Dr. Airini's academic and professional background

  • Holds a BA and MEd from the University of Canterbury, an MBA from Massey University, and a Diploma in Teaching from the former Christchurch Teachers College. She completed a certificate in te reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
  • Holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of British Columbia.
  • Served as TRU’s Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work (2014–2018), where she helped launch the internationally renowned Knowledge Makers program, and the pan-university Coyote Project.
  • Most recently, served as Provost and Vice-President Academic at the University of Saskatchewan, a member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities.

In government and international roles, Dr. Airini has contributed to education reform, equity policy, and Indigenous success strategies. She currently advises the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on global education access and innovation.

Update from the President #2 — Listening, Acting, and Connecting August 7, 2025

Weyt-kp and warm greetings to colleagues across our community. As we move through summer, I’d like to share updates about recent activities and developments at TRU. I continue to genuinely appreciate the informal conversations we have been having, with some laughter, a lot of listening, and the sharing of encouragement each day as I visit around TRU and online.

Senate Materials

One of the responsibilities I hold is chair of Senate. I believe the deliberations, advice and decisions of the Senate are at the heart of what it means to be, and become, all that we have been called to be as Thompson Rivers University. Thank you to the committee chairs and members, senators, and support team for your vital service to our university.

Recognizing the importance of transparency, I have reinstated early access to Senate agenda materials. Beginning with the first meeting in September, all reports and documents included in the Senate agenda will be made available to the TRU community and the public one whole week in advance.

In addition, prior to Senate, I will be available to the media to discuss items of particular interest to TRU and answer questions. Following the meeting, we will share news on our website about the outcomes from Senate.

This shift supports open governance and increases the opportunity for us all to engage with the ideas, proposals and decisions shaping TRU’s future. I believe transparency further strengthens our connections to parents, caregivers, community members, businesses, students and leaders; and our ability to move forward as One University.

Honours College Update

After careful reflection, I have paused funding for the TRU Honours College for up to two years due to budget reasons. This will enable reflection on how to further strengthen the business model for the TRU Honours College. Pausing now before the program starts minimizes the impact on students.

There is undoubtedly disappointment amongst the Honours College team and the broader community. My reflection from recent meetings with our colleagues is that we all can be impressed by the continuing passion for a unique cohort model geared for exceptional student success. Alongside this is an openness to now adapting to our wider university budget challenges. The commitment remains to an approach to learning that is beyond generic models in Higher Education, and that is inclusive and innovative.

My thanks to the Honours College team, who are already turning their attention to the balance between academic principles, a sustainable business model, and a complementary marketing plan. Planning meetings will begin shortly.

University Relations Reorganization

During July, the University Relations teams have been actively participating in discussions about optimal arrangements to support their talents and contributions to TRU and associated leadership arrangements. I am genuinely appreciative of our colleagues in Marketing, Advancement, Communications, Events, and Government Relations for the open, courageous discussions.

As of August 1:

  • Oversight of the University Relations network is a combined effort between the President and two existing Vice-Presidents.
  • Advancement and Events now report to the Vice-President of Finance and Administration.
  • Government Relations reports to the President.
  • Marketing moves to report to the Vice-President of International.
  • Communications initially reports to the Vice-President International, and will transition to the President’s Office, later this year, once positions in that Office have been finalized.

We expect the ongoing arrangements to be fully operative by November 2025. Updates regarding associated role titles and arrangements will be shared with the university community during this transition period.

TRU’s University Relations services continue to be available through usual channels. The University Relations network will meet regularly, ensuring shared planning, collaboration, and cohesion across unit lines.

Our goal is to further strengthen University Relations services grounded in clarity of purpose, contributing directly and creatively to building our Future TRU, and providing leadership in shared services across our university.

Introducing TRU Talks with President Airini

I’m excited to launch TRU Talks with President Airini — a new series of monthly, informal gatherings open to all students, faculty, and staff. These sessions offer space to ask questions, share ideas, and strengthen our community through conversation. The first session will be held today (Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Student Street in Old Main, TRU Kamloops).

Today I will be sharing about my vision for Future TRU and seeking input on my initial priorities. For more information on these please do visit here. We’ll also host future sessions at TRU Williams Lake and online. Please feel welcome to stop by today and for future TRU Talks with President Airini. I look forward to meeting, listening and talking together.

