SPECIAL ISSUE The alumni magazine of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences facebook.com/UofAALES @UofAALES www.ales.ualberta.ca INNOVATING CHANGE Research collaboration takes tech to another level P. 29 GROWING GREEN & GOLD Shirley Ross is one in a million P. 43 UNIVERSAL APPEAL Making mobility garments matter P. 33 A WHOLE NEW VIEW HOW THE FACULTY IS MOVING FORWARD P. 4 CONTENTS This issue is a special edition highlighting the ways the faculty exemplifies the priorities of the 2017–2021 strategic plan. To learn more, go to strategic.ales.ualberta.ca. WHERE WE EXCEL 16 A TRANSFORMATIVE GIFT More than $25 million dollars given to the University of Alberta's Botanic Garden will make a deep cultural connection 18 BUILDING A NEW FUTURE After almost four decades, one of the faculty’s dearest memories for many, the Ag-For atrium, gets a new look and a new lease on life. 24 GLOBALLY APPEALING ATTIRE One young alumnus is taking the fashion world by storm, thanks to inspiration from his roots and the lessons learned through his practicum experience. 28 GROWTH OPPORTUNITY How one scientific partnership pays dividends for science, discovery and the common good. 33 GETTING OUT THERE Individuals with mobility issues now have a new lease 18 on outdoor life, thanks to Megan Strickfaden. 2 GREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE is published twice a year by the Faculty of Agricultural, 7 Life & Environmental Sciences. It is distributed to alumni and friends of the faculty. Dean HOW WE BUILD Stan Blade Editor 4 Cait Wills WHAT’S NEXT? Development Team The ALES strategic planning Marie Perron group reflects on the last 15 Katherine Irwin months of strategic planning, Amy Stevens where it’s gotten us and where Dawn Donnelly it’s going to take us. WHEN WE ENGAGE Art Direction/Graphic Design 38 Paige Weir 7– 15 Contributing Writers TWO DECADES OF SUPPORT Caroline Barlott, Bev Betkowski, WE’RE MAKING IT HAPPEN One season at a time, the Sheila Graham Helen Metella, Read how ALES is turning Environmental & Conservation Mifi Purvis, Matthew Pyper, Cait Wills science into solutions for the Sciences and Forestry Spring Contributing Photographers public good, connecting to our Field School has benefited from a Mike Alexander (Government of communities and enhancing the partnership with Portage College. Alberta), Curtis Comeau, student experience. Jessica Fern Facette, Amanda Kelley, Andrea Riera (Lindsifarne 41 Productions), Richard Siemens, LEADING BY EXAMPLE Cait Wills, Wings+Horns (supplied), Professor, scientist, academic and Contributing Illustrators Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape administrative leader: just some Architects, Paige Weir words to describe Anne Naeth. But what inspires her? Send your comments to: The Editor 43 GREENHOUSE GROWING HER COMMUNITY 2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre Alumna Shirley Ross shows how University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5 connecting back builds success Tel.: 780-492-8127 Fax: 780-492-8524 Email: [email protected] 45 Website: www.ales.ualberta.ca IN MEMORIUM The Faculty of ALES notes with Publications Mail Agreement No. regret the passing of its following 42038516 alumni Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 46 2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre AFTERGRAD University of Alberta Food scientist Mandi Hoke Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5 explains how ALES impacted her 43 career trajectory THE ALES EXPERIENCE – STRATEGIC PLAN EDITION 3 ALES Dean Stan Blade WHAT'S NEXT? The ALES strategic planning group reflects on the last 15 months of strategic planning, where it’s gotten us and where it’s going to take us BY CAROLINE BARLOTT Strategic plans tend to be lengthy vice-dean; John Bell, assistant dean into a larger conversation around documents full of buzz words (administration); Rehana Bennett, solidifying the faculty’s identity, direc- and information that’s difficult executive assistant to the dean; tion, stakeholder engagement and ef- to understand from an outside Jillian Pratt, recruiting specialist for fectiveness, says Adamowicz, who is perspective. But the recent Faculty of the faculty, as well as the chairs both vice-dean and a professor in the Agricultural, Life and Environmental of the four departments and a Department of Resource Economics Sciences’ strategic plan fits on a representative of student programs— and Environmental Sociology. double-sided laminated sheet of all of whom have unique perspectives These team members met over the paper with clear points, objectives, of different aspects of the faculty. course of 16 months and were guided targets and dates for when goals are “Over the course of almost two through strategic planning activities to be started and completed over the years, this group of people who led by Alan Day, senior advisor for next five years. are representative of this faculty transformational change at the Creating that document was not, brought their opinions to bear for U of A. The goal, he says, was to however, a short and straight-forward