Governance

Michelle Kearns, MA, PMP, CHSE

Michelle Kearns has worked in education and training for over 30 years in various roles, including instructional technologist, instructional designer, facilitator, project manager, grant writer, and simulation manager. Michelle has worked with academic institutes, government organizations and private companies across Canada, the US and internationally to develop and deliver engaging experiences for the end users. With a background in simulation and gaming and a passion for creating and delivering truly engaging experiences for adult learners, Michelle has had the great opportunity to work with many diverse teams in the development of award-winning, immersive applications. Michelle has a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and holds certificates as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

F. Alex Carre, PhD, MA

F. Alex Carre is a people-oriented, results-driven Professor and Sports Educator with long-term experience in secondary and post-secondary education. Particular emphasis has been on research and community development in curriculum design and implementation. Dr. Carre has worked with numerous educational institutions and has written extensively in undergraduate and graduate programs in Canada, the United States, Australia, China, Hong Kong and other international countries.

Over a 40 year career as a champion of diversity and human rights Dr. Carre has had a major impact on emphasizing Health and Wellness at the local, Olympic and International levels.

Lejla Pekarić, CPA, CA, MA

Lejla is an experienced senior leader and owner of a business consulting firm specializing in strategic, leadership and operational matters for privately held businesses. Lejla is a CPA, CA with a Master’s degree in Professional Accounting with over 15 years of advisory experience, including over 10 years in senior leadership roles in prominent professional services organizations where she led various initiatives including integrating over 20 M&A deals into existing operations, spearheading the creation of new departments, leading multiple national projects and working with various partnership groups in achieving their business growth objectives.

Lejla is a certified Professional Project Manager, Change Management Professional and Leadership Coach. She has contributed to academia by teaching advanced accounting theory at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. Alongside her professional expertise, Lejla’s lifelong passion for art fuels her innovative and creative approach in working with clients.

JoAnn Restoule ( Bedos Kadoo), BA

JoAnn wishes to acknowledge that she lives on the unceded traditional territory of the Pentłatch, E’ikʷsən, and K’omoks (Sathloot & Sasitla) peoples. She is a member of the Dokis (Okekindawt) First Nation, of the Anishnaabe people, and her family crests are the Eagle “Migisi” and the Muskrat, “Wajask”.

As a young woman, JoAnn became aware of how her family and extended family had been impacted by the history of assimilation and the Residential Schools. To help her in her journey, she pursued a deeper understanding of the impact of Canada’s policy of assimilation by obtaining a degree in Criminology and Corrections.  Working at the national level with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Native Women’s Association, JoAnn had the opportunity to spend time with Knowledge Keepers and mentors from across North America and other parts of the world. Through her work in Addictions, Corrections, Health, Education, Economic Development, and Youth Programs, she developed an awareness and understanding of the importance of identity, a sense of place and belonging.

She is a mother and a “Kokum” grandmother, and her children and grandchildren have ancestry from her people, the Anishnaabe, as well as the E’ikʷsən and the Namgis.  JoAnn works within the Indigenous Education Program of School District 71 in the Ni’Noxsola – Knowledge Keeper Program, and has worked within the School District of the Comox Valley since 1997.

Susan Haddon, BEd 

Susan’s professional experience includes teaching communications, public relations and marketing-related subjects at colleges in Ontario (Fleming), Alberta (Mount Royal and SAIT) and BC (Camosun and UVic) and senior administrative positions responsible for the same areas in Alberta (SAIT) and BC (Camosun College).  She also served as VP Marketing for a technology start-up. Most recently, she served as Director of College & Community Relations for Camosun College and Executive Director of its Foundation.

Since retiring in 2011, she has volunteered with CESO (now Catalyste+) on international projects with the University of Guyana, the government of Mongolia, and a foundation working to preserve the Chiquitano Dry Forest in Bolivia.  Projects involved working with client governments or NGOs to develop strategic marketing, communications, community engagement and fundraising plans.  Additionally, she has undertaken indigenous culture-related, tourism focused projects with the Tsuut’ina Nation in Alberta, the Pehdzeh Ki Nation in Wrigley and the Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson, NWT.

Susan has a B.Ed (Adult Education) with Distinction, Business minor, University of Alberta; Financial Management Certificate, UVic (1997) and a Communications Certificate, Banff School of Management (1989).

