Message from the Dean

As the new dean of the Werklund School of Education, I am honoured to lead a vibrant and energetic faculty in pursuing innovative research and teaching, locally and globally. Much like Calgary, which has become a global, cosmopolitan city rated one of the most desirable cities in the world to live, the Werklund School has experienced significant strides in advancing ideas that will better the lives of children and improve the human condition.

There is an energy at Werklund with more than 100 faculty members from across the world working in partnerships with schools, organizations and communities that will better serve the needs of educators today. In our teaching and research programs, our faculty are collaborating with academics from Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Engineering, Science and Kinesiology to find alternative and creative ways of thinking and learning. This is evident in: our shared commitment to child well-being as a central tenant in how children can thrive in a demanding world; our reconciliation initiatives with Indigenous peoples that recognize a shared ethical space and enduring reciprocity; and our reimagining of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as part of a greater civic dialogue. The Werklund School is future-focused and looking for new ways to solve old problems.

I am excited by how far the Werklund School has come, and what utter potential there is for this faculty, together with the support of alumni, in making the world a better place.

Our alumni are the faces that remind us of our strengths and our diversity, from our Bachelor of Education graduates who provide supportive and engaging learning environments for our children in increasingly more complex times, to the graduate students entering leadership roles across sectors and the educational psychologists who work with students, parents, teachers and communities to improve well-being for all individuals in our society. With more than 30,000 Werklund alumni in more than 60 countries, we see the incredible difference that so many individuals are making locally, nationally and internationally.

Without a doubt, the Werklund School is elevating what’s possible in the classroom and beyond. There is a willingness to take risks, and to think creatively and critically. The work of students, faculty and alumni truly energizes and inspires me as a leader, and it is one of the reasons why I returned to the University of Calgary.

As Werklund continues to strive high in envisioning the possible, I hope that you will join us in being part of this vision.

Dr. Dianne Gereluk, MA’99, PhD
Dean, Werklund School of Education