something that is deeply profound— bring the team together and “shift process. it is how we will move our faculty the emphasis from a result in the plan Instead, it involved a lengthy forward, together,” says Blade. “This to the process.” commitment by the 11 participants process has been lengthy; it has Day, who works across the who spent hours determining what been demanding, but this group has university campus as a member of would be best for a faculty that continued to push towards the goal of Organizational Health & Effectiveness, has more than 2,000 graduate and where we are now—with firm goals in wanted to ensure that the plan did undergraduate students, 110 faculty mind—and with a view to the future not follow the typical path people members and annual average of $40 of what we will achieve.” may expect. Rather than just million in external research funding. This process began in December having people meet for a couple of The diverse team consisted of the 2015, when a series of questions weekends, he wanted to have the Stan Blade, the dean; Vic Adamowicz, about resource allocation developed process extend over up to 16 months 4 GREENHOUSE SOLVING GLOBAL PROBLEMS TOGETHER INSTITUTIONAL FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD build, experience, excel, engage, sustain TURN SCIENCE INTO INCREASE ENHANCE SOLUTIONS FOR THE CONNECTIONS THE STUDENT PUBLIC GOOD TO OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE STAKEHOLDER Stakeholder Operational Societal Innovation Relationship Excellence Build / enhance ALES' reputation and Influence Make a direct connection between Conduct high Develop and impact research ALES' programs and enhance student learning connections to our external communities INTERNAL PROCESS Capitalize on our Develop a culture interdisciplinary to support capacity to identify students' success and address grand challenges FAMILY / TEAM / BELONGING COMPETENCE / CONFIDENCE • Nurturing close and loyal relationships • Having assurance In one's skills to achieve and with one's family and/or co-worker. make a positive contribution at work. RIGHTS / RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY • Recognizing the worth, accomplishments • Promoting an organizational environment and property of others. where all people are respected and have their RESPONSIBILITY basic needs met so they can develop their full • Being accountable and In charge of a potential. specific area or project. CREATIVITY VALUES COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION • Sharing and applylng new and original Ideas • Transmitting ideas and factual data and thoughts. between people and components of an organization. THE ALES EXPERIENCE – STRATEGIC PLAN EDITION 5 HOW WE BUILD with over 25 meetings. Keeping where more than 50 faculty members the student population so that their momentum is always a challenge, discussed their top priorities over degrees are even more useful, and says Day, and that “the other part is the next five years, and there was a the students “don’t just feel like they making sure all the work is connected faculty-wide session in August 2016. are consumers of a product.” while maintaining continuity Including the ideas of people outside The team learned that work throughout the process.” of the strategic plan team was a big experience opportunities, practicum Each time they met, team mem- part of the process that proved to be experiences, and co-ops result in bers actively took part in an activity; integral to the result, according to Day. better outcomes for students, so the gatherings were akin to workshops “The first session provided an faculty plans on including more of rather than traditional meetings opportunity for staff and faculty to those in degree programs. Ideas for where only one person would speak. learn and interact,” says Adamowicz. events have also been proposed, such In this way, each team member was “And at the second meeting, we as a series of TED-like talks, whereby continuously contributing and seeing talked about issues where we can students and faculty could learn how their thoughts were making an work together and how to best about each other’s work. impact. The key was really to engage support each other.” Day says the ALES strategic plan team members and have them see Deanna Williamson, chair of the is one of the best he’s been involved results, says Day. Department of Human Ecology and a with due to the total dedication of “There were actual tangible strategic planning team member, liked those involved and the guidance and outcomes that we could use,” says the idea of taking time to develop bite- information provided by external Pratt, citing one of the workshops sized bits of information. There were voices. “The team’s commitment was where the team determined issues far more steps than she had typically outstanding—at any point things such as emerging trends in faculty, seen in a strategic planning process, could have fallen off, by they didn’t. along with who the stakeholders are but she says she was impressed how And they really wanted the process and issues of importance to them.