Former Drumheller-Stettler MLA Shirley McClellan has taken on a new post as Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge.
“I am very honoured to be selected to serve as the U of L’s Chancellor,” says McClellan. “I’ve a had a strong affinity for the U of L, which dates back to my days not only as a parent of a U of L student, but in the continuing education field, where we worked with the university and the college to develop credit programming for rural communities.”
McClellan was first elected in 1987 as MLA for Chinook. She served as Minister Responsible for Rural Development, Minister of Health, Minister of Community Development and Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. After being elected to her fifth term in 2001, she became Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. She then served as Minister of Finance. She resigned from politics the same day as Premier Ralph Klein, on January 15, 2007.
Since politics, she has remained active as member of the Olds College Board of Governors and is chair of the board of directors for Horse Racing Alberta. She received an honorary degree from the University of Lethbridge last year. Her daughter graduated from the school. She succeeds outgoing chancellor Richard Davidson.
“Shirley is well known and well respected both locally and provincially,” Louella Cronkhite, a member of Senate and chair of the Chancellor Selection Committee of the University of Lethbridge. “We believe her enthusiasm for education and her commitment to our goals will be helpful in taking the University of Lethbridge forward in many different ways.“
McClellan currently farms with her family near New Brigden.
