News Article

Meet our President!


8/2/2011 12:04:57 PM


College of the North Atlantic President, Ms. Ann Marie Vaughan.

Ms. Ann Marie Vaughan officially started in her role as President of College of the North Atlantic on Monday, August 1. In order to better introduce herself to many staff and faculty members throughout the province, she agreed to a brief Q&A with the Marketing and Communications department while preparing for her new role.

Q) Your official start-date was Monday, August 1… have you been doing much since the official announcement in May to prepare for your new position with the college?

A) I have been very busy! Between finishing my commitments with Memorial, fast-tracking some doctoral work, getting things ready for a physical move and reading material given to me by the college there hasn’t been much down time. I am very much looking forward to settling in to life in Stephenville and work with the college.

Q) You have accomplished quite a lot in your professional career – how do you find time to enjoy life outside of the office? Do you have any hobbies or interests?

A) I really believe and promote work-life balance and I have personally been very diligent with that, especially since the birth of my daughter. I have been a champion of work-life balance in my most recent role with my staff. I am not sure if I accomplish that all of the time, but I certainly try my best. My interests include gardening and spending time in my garden enjoying the fruits of my labour, planning fun/quick getaways, and most importantly spending time with my family.

Q) What book are you reading right now?

A) Most recent, that would be Andrew’s Loose Tooth by Robert Munsch. I read that to my daughter Kathleen recently, and, The Classics of Interest Group Behaviour by Robert Alexander. It’s a real page turner (joking). I am reading that for my dissertation along with seven other books on my shelf in the same area.

Q) Who is one person, living or deceased, that you would like to have dinner with?

A) My great grandmother. I don’t know enough about her. An historian once referred to her as the most bereaved mother of the First World War losing four sons. In The Rooms you will find pictures of the Vaughan Brothers. She must have been a very strong woman. Unfortunately, I don’t know a lot about her – I wish I knew more.

Q) Who or what inspires you to stay committed to the education sector?

A) My mother. My mother was a teacher for many years. In fact, she taught in Stephenville Crossing at one point in her career. I watch my mother with her grandchildren and I still see what an amazing teacher she was. When I was growing up I remember coming upstairs many nights to see Mom studying at the kitchen table as she worked on her degree while teaching and being a mother. That inspired me and still inspires me every day.

Q) What is your favourite piece of music?

A) Well, who can resist one of the songs from Abba’s Greatest Hits especially when you need to have some fun! I like all kinds of music – Elton John is a favourite as well. I am a big fan of Great Big Sea, Hey Rosetta! and Matthew Byrne. And anything my daughter plays from Fireman Fred to Frosty the Snowman to her own compositions in the Music for Young Children program.


Biographical Information

Ann Marie Vaughan was most recently the director of Distance Education, Learning and Teaching Support (DELTS) at Memorial University. Prior to that, she served as associate director of the School of Continuing Education at the university.

She has held the positions of senior planner at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University; planning advisor with the Industrial Research Assistance Program at the National Research Council in Vancouver, British Columbia; strategic planner at the Marine Institute; account manager with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and labour market information researcher with the provincial Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

Ms. Vaughan has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education (secondary) from Memorial University; certificates in public administration and business from Memorial; a Master of Arts in higher education from the University of British Columbia; a Masters certificate in project management from York University/Memorial University; and, is currently an education doctorate candidate in higher education leadership at the University of Calgary.

Her community leadership includes many years of volunteer service to regional social and economic development boards in this province, and she has a keen interest in regional and rural development.

She has received numerous recognition awards over the years. In 2010 alone, she was personally awarded Memorial University’s President’s Award for Exemplary Service and a Nofflet Williams International Service Award, granted by the National University Technology Network, for her contribution to the field of distance education. She also led her unit to receive awards such as the Commonwealth of Learning’s Institutional Achievement Award; a Distinction in Innovation Award from the Department of Innovation Trade and Rural Development; and a public sector leadership award from the Institute for Public Administration in Canada. Ms. Vaughan is also an alumnus of the prestigious Governor General’s Leadership Conference.

-30-


Media Contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-8824
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca