Transalta CEO Farrell appointed the first chancellor of MRU
Transalta chief executive Dawn Farrell has been named the first chancellor at Mount Royal University.
The four-year appointment received unanimous approval from MRU’S board of governors, the school announced Monday.
“I was pretty blown away,” Farrell said of the new position. “I think it’s a great role because in terms of how I think about the economy, this is the time to really leverage everything we really know how to do, partner properly between all the major institutions and set the city up for the next 10 years of success.”
Farrell’s ties to Mount Royal date back to 1986 when she taught an economics class at the former college. Farrell, who previously served on the university’s board of governors, was given an honorary doctorate of laws degree from MRU last year.
She has been president and CEO at Transalta since 2010.
“This is a pretty special time for Calgarians,” she said. “We have to reinvent the city, we have to redefine who we are, we have to partner with all the educational institutions here to be a go-to destination for students, we have to really rethink how we diversify this city and make it important and special.”
Farrell said her long-standing connection to, and relationship with, Mount Royal University — both personal and through her career in the energy industry — will set the path for work to be done.
“I’m pretty well-conditioned with the passion of education, the passion of what Mount Royal does and the passion of what it looks like to say, ‘We’re going to find our way, we’re creative, we’re smart, we’re can-doers.’ So, I hope I can bring that kind of energy to the team at MRU.”
Being named first chancellor of the university is an honour, Farrell said, adding she’s got her work cut out for her.
“Being the first and being who I am, the number one thing I think about is how to set the bar so high that it’s just really hard to get over it,” she said. “So if you’re going to have to really, really work hard to define a role, that shows the community what can be done ... I’ve got lots of work to do to figure out what that looks like.”
In the position, Farrell will serve as an adviser to Mount Royal’s president and vice-chancellor Tim Rahilly and will work closely with the board of governors to create a connection between the university and the community at large, Rahilly said.
“Having a chancellor allows us to enter the next phase of our development. The way I view it, personally, is that the chancellor is both ambassador for the university and the broader community, as well as a sage adviser to the community as we move forward in our own strategic planning.”
Rahilly said he hopes Farrell’s experience, passion and insight will help shape the university’s path forward.
“I’m very excited to have someone like Dawn Farrell, who is a business leader, who has the kinds of connections with government, has a strong past with the university and understands us really well,” he said. “Dawn is very passionate about this connection ... and making sure that institutions are of great service to society ... I share those passions so having that kind of encouragement is really going to help us move forward.”
Farrell’s past community work includes time with United Way Calgary and the Calgary Stampede.
Farrell was chosen by a search committee led by Rahilly that included members of the school’s alumni association and students’ association. The formal installation of Farrell will occur in November during the school’s fall convocation. The chancellor’s role is an unpaid, volunteer position.