Since my last update …

…I’ve had the privilege of listening, learning, and walking alongside many of us — on campus, in community, online and across the province. Highlights include a full-day planning session with the TRU Executive Team, partnership discussions with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and T’exelc, and early planning for September’s Senate with our Steering Committee Chair. I also met with Indigenous faculty and staff to discuss future Indigenous leadership roles and took part in an Indigenous citizenship meeting.

On campus, I visited the Andrew Sherry Plumbing Lab and our technology facilities and connected with TRU leaders across key portfolios. I met with Dr. Yasin Mamatjan and students advancing AI research to improve health outcomes, an inspiring example of TRU innovation. I also had the honour of attending the Shad banquet, closing 27 days of learning for young people hosted by the Faculty of Science and School of Trades and Technology. It was a sad honour to join with colleagues and students at the shared funeral where we farewelled two TRU students.

Whether in Victoria for donor meetings, working with colleagues on organisational changes, or chatting together about our summer highlights, gardens, (yes) the weather, and our hopes for our future TRU, I am reminded daily that we come to TRU because we know that ‘we’ is greater than ‘I’. There is so much good that we do through our use-inspired research and education that is applied to challenges in Interior BC and contributes to global futures.

Kukwstsétsemc,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor
Thompson Rivers University

Update from the President #1 — Listening, Acting, and Connecting July 25, 2025

Weyt-kp. Greetings, TRU colleagues,

It has been a meaningful beginning to my first few weeks as President and Vice-Chancellor. During these past 18 working days, there has been so much that affirms how much the potential TRU holds, and how much we can achieve together.

We have faced both joy and sorrow. The tragic loss of students and members of our wider TRU family has been deeply felt. I have seen so much care. Thank you for looking after one another and for being gentle on ourselves in these times.

We have also celebrated acts of generosity, academic excellence, and student success in these past few weeks. TRU is home to remarkable achievements. Three recent philanthropic awards, all significant, signal recognition for TRU’s mission and impact as the university that leads in use-inspired education and research applied to great challenges in B.C.’s Interior and globally.

Perhaps you have seen the news items about our TRU colleague, Dr. Courtney Mason, who was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada, and our Advancement team, led by Kim Cassar-Torregiani, which received international recognition for excellence for the work they do. This world award placed TRU on the podium with Yale University and Columbia University.

We honoured the impact of RBC’s donor support for the TRU Women in Trades Training program at a recent event, celebrating 1,200 WITT graduates to date. I had the privilege of attending both a master’s thesis defence and the completion ceremony for our Health Care Assistant program — moments that speak to the heart of student achievement and excellence of teaching. These milestones reflect the depth of talent in our students and commitment to being relentlessly student-centred across our university community.

I want to acknowledge two leadership changes that have happened since I began. Brian Daly, Vice-President University Relations, and Paul Michel, Special Advisor to the President on Indigenous Matters, have concluded their time in their roles.

Paul’s roles in Indigenous leadership have been the first at a senior level. His guidance helped shape Indigenous engagement across our campuses and strengthened relationships with many communities. Paul led the discussions and proposal development that made the forthcoming Indigenous Centre building possible. Paul’s deep commitment to Indigenous students and Reconciliation within the university has been widely appreciated.

Brian was instrumental in advancing TRU’s interests across a wide array of areas. His work with donors and community partners helped create significant new gifts for TRU, including a $10-million investment from the Gaglardi family in the School of Business and Economics. Brian also led a determined effort to improve our government relations capacities, something especially important to TRU following the announcement of TRU Wildfire in April 2024.

I want to thank both Brian and Paul sincerely for their outstanding work and the significant contributions they have made to TRU’s future. In the short term, Baihua Chadwick will serve as VP of University Relations, and I am currently consulting with the University Relations staff about the future structure. I have initiated discussions regarding future Indigenous leadership at TRU, including with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and T’exelc.

Partnership agreement meetings between TRU and TteS have been held, and similar discussions with T’exelc are expected to begin this summer. We are genuinely grateful for the openness and generosity from both TteS and T’exelc to these very significant discussions. Engagements with Indigenous faculty and staff have been so appreciated. It was an honour that a colleague came to Kamloops from Williams Lake to join one of the meetings in person.

In these first days, I’ve met with more than 40 university leaders and staff across portfolios, including finance, research, IT, advancement, union leadership, and Indigenous education.

