It wasn’t long after Manal Guirguis-Younger, Ph.D., R.Psych., joined Adler University in 2019 as director of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program in Vancouver when she was asked to serve in another leadership role — as chair of the Vancouver Campus Faculty Council.

Drs. Manal Guirguis-Younger and Jason Walker

For the past five years, Dr. Guirguis-Younger has dedicatedly served as Chair of the Council and led the faculty at the Vancouver Campus. Typically, the term of chair lasts only a year; serving a five-year term highlights her enduring commitment. In her role, Dr. Guirguis-Younger convened regular meetings with the council to discuss and vote on curriculum and academic matters. Additionally, the council serves as conduit to elevate concerns to administrative structures such as the Dean’s office or the Office of Academic Affairs. She carried out all these duties, while balancing the demands of her faculty responsibilities and serving as the Director of the Psy.D. program.

This August, Dr. Guirguis-Younger is stepping down. Jason Walker, Psy.D., Ph.D., associate professor and program director of the Vancouver Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Applied Psychology programs, will take over the role.

“Dr. Guirguis-Younger has been an influential figure at Adler University,” Dr. Walker said. “Her leadership, characterized by humility and courage, has been instrumental in shaping the University’s direction. Her tenure has garnered respect and support from colleagues across campuses, making her a pivotal member of the Adler community. We extend our gratitude for her unwavering commitment and contributions.”

Before she arrived at Adler, Dr. Guirguis-Younger taught at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, an institution with a strong focus on social justice. She served in several roles, including professor, graduate studies director, dean of faculty, and researcher. Her research has focused on homelessness and poverty, palliative care, and alternative models of health-service delivery to marginalized groups, especially Indigenous peoples of Canada.

As Dr. Guirguis-Younger looks back at her tenure as faculty council chair, she shares what she enjoyed most about serving in the role and her advice for the chairs to follow.

In your five years as Faculty Council Chair, what are you most proud of or enjoyed in this role?

I believe in shared governance, and I wanted to be part of promoting and designing shared governance at Adler. Being Faculty Council Chair for the Vancouver Campus gave me the opportunity to contribute at that level. In addition, I was proud to promote faculty interest and facilitate the communication between faculty and administration. I am so proud to have been part of developing mechanisms by which the faculty voice has become an important part of decision-making.

Ultimately, a change in leadership is a positive opportunity to infuse new ideas and a fresh perspective to governance. I am leaving the position in very good hands, and I feel satisfied with the work we have done during my mandate.

What was your biggest challenge in this role, and how did you resolve it?

I think the demands of faculty work make it hard to engage with governance. Participating in governance is an important service, but it can be demanding and time consuming. For those reasons, securing volunteers for these types of roles is often hard. I can’t say I was fully successful in resolving it, but I hope our future chairs continue to see a role in promoting governance and facilitating greater engagement.

Do you have any advice or tips for Dr. Walker as the next faculty council chair?

Like any leadership role, it is essential to listen to the community. It is also important to take a long-term approach, appreciating that many improvements to governance need to be built and are evolutionary in nature.

From your perspective, what makes the faculty at Adler University special, and what do you wish staff and students knew more about them?

The faculty at Adler is highly committed to their professions, to social justice, and to the common good in and outside of the University. It is an absolute honour working with each one of them. Our faculty at Adler are student-centered and uphold the highest standards for teaching and training in the profession.