Gwen Campden

Professionally

Gwen Campden began at Royal Roads in 2002, when she and the university were both young. Growing up together was fascinating, from the “no-policy” days to policy development with an eye to inclusion and wellness. Ever learning how best to support students and the people who serve them.

Her previous experience includes program administration in continuing studies and work in the financial aid and awards office at Langara College in Vancouver, BC.

As RRU’s Manager, Student Success, Gwen now oversees the services that help to remove barriers to education. That’s Accessibility Services, Financial Aid and Awards, and Counselling and Learning Strategy (also known as Team Awesome). The skills required for this work aligns with all the qualifications and competencies listed in the Board of Governor’s role profile.

She is also a member of the CARE Team, responding to students in distress and referring to appropriate services at RRU and in the community.

Just for fun, she also administered student research scholarships for 19 years, and transfers that knowledge into the classroom as a teaching assistant for a couple of research methods courses.

Educationally

Gwen completed courses in environmental science at UNBC before sustaining an injury that prevented the ability to do meaningful work in the field. She moved on to a coop diploma in business, finance and investment management at Langara College; and then later an MA in Professional Communication at RRU.

Further education includes training for how to support students with different backgrounds and abilities, and those with trauma.

Personally

Gravitating to challenges, Gwen has earned several medals for competitive paddling in six-person and two-person outrigger canoes. With the medals shoved in a box, she has learned that the greatest win is working together in a way that flips the energy of fear and uncertainty into positive collaborative effort to reach the finish line in a good way. It’s that experience that matters, not the bling.

She has found joy coaching new paddlers but lately just recharges her batteries by playing out in the waves with friends in their single-person outrigger canoes.

So what?

All these professional, educational and personal experiences provide a broad understanding of how and why things work the way they do in this institution, and the confidence in knowing how to advocate for underrepresented populations, and the people that serve them, in a professional and respectful way.

With the current vulnerability of students in general, and implementation of BC’s new Accessibility Legislation, as the staff representative, the Board of Governors and staff may find Gwen is an asset in the setting of policy and sustainable strategy.