I appreciate the regular contact underway with the Research Universities Council of British Columbia, as well as the Skilled Trades Training Council. I have so appreciated discussions with our municipal leaders. I’ve also met with three local mayors, and this week, I travelled to Victoria to meet with our Deputy Minister and the ADMs for Finance, Post-Secondary and Future Skills, and Infrastructure.

I have also learned a great deal from my conversations across campus about your hopes and expectations for TRU, as well as your thoughts on my initial priorities, which I outlined during my installation on June 25. To continue these conversations, I’m pleased to launch a new initiative: a series of monthly 90-minute informal gatherings open to everyone — students, faculty, and staff — to ask me questions, share ideas, or enjoy a cup of coffee/tea/other.

The first session will take place in early August on campus in Kamloops, followed by sessions in Williams Lake. More details will follow on TRU Connect once the events are fully confirmed. I look forward to seeing you there.

TRU is striving ahead. In our future, TRU is one of the most innovative universities in Canada, operating beyond the generic patterns and practices of higher education, and we are resilient and adaptive. We are stepping forward together — strong, brave and caring, committed to place here in Secwepemcúl’ecw and our purpose as TRU.

Thank you for being part of this journey as one university together. I look forward to meeting more of our TRU community, hearing our stories, and creating together a remarkable, unique Future TRU.

Kukwstsétsemc,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor
Thompson Rivers University

Update from the President #3 — Building our future August 14, 2025

Hello colleagues. Weytkp. Bonjour.

Thank you for the encouraging feedback about the updates shared since July. As we approach the fall term, and with many activities underway, I plan to provide weekly updates so that these are as current as possible.

Building our future: data to inform planning and decisions

Our future TRU is one of optimal services for education and research activities. Currently, we lack an understanding of our distribution of administrative services and activities. We need to identify what we are doing well, where we can work to improve services, and what we can learn from other institutions. Having a better picture of what is happening on the ground helps with more informed decision-making.

Starting this week, we have an important initiative getting underway; one that will help expand the information available to inform our university’s planning and decisions. On Aug. 12, we began Thompson Rivers University’s first cycle of data collection for UniForum — an internationally validated program that helps universities better understand how support services enable our academic mission. This is an important step toward building a more informed, coordinated approach to administrative support at TRU.

UniForum is a benchmarking and planning tool used by 49 institutions worldwide, including 10 leading Canadian universities. Importantly, the analysis looks across the university, not within units. The goal is to understand our service landscape and identify ways to strengthen processes and services for everyone.

These data, which we will update every year, give us a clear picture of our strengths and opportunities to improve. This is helpful as well, as we navigate financial pressures.

Most of the work will involve a small group of our colleagues over the next three weeks, mapping service activities. Their efforts will provide a shared foundation for discussion and decision-making in the months ahead. We are all very grateful for this special effort by our colleagues. If you have questions, please connect with your manager or supervisor. I am also available.

We are very grateful to the group of colleagues now fully engaged in this project, along with the project coordination by IPE. Thank you for your time everyone.

Secwépemc Cultural Advisor Appointed

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Garry Gottfriedson (h.c) will serve as the first Secwépemc Special Advisor to the President (August 2025 to 2030). Reporting to the president, this role is crucial to advancing TRU’s relationship with the Secwépemc. This position provides leadership for university relations with the 17 communities of the Secwépemc, and advocacy for tellqelmúcw, those yet to be born.

I am grateful for discussions that informed the creation of this new role and appointment, including with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and T’exelc, and TRU’s Indigenous faculty and staff. This role reflects our commitment in Envision TRU to “…nurture a flourishing relationship with the Secwépemc people on whose lands we reside. Members of our community will give exceptional consideration to Secwépemc worldview and belief systems. We will support thriving Secwépemc culture through respectful actions in research, teaching and service.”

Garry is already known to many at TRU as he was the first Secwépemc cultural advisor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, and then took up this role with university-wide responsibilities based in Indigenous Education.

Garry is from Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, is an accomplished Indigenous poet, author of 15 books, and lead author of the Secwépemc Nation Research Ethics Guidelines. He has been awarded two honorary doctorates, including one from our own university.

Garry is a powerful spokesperson for Secwépemc, and a tireless advocate for Secwépemc communities and language preservation. Garry has worked in education for over 50 years, including several years at TRU, as a teacher, advisor, researcher and administrator.

