Richard Dixon — Dean Of Business, Athabasca University

In my role supporting co-op learners, I work with learners across all lines of difference, helping them navigate everything from academic transitions to significant personal challenges — including physical injury, trauma, isolation, and moments of crisis. This has included supporting learners recovering from major accidents and others facing severe emotional distress.

Some LGBTQ+ learners have even shared that being explicitly affirmed — including hearing that they do not need to change who they are — was profoundly meaningful. For learners who have spent years concealing parts of their identity, creating an environment of safety, dignity, and belonging is life-changing.

My work focuses on mentorship, confidence-building, connection to community resources, and cultivating spaces where learners feel seen, valued, and capable of succeeding — inside and outside the classroom. I also design my own learning materials, including custom slide decks built from real experiences, research, and leadership frameworks. These resources combine storytelling, practical tools, and clear structure to help learners connect ideas with real-world action. Most recently, a three-student team I supervised won Lambton College's college-wide IIP Challenge — with executive judges recognizing them as the strongest team in the competition's history.

Because at the end of the day, education isn't just what happens in a classroom — it's what happens when someone finally feels safe enough to become who they were always meant to be.