We are pleased to announce that Dr. Michelle Stack has been appointed as the Academic Director of the UBC Learning Exchange for a five-year term, commencing November 1, 2022.
Dr. Stack is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies, a former policy advisor, and a public commentator on education. Her research is focused on educational equity, knowledge translation and community-engaged research.
Dr. Stack received the Killam Award for Teaching for her innovative courses focusing on knowledge translation and equity, and intergenerational and community-engaged learning, and for her commitment to advocating for students. She was also a recipient of the Inaugural Public Humanities Hub award in recognition of her work as a public scholar and her commitment to assisting students and colleagues in expanding scholarly conversations through media engagement.
Dr. Stack has led numerous courses and workshops focused on building the capacity of scholars and scholar-practitioners to engage media to expand research-informed public conversations and policy debates. She is conducting international research with colleagues focusing on campus cooperatives and is a recent member of the Diverse Solidarity Economies Collective.
In her new position, Dr. Stack will serve as the academic champion for the UBC Learning Exchange, taking a lead role in ensuring that the unit’s work aligns with UBC's academic mission. In collaboration with the Director and an expert team of community-university practitioners, Dr. Stack will help lead the development of the renewed strategic plan for the UBC Learning Exchange and build upon and add to current community-university engagement activities.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Angela Towle whose three consecutive terms as Academic Director have spanned the past ten years, most recently culminating in a successful external review – the first in the unit’s 20 year history.
We look forward to working with Dr. Stack and are confident that the UBC Learning Exchange will continue building on its strengths and meeting the needs of its diverse audience under her leadership.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Stack in her new role.
Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, pro tem, UBC Vancouver
Robin Ciceri
Vice-President, External Relations