TRU Talks with President Airini

Last week, we launched the first of a series of informal conversations at TRU to allow discussions about topics and issues important to us all. More than 25 people came out to Student Street to chat and have a coffee. Thanks to the TRU communications team for making the arrangements.

In this first conversation time, I invited a sharing of thoughts about the priorities I have identified as critical to the development of our Future TRU. Thank you for the discussion, and I thank everyone who took the time to come out and share.  I look forward to discussions at TRU Williams Lake and online, and the next full round of TRU Talks.

Since my last update . . .

Since my last update, continue to drop by around TRU and to learn so much from colleagues and students. School of Nursing instructors Renee and Laura and I talked together about their work this summer with almost 40 students upskilling for nursing in Canada. I also met colleagues in the TRU Sustainability Office who are preparing a very important sustainability pledge for us to take this fall. I chatted with teams advancing our nationally unique LCDES project. I met Samantha at the Faculty of Science, who is supporting the Geneskool team’s Summer Science Program in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, and genomics; and is a member of the TRU EnviroCollab team.

I met with leadership in the Research Universities Council of British Columbia, and today I will be in Vancouver for government and donor meetings. This evening, I join the TRU Student Experience team in Vancouver, hosting an informal gathering of TRU’s online students, meeting up in person. The Executive Team meets each Monday afternoon, and this week included planning for the upcoming Senior Leadership Team gathering at the end of this month.

TRU's Gaglardi School of Business and Economics has partnered with the Tulo Centre for Indigenous Economics for more than a decade. This remarkable collaboration now includes the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). Dean Mike Henry and Associate Dean Jim Gaisford, TRU world colleagues, and I, along with other dignitaries, joined in welcoming the University of Canterbury to campus this week.

Best wishes for the remainder of your week, everyone, and for the upcoming weekend.

Kukwstsétselp,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from the President #4August 22, 2025

Hello colleagues. Weytkp. Bonjour.

In this update I share about meeting with new faculty colleagues, navigating our campus, a retirement, honouring and respect, and some of the activities that have happened since my last update. Thank you so much for the encouraging words about providing these updates.

New faculty orientation

This week I had the pleasure of attending TRU’s New Faculty Orientation. Many thanks to the CELT team for coordinating this annual event. We welcomed about 25 of all new faculty members: 2 tenured, 12 tenured track, 3 limited term contract, and 8 sessional; joining TRU in the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Student Development. Garry Gottfriedson, Secwépemc Special Advisor to the President, joined me in welcoming our new colleagues.

I shared about our university’s values, our strengths in use-inspired research and education applied to the challenges of interior BC and contributing to global futures. I also shared about a Future TRU we are building together, encouraged colleagues to identify their priorities for the first months, and then shared my own initial priorities. At this link you can hear about Future TRU and my priorities.

Our campus grounds

Our university is committed to the priority area of environmental sustainability. This summer has been about laying groundwork for our clean-energy system, with pipe installation and retrofits underway. Real change on such a scale can be messy. Thank you everyone for sharing the good news of our continued leadership in sustainability and for our shared effort to support this. TRU is proud to lead the way in sustainability with the Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES). This major infrastructure project will eventually connect campus buildings to an innovative heat pump system — replacing natural gas boilers and significantly reducing TRU’s carbon footprint. Learn more about the LCDES project.

Myself, as I zig-zag walking through zones, I have greatly enjoyed stopping to chat with construction team members. Some are quite a distance away from their homes in order to be part of this project. The technical skills and sustained effort even in high summer heat has been outstanding. And now we see completed pipelines being covered over. Our grounds and horticulture team can begin to work on restoration. In large and small ways, we are all part of this extensive change needed for sustainability. We strive ahead as One University. Thank you everyone.

John Sparks’ retirement

From time to time across all units of TRU we have colleagues retire. With mixed emotions, I am sharing that John Sparks, TRU’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, will retire from TRU on Aug. 22. This is John’s decision, and while we are saddened to see him leave our university team, we are happy for him as he begins this next well-earned chapter.

Since joining TRU in 2004, John has been the university’s principal legal officer, advising on all matters with legal implications and guiding the work of our University Secretariat. He has been a steady advocate for collegial governance and contributing beyond governance. John played an instrumental role in establishing TRU’s Faculty of Law, helping bring together supporters of the initiative and drafting the proposal that secured government approval. His belief that the Interior of British Columbia should have a law school has left a lasting mark on our region and our university.

