Brescia University College establishes Centre for Women and Leadership and announces inaugural Distinguished Chair

Above: Brescia University College Centre for Women and Leadership inaugural Distinguished Chair, Dr. Marlene Janzen Le Ber

London, ON – Brescia University College is pleased to announce the creation of the Brescia University College Centre for Women and Leadership and the appointment of its inaugural Distinguished Chair, Dr. Marlene Janzen Le Ber.

Launching July 1, 2021, the Centre for Women and Leadership at Brescia is designed to be a nationally recognized hub for the scholarship and advancement of women’s leadership. Dr. Janzen Le Ber, who currently serves as the Chair of Brescia’s School of Leadership and Social Change, will take on this important role to lead the Centre and heighten its name across Canada and internationally.

“Since our founding in 1919, Brescia has been committed to the cultivation, empowerment and education of women leaders,” states Brescia Interim Principal, Cheryl Jensen. “As the landscape of women’s leadership rapidly changes around us, we are proud to respond by launching our new Centre for Women and Leadership. We are confident that this dedicated centre will greatly benefit women at Brescia – and beyond – and their leadership capabilities, as well as help to further enhance Brescia’s already renowned reputation in this area.”

The Centre for Women and Leadership will continue to recognize Brescia as a leader in women’s education, women’s pedagogy and the advancement of women. The Centre will be responsible for: the development and implementation of leadership educational and research programming; the creation of new leadership courses and programs; embedding leadership within the University’s core curriculum and forging new partnerships with prominent individual and organization leaders across our country and globe to offer women new opportunities to develop their capacity to influence and shape our world.

“Launching a new Centre for Women and Leadership requires a Chair who is not only immensely knowledgeable about the elements and pedagogy of leadership, but also someone who has a deep passion for the mobilization and inclusion of women in leadership in every industry and public sphere,” states Brescia Vice-Principal and Academic Dean, Dr. Lauretta Frederking. She goes on to affirm, “Dr. Marlene Janzen Le Ber epitomizes these qualities, and we are confident that under her leadership Brescia’s new Centre will thrive so that Brescia graduates, and women elsewhere, are equipped to lead their communities and contribute to change.”

Dr. Marlene Janzen Le Ber, recipient of Brescia’s Excellence in Research Award, joined Brescia in 2015 after serving on the Board of Trustees from 2007 through 2013. Prior to her time at Brescia and her doctoral studies, Dr. Janzen Le Ber was a health care executive within academic health sciences centers, known as a strategic leader who spearheaded numerous health system innovations.

Her research broadly focuses on the complex processes of leadership at both the individual level and at the organizational level and – more specifically – on the processes of social innovation that address issues of social (in)justice and (in)equity for vulnerable, disenfranchised and marginalized populations. The contexts for these complex processes of leadership include cross-sector partnerships, transdisciplinary teams, policy and social change, and women and leadership.

A multiple research grant holder in complex processes of leadership, her current research spans core topics in leadership, i.e. leader character, leader aspirations and leader identity development in women to policy and social change. Dr. Janzen Le Ber earned a PhD (Strategy) from Ivey Business School, MScN (Admin) and BScN from Western University.

Dr. Janzen Le Ber will begin her three-year appointment as Distinguished Chair on July 1, 2021. Her immediate priority will be the development, coordination and teaching of the Diversity in Leadership Diploma and Diversity in Leadership Certificate curriculums. These new influential programs, inclusively designed for non-traditional students, were made possible through a $250,000 donation from Canada Life in January 2021 and are expected to launch by September 2022.

When speaking to the significance of the Centre and her reflection on being given the opportunity to lead as inaugural Distinguished Chair, Dr. Janzen Le Ber says, “The creation of Brescia’s Centre for Women and Leadership supports the growing need for a greater diversity of leaders - leaders with the strength of character to balance taking care and taking charge. I am thrilled with the opportunity to use my scholarship and previous executive leadership experience to facilitate the fulfillment of the Centre’s unique mission.”

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About Brescia University College

Brescia University College, Canada’s women’s university college, is affiliated with Western University. The 1,600 women registered as either full- or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in the Schools of Behavioural & Social Sciences, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Humanities, and Leadership & Social Change in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. As a Catholic University College, Brescia welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity. For more current and archived news, a listing of faculty experts, and photos please visit our Online Media Room, at brescia.uwo.ca/communications/media_relations.