Admin Faculty & Staff

As Operations Coordinator for Computing Flexible Learning I work directly with 65+ instructors. My role includes collaborating with the Program Head to provide functional direction to 4 Program Assistants to organize, manage the scheduling and the set up over 150 COMP part-time course sections every term.

Computing Flexible Learning is the largest single department area in the School of Computing and Academic Studies, SoCAS. We deliver COMP courses into 15 different computing programs including laddered credentials to the CST FLEX Diploma.

As a spreadsheet expert, I teach MS Excel from beginner to advanced as a Flexible Learning instructor. Teaching fitness classes at the Burnaby campus initially led me to apply to work full-time at BCIT. Over the last 18 years, I have also volunteered for several committees including the BCIT Education Council and the Emergency Response Team.

For almost 20 years it has been a privilege to be a part of the BCIT Computing Flexible Learning team. As well as helping to grow our department, I have grown personally and have been able to earn credentials in business management and education.

My focus is on year-round planning, sustainable operations, academic integrity and the success of over 2,500 individual students every year.

As Program Assistant for Computing Flexible Learning, I work with a Flexible Learning Coordinator and Program Head to support 65+ Instructors and 2,500+ students in 15 programs. My portfolio includes: MS Office, Computer Applications, Database and Analytics Technologies.

I work with hundreds of students every term to manage priority registrations. Due to limited available seats, student priority is based on two main factors; prerequisite completion and program declaration.

My goal is to help students find answers or point them in the right direction. Every term when registration opens we are very busy and manage a large number of student enquires. The best and fastest method of communication is by email: cstflex@bcit.ca. Include your student number and allow 2-3 business days for a reply.

As Program Assistant for Computing Flexible Learning, I work with a Flexible Learning Coordinator and Program Head to support 65+ Instructors and 2,500+ students in 15 programs. My portfolio includes: Dental Reception, Web, and Systems Analysis.

I work with hundreds of students every term to manage priority registrations. Due to limited available seats, student priority is based on two main factors; prerequisite completion and program declaration.

Part of my role on the COMP Flexible Learning team is to help manage priority registrations. Due to limited available seats, student priority is based on prerequisite completion and program declaration. My goal is to help students find answers or point them in the right direction.

When registration opens we are very busy and manage a large number of student enquires. The best and fastest method of communication is by email: cstflex@bcit.ca.

Always be sure to include your student number and allow 2-3 business days for a reply when registration opens and at term start.

Please do not send the same request multiple times, or phone us the same day after sending your email.

At the start of my business career, I focused on operations, hiring, and training. After 2 years, I became regional supervisor and expanded operations over 300% with twenty-eight direct reports. Over the course of 7 years, I acquired skills in hands-on management, advertising campaigns, building brands, and increasing customer loyalty.

We achieved exponential growth and sustainable returns with new product and service development. I was an early adopter of the personal computer (PC) for business use when mainframes and minicomputers were still in wide use. My career in computing and IT started with an international electronics manufacturer to promote our new MS DOS systems for use in business, government and education accounts.

By 1988, our business model had changed to include turn-key PC solutions with peripherals, software, service, and training. We delivered multi-user accounting, POS, and desktop publishing solutions with the first low-cost PostScript laser printers. At that time, I also piloted the first networked PCs with third-party education software into BC high schools.

I was promoted to branch manager of the Vancouver Computer Centre, where I also delivered classroom training for operating systems, databases, and spreadsheets. In 1991, I took on a technical role as a systems integrator and, then became the corporate computer support lead for Western Canada.

In 1994, I transitioned to the VAR channel to provide computer hardware, memory, storage, and peripherals. My role changed to the marketing and delivery of vendor-certified training for SCO UNIX, and Novell NetWare. I became a Microsoft Solution Provider, delivering the MCSE series of courses.

After 20 years in business and IT management, I moved to post-secondary education and joined BCIT as Operations Coordinator for Computer Systems Technology (CST) Part-time Studies. My job description included increasing student satisfaction, creating targeted advertising campaigns, and doubling registrations.

I achieved that goal in 1999 by listening to students and industry to develop new courses and programs.

One of my first tasks was to establish a Computing presence at our Downtown campus. We had been using third party locations to deliver our specialty networking programs. I personally converted two classrooms to PC labs for those day programs and to run COMP courses at night and on the weekends.

I have produced and directed over 100 new industry-driven COMP courses with above-average student satisfaction ratings. I also developed a series of Applied Associate Certificates as sub-sets of the CST FLEX Diploma for those with other post-secondary education who want to specialize in one area of IT.

As Program Head, I lead over 50 instructors with a Flexible Learning Operations Coordinator and 3 Program Assistants to deliver over five hundred CRNs per year in fifteen programs. Under my direction, our COMP courses have generated more than $90 MM in tuition and made Computing one of the largest program areas at BCIT.

I established “BCIT School of Computing” in 2007 as a re-brand for the CST department and directed the development of the first sector-based web landing page with one URL for marketing. In 2011, I established the current BCIT Computing brand for the IT programs within the School of Computing and Academic Studies (SoCAS).

My methods were documented as best practices for Flexible Learning Coordinators and Program Heads across BCIT in 2010. I also wrote the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide to provide students with a single comprehensive source for information and contacts to help with student success.

Since the 1990s, I have recruited, onboarded, and mentored over fifty new faculty. I have also participated on councils and selection committees for dean, associate dean, and full-time faculty positions. I am a member of the Flexible Learning Part-time Studies PD Committee.

BCIT has given me the framework to develop 100+ new COMP courses and several credentials that did not previously exist. My Associate Certificates are sub-sets of the CST Diploma aimed at adults who have other or related post-secondary education and want to earn a current credential in Computing and IT.

My tagline, “Start with just one course,” is used to encourage people to explore and learn new Computing and IT skills one course at a time. They can then move on to complete various laddered credentials. I feel fortunate to have helped tens of thousands of individual students learn new IT skills to advance their careers.

Start with:

• COMP 1002 – Applied Computer Concepts – become an expert Windows PC user; this course, or equivalent knowledge, is the foundation for all other COMP courses

Then move on with one of:

• COMP 1516 – Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python) – learn code to build software applications
• COMP 1630 – Relational Database Design and SQL – use code to develop data information systems
• COMP 1850 – Web Design and Development with HTML – write code to create web pages