John has served all five presidents of TRU. I am grateful for John’s years of service and his dedication to TRU’s mission. Please join me in thanking @John Sparks for his many contributions and in wishing him well for the future. John, thank you.

Flag Lowering for shíshálh Nation

** Please note this section may have challenging content **

Last week, the shíshálh Nation shared the tragic confirmation of an additional 41 unmarked graves at the former residential school in Sechelt, bringing the total number of graves in their community to 81.

In response, the provincial government lowered flags at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria until sunset on Sunday, Aug. 17. This half-masting was not required of other public institutions. At TRU, we chose to lower our flags for the same period.

We did this to respect and show solidarity with the shíshálh Nation and with all Indigenous communities and families who continue to grieve the loss of children to the residential school system.

Here in our own community, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc confirmed the presence of unmarked graves, a truth that continues to resonate across the country. The discoveries in Sechelt and in Kamloops are reminders of the history survivors have carried for decades, and the call for all us to remember, learn, and act. By lowering our flags, TRU affirmed our commitment to reconciliation and to standing with Indigenous peoples as we continue this work together and be changed.

Since my last update …

Many thanks to the Student Experience team who created two wonderful in-person gatherings in Vancouver and Victoria for TRU OL students to gather. I was so pleased to be able to join the Vancouver event, with AVP Students Sara Wolfe and team members. The stories of grit and motivation from the students were inspiring. This was a reminder to me of our uniqueness as a university — to be committed to academic excellence in education and research and to accessible higher education. These students are exceptional in their drive and success.

As well, I have so appreciated meetings with colleagues: Faculty of Student Development, University Library, IT leaders. With thanks to Steve Pottle and the emergency operations team I was briefed on our policy and procedures. Please everyone do upload the TRU Safe app, and register there for alerts. I connected briefly with paramedics training at our Nursing and Population Health building and very much enjoyed meeting with colleagues in Science, notably Dean Greg Anderson and Associate Dean Vivek Kumar on the priority area of technology fluency. Thank you Jeneen for the beautiful plant gifted to me, grown from seeds planted at the time of the announcement of my appointment.

Today I join TRU colleagues heading north to Williams Lake to meet with T’exelc to discuss the creation of a partnership agreement. Next week the TRU Senior Leadership Team meets for two days for planning for the years ahead.

Best wishes for the weekend ahead everyone.

Kukwstsétselp,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from the President #5August 29, 2025

Hello colleagues. Weytkp. Bonjour.

To those returning from summer vacations and study leave, welcome back. To all, please do enjoy this forthcoming long weekend. While this is a cherished holiday time in Canada, its origins remain in the recognition of the fundamental role of workers in society and acknowledge the ongoing efforts to ensure fair treatment and dignity for all.

Today I am sharing a leadership announcement, insights into this week’s Senior Leadership Team gathering, and progress with UniForum data gathering.

Leadership Announcement

I am pleased to share that Scott Blackford has been appointed Interim General Counsel following John Sparks’ retirement. Scott brings extensive legal expertise and an understanding of TRU’s governance and operations that will serve us well in this period of transition.

Safe in all seasons

We have four distinct seasons in Interior BC, and it is important that we are prepared to be safe year-round. Recent tragic news from our summer months has raised concerns about student safety, especially for newcomers to Canada and those unfamiliar with local waterways.

While TRU provides water safety information at orientation and offers safety awareness education year-round, we want to ask if more is needed. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are committed to strengthening how we prepare students for the realities and potential dangers in the outdoor environments around us throughout the year.

This week, TRU World provided enhanced water safety education for international students arriving here for the start of the academic year and the remaining summer weeks. Our immediate goal is to ensure that new students have critical safety knowledge from the outset of their time at TRU.

More broadly, we want to ensure that we are doing all we can throughout the year. I have asked our senior leaders to launch a 100-day initiative to strengthen student safety education further. This will include the creation of a season-focused safety think tank — All Seasons. All students. Safe.

The group will bring together TRU faculty, staff, and students, along with regional safety partners, to identify existing support, evidence-based measures, and make recommendations to the TRU executive team. Thank you, Sara Wolfe (Associate Vice-President, Students) and Reuben Onyango (Director, International Student Services, TRU World), for co-leading this initiative.

