Mount Royal University has named Arlene Strom as its new chancellor-elect after unanimous approval from the school’s board of governors.
Strom is currently the chair of the Energy Transition Centre Board and an advisory board member for Portage Energy Group. She retired from Suncor at the end of 2023 where she was the chief sustainability officer, general counsel and corporate secretary. She also held several leadership positions within the company.
Strom also practiced corporate and securities law in Calgary before she joined Suncor.
Strom will take over from Dawn Farrell, who was appointed in 2020 and MRU’s first chancellor. The role is a four-year term and the chancellor can only serve one term, according to provincial legislation.
“I really loved being in sustainability. I think it’s so important for our future, and it is grounded in relationships,” she told LWC in an interview Tuesday.
“I think it is so important to face some of the challenges as we go forward. I had the privilege of getting to know many Indigenous leaders and people in the community and Indigenous employees, as well as many other folks in the sector. I learned a lot.”
The chancellor-elect said she was surprised when the board of governors recommended her to be considered for the position. She said one of the most joyful parts of her career in the energy sector was working with students and young professionals.
“This opportunity is being able to work with young people and be engaged in post-secondary education. It felt like one of those really blessed opportunities that would be so meaningful. I’m super excited about it,” Strom said.
“I love the work that MRU does. They have been laser-focused on the success of their students and that is, to me, so important. Students go on to contribute to their own prosperity and contribute to the long-term success of our city and province and country.”
Strom said her role will primarily be an ambassador for MRU and not just a ceremonial head of the university. She said she wants to promote MRU and connect Calgarians with the university.
“I’m not sure how many people realize what a jewel we have in MRU. They have been around for a very long time and contributing to the long-term prosperity of this province for a long time. I want to be able to tell that story,” she said.
“I want to be connecting them to others, perhaps through the energy industry, places where I’ve had experience and helping people to know how lucky we are to have MRU here in our backyard.”
