Board of Governors

Board members are responsible for managing the college on behalf of the citizens of Alberta. Lakeland College’s board includes:

public members who are appointed by the provincial government
staff members from both academic and non-academic areas of the college
student members
the college’s president as an ex-officio member

Public members:

Adam Waterman, chair
Dean Fahselt, vice chair
Brent Fischer
Dr. Sean Lessard
Barb Shackel-Hardman
Kelly Smith-Fraser
A.J. Mokelky

Academic staff member – Wanjiku Kaai
Non-academic staff member – Trisha Mechor

Student members:

Michiko Tsuyuki
Alana Olson

Ex Officio/President and CEO - Dr. Alice Wainwright Stewart

Adam Waterman, chair

Adam Waterman

joined the Board of Governors in 2021 as a public member
appointed chair in 2022
has worked in the oil and gas industry for 15 years and is currently chief operating officer of a Lloydminster-based producer
is past president of the Lloydminster Oilfield Technical Society, among other board positions within the community
has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, as well as graduate degrees in business and finance from University of Fredericton and Georgetown University.
currently lives in Lloydminster, Alta.

Dean Fahselt, vice chair

Dean Fahselt

appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022
has been involved in the management and ownership of several businesses within the agriculture sector throughout his career
current CEO of AgLink Canada, an organization focused on supporting Canadian agriculture businesses
with his wife also operates a small 150 cow/calf cattle operation that provides a high level of personal satisfaction and tight connection to the local agriculture community.
is a life-long learner, and has taken numerous courses to progress his skills and knowledge
currently lives in the Vermilion, Alta. area

Brent Fischer, public board member

Brent Fischer

appointed to the Board of Governors in 2020
co-owner of Pleasantview Farms Ltd
has been involved in a number of local organizations, including the Irma minor hockey program, Irma Summerspiel, Alberta Charolais Association, Hardisty Feeder Association, and the MD of Wainwright Ag Service Board
current chair of the Irma School & District School Enhancement Society, which works with Buffalo Trails Public Schools to raise money to enhance the new school building and provide a joint-use agreement that allows the community to use the building for their needs
received the Senators' Contribution Award for Volunteerism and Civic Engagement in 2017
a graduate from the agriculture mechanics program at Olds College
currently lives in the Irma, Alta. area, where he actively farms with his son and daughter

Dr. Sean Lessard, public board member

Dr. Sean Lessard

appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022
born on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation and later adopted by a family in North Battleford, Sask.
has worked as a respite worker, social worker, teacher, counsellor and consultant focusing on Indigenous education
held faculty positions at the University of Regina in education and the University of Alberta in teacher education
his passion for Indigenous youth takes him across the country for research, speaking engagements and program development
is CEO of his own company - Name to Place Educational and Community Consulting, based in Edmonton, Alta.
graduated from Lakeland's rehabilitation services program in 1994 and later earned a bachelor of education, a master of educational psychology, and a doctorate of elementary education and teaching from the University of Alberta
currently lives in Edmonton, Alta.

Kelly Smith-Fraser, public board member

Kelly Smith-Fraser

appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022
was raised on the family farm, a mixed grain and purebred cattle operation at Wimborne, Alta.
began managing the family ranch, NuHaven Cattle Co. at Pine Lake, Alta. shortly after graduation
has served on several boards, including the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association and Canadian Cattle Association
has served as a delegate for Alberta Beef Producers, where she later became the first female board chair in the organization's 50-year history
enhancing youth opportunities has become a driving force, and she volunteers for the CAREERS: The Next Generation and the Canadian Cattleman's Foundation boards
current chair of the AFSC (Alberta Financial Services Corporation) Board of Directors
graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, majoring in marketing
currently lives near Innisfail, Alta. with her husband Scott and their daughter Aubrey

Barb Shackel-Hardman, public board member

Barb Shackel-Hardman

first appointed to the Board of Governors in 2023
has spent 34 years in public service at the provincial and municipal level
worked for Alberta Agriculture in technical roles in soil and water conservation and senior management roles leading extension specialists in business development, livestock management and communications
most recent role was leading environmental compliance and agriculture service programs for Parkland County
has a Bachelor of Science in agriculture as well as certificates in adult and continuing education, business management and workplace learning.
is a professional agrologist
has completed several international development projects to improve governance and gender equality opportunities for women in agriculture and provide training to government officials
currently lives in Stony Plain, Alta.

A.J. Mokelky, public board member

Portrait of A.J. Mokelky, public board member

appointed to the Board of Governors in 2024
was raised in Lloydminster and attended Lakeland College in 2010. He continued his education at the University of Saskatchewan where he graduated from the Edwards School of Business in 2014 and with distinction from the College of Law in 2018
works as a lawyer at Revering Law Office in Lloydminster specializing in corporate and commercial law, real estate, wills and estates and civil litigation
sits on the Board of Directors and acts as the chair of the governance committee for Startup Lloydminster

Wanjiku Kaai - academic staff member

returns to the board in 2023 after serving other terms
is a public services librarian at Lakeland College with over 35 years experience
provides library instruction and reference services to students, faculty and staff
is responsible for developing the college's multimedia collection to meet the needs of both students and faculty
holds a BEd from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Master of Library Science (MLS) from Northern Illinois University (USA)
lives in Vermilion, Alta.

Trisha Mechor, non-academic staff member

was appointed to the board in 2023
Joined Lakeland College in February 2017 at the Emergency Training Centre and moved to agricultural sciences in December 2017
is the administrative assistant to the agricultural sciences dean
completed a human resources management certificate at NAIT
has worked in diverse fields including post-secondary, oilfield, insurance and courier
her experience ranges from working in a Mod Yard to meetings at the Alberta legislature
enjoys downtime on the golf course
lives in Vermilion, Alta. with her husband and daughter

Michiko Tsuyuki, student member

Michiko Tsuyuki

2024-2025 student representative for the Vermilion campus
born and raised in Edmonton, Alta.
in her second year of the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation diploma
treasurer for the Lakeland Environmental Club and the Lakeland Outdoor Recreation Club

Alana Olson, student member

Alana Olson

2024-2025 Board of Governor's student member
born and raised just outside of Maidstone, SK
joined Rustler’s Women’s Basketball team in 2019. Over the past five years, she has proudly represented the Rustlers, serving as Co-Captain for the last three seasons. Alana is especially proud of the team’s historic accomplishments, including winning the first ever ACAC gold medal for our program in 2019-2020, capturing another ACAC gold and CCAA bronze in 2021-2022, and going undefeated this past year to claim our third ACAC gold and the CCAA National Championship, which were hosted at home at the Lloydminster campus
joined the Students’ Association of Lakeland College as a councillor in 2021, and later served as the Director of External Affairs for two years. In this role, Alana had the privilege of working closely with the Alberta Students’ Executive Council, advocating for student interests across the province. Additionally, in 2023-2024, was part of the inaugural Saskatchewan Post Secondary Students’ Council, connecting with students from diverse programs across the province. Since fall 2023, has had the honour of chairing the Lakeland College Academic Council, where she continues to work toward improving student experience
in 2024, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in collaboration with Athabasca University and is currently in the final year of her business diploma on the Lloydminster campus

Board policy handbook

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Board of Governors

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