Senior Leadership Gathering

Earlier this week, I convened all members of the TRU Senior Leadership team for two full days. We met with openness and resolve to come together as one university, building our Future TRU. Anchored in our academic priorities in use-inspired research and education, we began preliminary planning for the actions needed to address TRU’s budget challenges.

There is an ambitious goal: to turn our university's unprecedented financial challenges into a strategic transformation, positioning TRU for success for decades to come.

The latest financial report for the current financial year was released this week and shows we continue to face difficult realities, including an immediate budget shortfall. We also have the prospect of larger deficits ahead if we do not act. This context will require difficult decisions.

Planning is underway to begin sharing the latest information starting next week, and then through to Senate committees and the Senate itself. I acknowledge that the timing is not ideal, given the start of the fall term. I remain committed to being open and transparent. Options will be built in so that information is available both in-person and online, as well as synchronously. We will share updates regularly as this work progresses.

TRU is striving ahead — strong, brave, caring, and committed to our purpose. We are one university, uniquely located within Secwepemcúl’ecw, serving our region and contributing to global futures.

UniForum Progress

Our future TRU is one in which there are optimal services for our education and research, and our colleagues leading these core activities. We are challenged, however, because we lack a clear understanding of our distribution of administrative services and activities.

We need to identify what we are doing well, where we can improve our services, and what we can learn from other institutions. Having a clearer picture helps us make more informed decisions in service units, faculties, schools, and for our university.

On August 12, we started our first cycle of data collection for UniForum — an internationally validated program that helps universities better understand how support services enable our academic mission. I have read past and recent critiques of the program. From my perspective, this scrutiny is welcome and consistent with our mandate as universities – to apply a critical lens, to be curious, to find and test solutions. Senior leaders, including myself, are available to address questions about this initiative and will do our best to provide answers.

For now, the needed work on the UniForum data collection project is well underway. My sincere thanks go to all who have contributed time and energy to provide the data that will guide future decision-making by TRU. I know this has added extra tasks to already full schedules. Your effort matters. By contributing your knowledge, you are helping TRU gain a clearer understanding of how our services operate, where we excel, and where improvements can be made to support our academic mission in use-inspired research and education.

A New Home for the President’s Office

I so appreciate the good words coming when we see each other around the TRU Kamloops campus, in Williams Lake, and online. Every day, I learn so much from impromptu and planned discussions. Being present and open matters to me as president.

With this in mind, in the coming weeks, the President’s Office will move from its current location in the Clock Tower Building to the House of Learning. The move will also include the provost’s team. My sincere appreciation to Library colleagues and our University Librarian Tania Gottschalk.

Together, we have found a way for the relocation to happen with minimal renovations while retaining an HOL location for all colleagues currently based in the building. This move during the fall term relocates the President’s Office to a more central and accessible location, enhancing its connection to students, faculty, and staff. It also frees up much-needed space in the Clock Tower for other purposes.

In my August TRU Talks time, I invited creative ideas about future possibilities for the Clock Tower to be a place of belonging. That invitation will also be included in the upcoming September 10 TRU Talks session.

Since My Last Update

In the last week, I have been privileged to join discussions about the Indigenous Centre with construction beginning soon (thank you Carmen Love, and all teams), stopped to chat with Ian as he and his team watered plants and lawns, and travelled with our TRU team (TRU Kamloops, TRU Williams Lake) to meet T’exelc and advance partnership agreement discussions.

Yesterday, it was inspiring to meet with incoming international students. More than 320 students from 56 countries and across 65 programs attended the event at the CAC Ballroom. Sincere thanks to all Faculties and Schools, student services, and all members of TRU World.

Best wishes for the weekend ahead everyone.

Kukwstsétselp,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from the President #6September 4, 2025

Welcome back! Weyt-kp. Bonjour. Hello.

Welcome to the fall term at Thompson Rivers University! Thank you to everyone who made the summer term so successful — for redeveloping our facilities and infrastructure, for teaching, for research, and for support services. Thank you to the teams prepping for student registrations and orientation.

I had the privilege of attending TRU Orientation on the Kamloops campus on Tuesday and spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of new students. Thank you to TRU Writer and Storyteller Alicia Ashcroft for facilitating the event and Ted Gottfriedson and Alexis Gottfriedson from Indigenous Education for welcoming us all to Tk'emlupsemcúlecw. Thank you to TRU Williams Lake for the welcome gathering on Day One, with Interim Provost Wagner, Interim VP Research Brian Roy, and TRU WL Dean Pooni attending.

