Catherine Heggerud appointed to lead Office of Signature Learning Experiences; Andrew Szeto appointed to lead Office of Institutional Commitments

I am pleased to announce two important appointments for both the Office of Signature Learning Experiences and Office of Institutional Commitments.

Office of Signature Learning Experiences

Dr. Catherine Heggerud, DBA, has been seconded as the inaugural executive director of the Office of Signature Learning Experiences (OSLE), effective July 1, 2025. Heggerud is an experienced educator and administrator and has shown exemplary leadership in her roles within the Haskayne School of Business, which include associate dean (undergraduate programs), director (strategic initiatives), and director of the MBA and Master of Management graduate programs. Heggerud also brings extensive industry and practical experience to the role, including senior positions at Telus, Enmax, and Alberta Central. 

As a recipient of a University of Calgary Teaching Award for work-integrated learning, she has been recognized for her commitment to bridging academia and industry through experiential learning. In this new role, she will take the lead in establishing the OSLE as the central co-ordinating office overseeing academic programming in experiential and work-integrated learning, entrepreneurial thinking, undergraduate research experiences, and global learning.

I'm confident that the academy will greatly benefit from her vision, innovation, and leadership in enhancing student engagement and creating a positive impact in alignment with the Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan.  

Office of Institutional Commitments

Dr. Andrew Szeto, PhD, has been seconded as the inaugural executive director of the Office of Institutional Commitments (OIC), effective March 1, 2025.  Dr. Szeto is a professor in the Department of Psychology and has served as the academic director for the Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (CMHWS) since 2016. 

As academic director for the CMHWS, he has demonstrated his ability to foster cross-campus collaborations, driving meaningful change to the way the University of Calgary supports mental health and well-being for students, staff and the broader community. He was instrumental in the development of the embedded Certificate for Mental Well-Being and Resilience, leads the national Collaborations for Change Conference, and co-hosts UFlourish, UCalgary’s annual mental health and well-being expo, which attracts over 2,500 participants each year.

Szeto’s approach to the CMHWS embodies the goal of the Office of Institutional Commitments, approaching UCalgary’s foundational commitments with a holistic framework that recognises their interconnectedness. Through his work, he prioritizes meaningful engagement and listening and honouring the diverse voices at UCalgary, as we continue to progress towards our goal of sparking global change and fostering a community where all can thrive.

The Office of Signature Learning Experiences and Office of Institutional Commitments were established last fall to simplify our administrative structure, better deploy resources, improve our ability to deliver on institutional commitments and enhance connectivity and responsiveness of administrative teams with the campus community. Szeto and Heggerud will work collaboratively to ensure that the University of Calgary continues to advance the commitments made in the Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan.

Please join me in congratulating both Dr. Catherine Heggerud and Dr. Andrew Szeto and welcoming them to their new roles.

Sandra Davidson
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
University of Calgary