategic technology issues including governance and policy, resource allocation, information technology best practices, security and compliance, client support services and employee skills development.
Michael represents the University’s information technology interests by serving with a number of local and national private and higher education organizations including CIO Canada, Alberta Technology Leaders in Education, Alberta Association in Higher Education for Information Technology and CUCCIO. Prior to joining MRU Michael spent six years working in K-12 education and 15 years in the private sector starting in the trenches with code testing, client support and process re-engineering before moving to project management, team leadership and senior management. While Calgary is home, Michael’s experience includes work in the US and Canada with roles of increasing responsibility and complexity, a varied background that informs his unique perspective to IT leadership in higher education.
Valerie McDougall
Opening Keynote – Thursday, March 7, 2019 @ 8:00 am
Valerie McDougall is the Director of Education for the Tsuut’ina Nation. Valerie is responsible for students who attend schools on the Nation and within the Provincial School system from K-4 to Grade 12, including Adult Education consisting of Post-Secondary, Adult Upgrading and Training and Skills.
Valerie is a member of the College of Alberta School Superintendents: First Nation Metis and Inuit Action Committee, Alberta School Board Association: Indigenous Advisory Circle and the Calgary Regional Consortium Board.
As Director of Education for her home community, Valerie ensures Tsuu’tina Culture and Language and Alberta Program of Studies Curriculum Development are incorporated in programs, evaluations and assessments are implemented into the schools. She works closely with provincial’s schools and other school districts for student success and life-long learners. Empowering students through culture and language, identity and a sense of belonging both on and off the Nation, is important to student success.
“It is through our culture and language, land and stories from our Elders that will keep our students strong and build a foundation of success”