March 1, 2022

Verity Turpin appointed vice-provost (student experience)

A message from Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Teri Balser
Verity Turpin

I am pleased to announce that Verity Turpin (she/her) has been appointed for a five-year renewable term as vice-provost (student experience) effective July 1, 2022. 

Verity is recognized as an innovative leader in student services with more than 20 years of experience in the post-secondary sector. She is currently the vice-provost, student affairs (acting) at Dalhousie University, a role she has held since September 2020. She has held progressive roles at Dalhousie University within student services since 1999. This includes four years as the assistant vice-provost, student affairs prior to her current role.  

She holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, a Master of Electronic Commerce from Dalhousie University, and a Chartered Professional Accountants designation (CPA, CMA).  

Verity prioritizes caring for all students, staff, and faculty who work and learn together in partnership to support the student experience. She also values transparency and curiosity when building understanding and support for existing and new initiatives.

Recent accomplishments include serving as executive sponsor for the development of an Equity Admissions Framework for Dalhousie, improving the diversity on the student affairs team by implementing changes to recruitment and hiring within the portfolio resulting in increased representation from equity-deserving groups, and collaborative partnerships to increase access to student engagement opportunities and services, including mental health support for students. 

Verity prioritizes collaboration to ensure students are offered a world-class experience, and looks forward to joining our entrepreneurial university and supporting our community in the achievement of our bold ambitions for the student experience at UCalgary. She will support the portfolio as it continues to transform our current practices within Student and Enrolment Services on our path to truth and reconciliation through ii’ taa’poh’to’p. She is also committed to and acutely aware of her accountability to realize change and ensure we achieve an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible student experience. 

A robust national search was conducted to surface the best possible candidate to serve as the next vice-provost (student experience). I would like to extend my appreciation to the members of the advisory selection committee that I chaired for the time they dedicated to this important search. They are: Michael Hart (vice-president research representative), Melissa Boyce and Arindom Sen (GFC representatives), Jeff Vander Werf (academic staff representative from Student and Enrolment Services), Kim McLeod and Kathy Steinhauer (MaPS representatives from Student and Enrolment Services), Anita Gee and David Cataford (AUPE representatives from Student and Enrolment Services), Mary-Jo Romaniuk (provost team representative), Renzo Pereyra (SU representative), Meghdad Ghias (GSA representative), Hamid Habibi (Faculty Association representative), and Akash Asif (community representative).   

I would also like to thank Dr. Susan Barker for her dedication to the role of vice-provost (student experience) since joining the University of Calgary on July 1, 2012. Susan has been an exceptional leader for the Student and Enrolment Services portfolio during some very challenging and heavy times, and I know she will help ensure a smooth leadership transition. During her two terms as a senior leader on campus, Susan has always placed students at the centre of decision-making while also ensuring all of our student services staff are valued. She leads compassionately and ensures everyone feels heard. I look forward to celebrating Susan’s contributions later this year before she commences her administrative leave on July 1, 2022. 

Please join me in thanking Susan for her outstanding contributions to our institution and congratulating Verity on her new role and welcoming her to UCalgary.  

Teri Balser 
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)