Named in recognition of ARUCC Past President Andrew Arida, whose contributions to the Canadian registrarial and admissions professions were numerous, the Andrew Arida Distinguished Service Award recognizes members or associate members who have exemplary records of service to the Association, have contributed to the advancement of the Canadian registrarial profession significantly, and continue to be actively employed by a member or associate member institution/organization. Nominations can be made by any ARUCC member or associate member. Nominations can be made by any ARUCC member or associate member.

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2022

Alison Pickrell  (University of Saskatchewan)

Alison Pickrell will be familiar to many ARUCC members. She is known provincially, regionally, and nationally as a skilled senior student affairs professional with almost 40 years of experience in the postsecondary sector. Alison is retiring from the University of Saskatchewan in July 2022. In recognition of her long and distinguished career, the University of Saskatchewan staff would like to nominate her for the Andrew Arida Distinguished Service Award, as we know she wishes to remain connected to the profession after her retirement.

Alison began her long and distinguished career in the Registrar’s Office at the U of S in 1982 while still a student and transitioned to being a full-time employee in 1985. Since then, she has held progressively more responsible positions in registrarial areas, both at the U of S and at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Science (SIAST, now SaskPoly). This includes service as Registrar at SIAST from 2003-6, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs, SIAST, 2006-11, Director of Enrolment, U of S, 2011-2017, and Assistant Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management, U of S, 2017 to present.

Throughout her career Alison has shown a dedication to her colleagues, profession, and to students that has been admirable. She has made a tremendous contribution in areas such as strategic enrolment management and enrolment planning, policy formulation, student mobility and education credential portability, Indigenous and International recruitment and retention, technological advancements and implementations, and learning pathways. In recognition of her considerable contributions to the profession, we think she would be a worthy recipient of the Andrew Arida Distinguished Service Award.

 

Beth Cann (Dalhousie University)

Beth Cann, Associate Registrar and Director, Academic Systems and Services, has been a member of the Dalhousie community for more than two decades, occupying increasingly senior roles within Project Management, Information Technology Services, and most recently, the Registrar’s Office. Throughout her tenure, Beth has consistently demonstrated the highest levels of service, collaboration, creativity, and innovation. She has led countless critical transformations, both at Dalhousie and in the Atlantic region (as chair of the Atlantic Registrar Council and executive member of AARAO), which demonstrate her tremendous skill, experience, and capacity as a registrarial leader.

 

Past Andrew Arida Distinguished Award Winners

(This award was created in 2021. The first winners of this award will be announced in 2022)