Dr. Stephanie Chu
Biography:
Dr. Stephanie Chu has 30 years of experience at research and teaching-intensive universities, with over a decade in senior leadership roles, reporting to VPAs. She was Vice Provost, Teaching & Learning and Interim AVP, Research at Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Director, Teaching & Learning Centre, and Special Projects Advisor to the AVP, Academic at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Chu brings an experienced eye to UCW programs, currency in technological and curricular innovation, faculty development, research, and scholarly activity.
Starting as Executive Dean at UCW in 2021, she subsequently held interim Vice President, Academic and University Access Program (UAP) Chair roles and is now Associate Vice-President, Teaching, Learning & Scholarship, with broad responsibility for teaching, learning and scholarship, including research operations and supports, educational technology projects, educational and faculty development, quality assurance in teaching and learning, and curricular innovation.
Expertise and Experience
With an academic background in educational psychology, Dr. Chu has made contributions to educational development at multiple levels. She was adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education at SFU, contributing to the Educational Technology Learning Design, Educational Leadership and Transformational Change programs. She has served as an expert reviewer for the quality assurance process audit (QAPA) of the BC Degree Quality Assessment Board, the Future Skills Centre’s “Shock-proofing the future of work” grants, several Canadian teaching and learning centres and for organizations such as eCampusOntario, BCcampus, Educause, and the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education.
Dr. Chu thrives in (re)creating and building relationships and units to advance an organization's collaborative culture and long-term goals. Examples include leading the functional team at SFU’s Canvas LMS transition and implementation and establishing collaborative partnerships between the Teaching & Learning Centre and other service units including the Library, Student Learning Commons, IT, Faculty Relations, and academic departments. At KPU, she established the Teaching & Learning Commons to better address institutional needs and align with Faculty and KPU directions. Additionally, she was asked to restructure the Office of Research & Scholarship and realign the unit to better serve scholars, researchers and KPU and served as interim AVP, Research for two years, concurrent with her Vice Provost role.
Scholarly Activity
Dr. Chu has been immersed in educational development (ED), ED leadership and related associations. For example, she has facilitated numerous sessions, co-authored a guide on teaching and learning centre reviews and led the planning and co-hosted the 35th National Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) conference. She co-established and served as first co-chair for the BC Teaching & Learning Council. She is currently pursuing the Certificate in Intercultural Studies at UBC and has recently completed the Diversity and Inclusion Award of Achievement (UBC) and San’yas: Indigenous Cultural Safety Training through the BC Provincial Health Services Authority.