Tom Roemer, EdD, MSc

With a background in physics, Tom moved to Canada in 1993 and started a business on production control systems and database solutions for industry in Washington and BC. In 2000 he was tasked with designing and chairing an engineering technology program around the emerging Internet for Okanagan University College, and somehow got stuck in post-secondary education. Subsequent appointments included Dean of Trades & Technology and Vice-President Strategic Development at Victoria’s Camosun College, until he took the position of Vice-President Academic at BCIT in 2016.

Responsible for the educational, international, and applied research portfolios, he functioned as BCIT’s chief strategy officer, until he retired from public sector administration in 2023.

Since then, he has provided project management and consultancy and on practitioner training and workforce development, in particular in Africa and Latin America.

Tom holds a master’s degree in astrophysics (LMU), and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (SFU), and he has served on numerous governance Boards such as Innovate BC and Southern Labs (SA). He supports the Cascadia Innovation Corridor initiative as Chair for the Workforce Mobility group with a focus on the Blue Economy.

Campus Leadership & Administration

Administrative Leadership at Stenberg College is composed of an Executive Team responsible for setting and maintaining the Strategic Vision for the College, and a Senior Leadership Team that is responsible for executing the institution’s Strategic Plan on an operational level.

Executive Leadership Team

Karm Aujla – VP of Enrolment Services

Lane Clark – President
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
University of Victoria, 2005

Les Merson – VP of Marketing
Master of Arts (Liberal Studies), (M.A.)
Simon Fraser University, 2025

Bachelor of General Studies, (B.G.S.)
Simon Fraser University, 1989

Dr. Peter Rehor – VP of Academics, Degree Programs
PhD,  Pedagogy/Kinanthropometry
Charles University, Prague, Czechia, 2016

PhD, Curriculum Leadership in Higher Education/Health Behavioural Psychology,
University of Georgia, Athens, USA, 1991

Master of Education, (M.Ed.)
University of British Columbia, Canada, 1984

Bachelor of Education, (B.Ed.)
University of British Columbia, Canada, 1980

Bachelor in Pedagogy, (B.P.)
Institute of Pedagogy, Usti, Czechia, 1968 

Jeremy Sabell – VP Strategic Planning
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
University of Victoria, 1993

Jacquie Stene – VP of Academics, Diploma Programs
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Simon Fraser University, 2005

Omar Tazi – Director of Finance
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, (B.B.A)
Loyola University Chicago, 2000

Professional Designations: CPA, CGA (BC) and CPA (NH, USA)

Senior Leadership

(Includes the Executive Team and the following Deans, Directors, and Managers)

Lisa Brown – Registered Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, Student Services Manager
Professional Counsellor Diploma
Rhodes Wellness College, 2009

Professional Designation: Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) with a focus in Mental Health

Avneet Gill – Director of Education Delivery Healthcare, Human Services and Business Programs
Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education – Focus in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.)
University of Athabasca
In progress with completion by December 2025

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
University of British Columbia, 2005

Bachelor of Science in Biology (B.Sc.)
University of British Columbia, 2004

Kiran Khaira – Manager, Student Services
Master of Education in Educational Contexts (M.Ed )
University of Calgary, 2009

Bachelor of Education in Secondary Science (B.Ed)
University of Calgary, 2007

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences(B.Sc.)
University of Calgary, 2005

BA (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology)
University of Calgary, 2005

Dan Kibke – Operations Manager

Dr. Carly McInerney – Dean of Psychiatric Nursing
Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA)
Virginia University of Lynchburg, 2022

Master of Education (M.Ed)
Thompson Rivers University, 2018

Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing (BScPN)
Douglas College, 2010

Professional Designation: Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Amy Norton – Director of Practice Education & Industry Relations
Business Management Diploma
British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2008

Tabatha Patterson – Director of Curriculum, Learning, & Teaching – Diploma Programs
Bachelor of Arts (Major in Psychology, Minor in Counselling and Human Development )
Simon Fraser University, 2012

Ileana Rodriguez – Manager, People and Culture
Bachelor’s Degree in Industry Relations –
Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, (2009)
ICES Equivalency: Bachelor of Human Resources (Canada), B.A.

Sasha Rourke – Registered Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing Program Director
Master of Education, (M.Ed.)
Athabasca University, 2023

Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing (B.Sc.P.N.)
Douglas College, 2020

Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing
Stenberg College, 2015

Professional Designation: Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Emma Simms – Manager, Marketing & Public Relations
Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Visual Studies (B.A.)
University of Victoria, 2015

Jasna Sulentic – Senior Director International Recruitment

Jag Tak – Nursing Program Director (HCA, PN)
Practical Nursing Diploma,
Vancouver Community College, 1995

Professional Designation: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)