McClellan brings valuable perspective to scholarship

Shirley McClellan may have stepped down from public office in January, but she has a new office awaiting her on campus.

The former deputy premier of Alberta and former MLA for Drumheller-Stettler has accepted a joint appointment as Distinguished Scholar in Residence with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics and the School of Business.

“I am pleased to be contributing to the University of Alberta by sharing my own experience with students,” McClellan said. “To enhance their education with what I have learned during my years in government service, as a rural Albertan and as a proud citizen of this province, is something I find very rewarding.”

As a distinguished scholar, McClellan will deliver a series of lectures to undergraduate and graduate students on such topics as government decision-making; research strategies pertaining to rural development and business; and in the business school’s Department of Strategic Management and Organization, offering lectures to the MBA program.

In her related capacity as a distinguished scholar, McClellan will also advise the U of A on Campus Alberta initiatives, through which the province’s post-secondary institutions work together to find new ways for rural Albertans to access degree-granting programs. McClellan’s three-year appointment runs to August 31, 2010.

U of A President Indira Samarasekera said the long-time MLA’s deep understanding of rural communities and years of experience in public life will make her contributions particularly valuable.

“The University of Alberta is truly honoured to welcome Shirley McClellan, a champion for all Albertans and a connector to rural Alberta. With her broad base of outstanding expertise in areas such as agriculture and rural development, her work will help to continue the momentum for creative discovery and engage students from across the province.”

McClellan served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Drumheller-Stettler constituency from 1987 - 2007. During her six terms in office she served as minister of health, community development, agriculture, food and rural development, international and intergovernmental relations and, most recently, as deputy premier and finance minister. She retired as an MLA in 2007 and now farms in New Brigden, Alta., with her family.

McClellan has been involved in bringing further education to rural areas, serving on the board of directors for the Alberta Association of Continuing Education and the Canadian Association for Continuing Education. She also served as co-ordinator of the Big Country Further Education Council for 12 years, in addition to serving on various education advisory committees.