We also begin the year with one of TRU's most anticipated traditions — the annual Back-to-School BBQ on Friday, Sept. 5. Starting at 11 a.m., more than 120 booths will showcase student services, campus clubs and community partners. It is a wonderful way to connect, celebrate and set the tone for the year ahead. And of course, the burgers are free. Thank you to the Student Services team and all teams across campus for making this first week and month so special.

Financial Update: Friday, Sept. 5

As signalled in my Update #5, we now have projections for this fiscal year, based on Q2 reporting. I want to share information as early as possible and in a range of forums so that we can build a shared understanding and be involved in planning.

We have an ambitious goal: to turn the university's unprecedented financial challenges into a strategic transformation, positioning TRU for success for decades to come.

On Friday, I will write to our community with a financial update. Ahead of this, I will host an online live Teams session from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. for all faculty and staff who are able to come. I recognize that this is short notice in such a busy week, and that many of us will already have this time booked. I decided to hold the session, though, because I believe it is important that as president, I am available ‘in person’. The session will be recorded for those who prefer or need to view it at a later time.

The Financial Update event on TRU Connect has information on how to join the session.

We will review TRU’s financial position, planning priorities, and how we are responding to pressures and opportunities in the months ahead. This is an opportunity to stay informed and connected as we navigate decisions that will shape TRU’s long-term sustainability. The financial update will then be circulated via TRU Connect.

Questions are welcome. Please do feel free to raise these during the session and to submit questions using Slido (event code: #TRUBudget). If we are not able to provide immediate replies, we will share them as soon as possible.

There will be further opportunities for discussion:

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, I invite you to take part in TRU Talks with Airini — an informal forum where you can bring forward your budget-related questions and join the conversation. The in-person TRU Talks session will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of the OLARA building. An online TRU Talks session will take place the same day at 2:30 p.m.

During September, relevant Senate committees will be briefed, as will the Senate.

We are a university moving forward. In our future, TRU is one of the most innovative universities in Canada, not because of its leadership, but because of its faculty, staff and leaders who are deeply committed to use-inspired research and education to address the needs of Interior B.C. and contribute to global futures. And in our future TRU, we respond to our financial challenges; continuously improving with new advances in teaching, research, and service design. In this future, we live within our means, and we grow our means. This is something of the future we are building together.

Chief of Staff

At this time, as TRU is striving ahead, a key priority is leadership to serve all of TRU. After very careful consideration I have decided to add a position — Chief of Staff to the President and Vice-Chancellor — to the university's executive team.

This is a term appointment. No new budget is required for this appointment, and administrative support is provided by existing members in the President’s Office.

I believe that having a chief of staff in place is vital for the successful co-development and implementation of strategic change, from our first phase through to 2027/28.

I am pleased to announce that Mike Henry, Dean of the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics, will serve in this inaugural role, effective Sept. 8, 2025.

The chief of staff is a new role for TRU. The role serves as a trusted partner to the president, ensuring that the office operates effectively and that the university’s most critical work progresses with clarity, through due process, and at pace. The role brings together four primary responsibilities:

  • Strategic leadership and institutional alignment
  • People leadership: overseeing the operations of the President’s Office — including staff, communications, government relations, and the university secretariat — and ensuring effective communication and action
  • Institutional leadership: serving as a member of the TRU executive team, liaising with governance bodies, and guiding responses to complex university issues
  • Wellness leadership: modelling well-being, inclusion, and respect in all aspects of leadership, and contributing to a culture of care across the university

Mike is exceptionally well prepared for this role. Since 2015, he has served as dean of the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics, leading the school through a period of growth in programs, partnerships, and research activity that have benefitted all of TRU. His experience in industry and community relations, governance, administration, and relationship-building, along with his knowledge of TRU’s students and faculty, will be of great value as chief of staff.

Please join me in welcoming Mike as chief of staff to the president and vice-chancellor.

Indigenous Centre ground blessing ceremony

We continue to build, literally. Last week, we gathered at the site of the future Indigenous Centre to acknowledge the land in advance of construction getting underway. The gathering was facilitated by Sharon Gottfriedson, Acting Executive Director, Indigenous Education, with planning help from Interim Capital Projects Director Carmen Love. The Indigenous Centre represents TRU’s commitment to honour Secwépemc values and to create space where all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff and faculty may come together.

