Brock University has selected the person who will help guide its expansion in continuing education.

April-Dawn Blackwell will join Brock as its first Associate Vice-President, Professional and Continuing Studies on Monday, July 26 with more than two decades of experience and after serving in similar roles in both the public and private sectors.

Creating new pathways to education and facilitating training and upskilling through the life cycle are key goals for Brock University that support multiple points on its 2018-2025 Institutional Strategic Plan. The initiative will also position Brock to be a valuable community partner as the local economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19.

A search began in 2020 to identify a dedicated and experienced leader who would be responsible for working with academic units to spearhead the University’s new continuing education operation.

Blackwell comes to Brock from her current role as Associate Dean, Pathways at Humber College Institute for Technology and Advanced Learning. In that role, she led and managed a range of academic and transition programs to help students from under-represented and non-traditional backgrounds access post-secondary education.

Previously, Blackwell held similar transition and academic partnership roles at Conestoga College and Centennial College. She has also worked in continuing professional education in the private sector with BMO and the Canadian Management Centre.

Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Western Sydney, an Honours Certificate in Human Resources and Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Conestoga College and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Ivey Business School at Western University.