Celebrating International Women’s Day
March 8 is International Women’s Day. We are proud to celebrate the inspiring women who contribute to Athabasca University’s mission, or who have turned to AU to advance their education, careers, and impact on society.
Today, we are dedicating all our social media channels and The Hub to feature the stories and work of inspiring women in the AU community. By celebrating women today—and every day—we hope to empower girls and women of all ages to pursue their dreams in learning, research, service, and beyond.
Creating safe, inclusive workplaces
Dr. Angela Workman-Stark has dedicated her career to safe and inclusive workplaces. As a former RCMP chief superintendent, she oversaw the RCMP’s response to widespread reports of gender discrimination and harassment.
At AU, she is an associate professor of organizational behaviour, and her research explores factors that contribute to more inclusive workplaces.
Understanding the impact of sexual violation, loss
Dr. Josie Auger of Bigstone Cree Nation has seen the lingering impact of sexual violation and loss on Indigenous women in her community and beyond.
She has explored these issues as a researcher and associate professor at AU.
Working to end weight stigma
Master of Counselling student Karli Jahn’s research into weight stigma helps shed light on society’s biases against larger bodies.
The Future Alumni Award winner’s interest in the topic is influenced by her own experiences with an eating disorder.
Breaking glass ceilings in business
Claudette McGowan (Master of Business Administration ’11) has worn several hats over her career in cybersecurity.
Her cybersecurity startup, Protexxa, puts her at the forefront of the fight against cybercrime targeting big organizations.
Supporting accessibility and inclusion
Brieann Baldock has spent the last six years supporting students through her role as an advisor on AU’s Accessibility Services team.
Born with a visual impairment, she also inspires as a member of Canada’s goalball team, which will represent the country at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Studying pride, politics, and police
Dr. Alexa DeGagne studies the relationships between 2SLGBTQIA+ activists seeking social justice and police organizations.
An associate professor of women’s and gender studies, she helps explain the history and politics of pride parades and current relationships with police.
Finding a path in STEM
By age eight, Natasha Donahue (Bachelor of Science ’21) already knew she wanted to be an astrophysicist. But that dream lay dormant for 20 years, stifled by the challenges she faced as a Métis woman, a high-school dropout with a learning disability, and then a single mother.
The recent AU grad is following her childhood dream as an Indigenous educator with the TELUS World of Science in Edmonton.
Understanding the emotional impact of climate change
Dr. Gina Martin works with teens to better understand how climate change affects their mental health.
An assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Disciplines, she notes that young people will experience the impact of climate risks from rising temperatures and extreme weather more than any other generation.
Flexibility to pursue a better life
Shannon Gingras (Bachelor of Arts, Major in English ’23) wanted a better life for her two children and decided to return to school.
But as a cancer survivor, she needed flexible learning that allowed her to balance a busy home life, radiation treatments, and online studies.
From addiction and homelessness to an MBA
By age 16, Celia Koehler (Master of Business Administration ’23) was addicted to crystal meth and living on the streets of Edmonton. She found unlikely support with a father she never knew growing up and started on a road to recovery.
Now a successful human resources professional and mother of two, Koehler works to help others in need of support.
Read about Koehler’s career journey
