Dr. Neil Fassina

President

Dr. Neil Fassina has been president of Athabasca University since 2016, overseeing the university’s five-year strategic plan to transform AU into a world-leading, digital-first university. Imagine:  Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities, is a strategy that builds on AU’s rich history as an innovator in higher education and positions it to take on the challenges of the learners of the future.

As president of Canada’s online university, Neil is a strong advocate for accessible, flexible, lifelong learning to enable adult learners to improve their lives and their communities.

Before joining Athabasca University, Neil held several leadership roles at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), including provost and vice president academic, as well as dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and the School of Culinary Arts.

Throughout his academic career, Neil has worked to maintain strong connections to the communities he serves, volunteering on the boards of directors for several not-for-profit organizations. He chairs the Council of Post-Secondary Presidents of Alberta and is president of the International Council of Distance Education.

With a background in human resources and applied decision-making, Neil has blended his leadership and academic careers in the areas of strategic thinking and planning, leadership, effective negotiation strategies, conflict management, and human resources.

Neil holds a PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, a BSc in psychology from the University of Calgary, and is a chartered professional in human resources (CPHR), and a chartered director through the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D).

“This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.”

– Winston Churchill