Since my last update

I so enjoy walking about campus and visiting online as well. I often perch at Student Street to type there. It’s wonderful when you come up to say hello and share something of your day. Since my last update, my activities have included: Garry Gottfriedson and I met with Sarah Jules and colleagues at Tulo Centre for Indigenous Economics, as well as Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council; with friends and colleagues, I attended the farewell gathering for Dean Doug Booth. Katie Klassen and I met to go over plans for the upcoming scholarship awards gathering, and I met with Dr. Vivek Kumar regarding AI and TRU becoming technology fluent.

Most of all this week is about meeting — new students, returning students, staff and faculty fully embracing this new term. Thank you, everyone, for a superb new fall term.

Kukwstsétselp,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor

Update from the President #7September 12, 2025

Weytkp. Bonjour. Hello.

Thank you for a superb second week of fall term.

Outage

This week we had a power outage affecting all of our Kamloops campus. Thank you for adapting and your patience during the outage. In a way it was great to see us up and away from computers and connecting in person.

On behalf of us all I wrote to the Facilities team to thank them for responding immediately, working on the technical fault finding, and then creating the solution that got the power on. This response team made it possible for classes, research, operations to continue. Thank you too to our communications team for keeping us informed. Let’s all please upload the TRU Safe app and ensure we go through the steps to be set up to receive messages.

I know we won’t always find a solution right away to these kinds of events, but this week’s incident was a reminder that whatever happens we can be confident that as TRU colleagues we are always giving our best. That’s what we are about at TRU. Thank you to our Facilities colleagues for showing this week how true it is that at TRU we are One University together.

Mastercard Foundation gift

Earlier this week, we were honoured to share news of a $5-million gift from the Mastercard Foundation. This unexpected award recognizes TRU’s leadership in creating educational pathways for Indigenous learners and supports the next decade of our partnership through the EleV program. With this gift, TRU joins a select group of 30 institutions across the country.

This funding will strengthen initiatives already underway and spark new ones that ensure Indigenous learners have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. At this early stage in planning we envisage flowing about 25 per cent of the fund during the next two to three years, and endowing the balance while a medium- to long-term plan is developed.

We recognize that accepting this gift is a responsibility, and we acknowledge all those who have gone before this time, to build our understanding and practices in truth and reconciliation. We thank the Mastercard Foundation for their trust in TRU and for standing with us in our shared commitment to truth and reconciliation in action.

Financial update

Last Friday, I provided an update to the university community on TRU’s financial outlook. This update and other budget-related information is now also available online. Federal changes to international student visas have accelerated enrolment declines more sharply than expected, and this affects our operating budget. We must take immediate action to live within our means while also undertaking the longer-term work of focusing TRU for our own unique future.

The path forward includes reducing discretionary spending, slowing or cancelling some capital projects, reviewing services, and making changes to our workforce.

Ahead of these times we have had careful work to develop relevant policies, governance responsibilities and collective agreements. Please be assured that we all will be vigilant to ensure due process is followed as we go forward. I am grateful for discussions with the leadership of unions serving colleagues across TRU, as well as colleagues in People and Culture.

The response to budget challenges began in 2024 as understanding of the impact of federal policy changes grew and continues during fall term. The Early Retirement Incentive Program which closed in August 2025 is one example of planned actions underway. Given the new financial update, our available actions as a university will be considered at October's Board meeting. With members of the Senior Leadership Team I will continue to provide information to the university on planning.

I recognize that these are difficult steps, and we will approach them with compassion and care for colleagues whose roles are directly affected.

Our purpose is to balance the budget in the short term, to begin the transformation needed for TRU’s long-term success. Future TRU is about building one university that operates outside generic patterns in the university sector, is academically excellent and accessible, leading in use-inspired research and education for our region and the world, and financially stable.

TRU Talks

On Wednesday of this week, I had the genuine pleasure of meeting many of our colleagues at TRU Talks, both in-person at the OLARA building and online. I am inspired by the honesty and passion I heard for TRU’s mission and by the thoughtful questions raised. These gatherings show the strength of our community: people willing to come together, ask hard questions and contribute ideas for our future. They also confirm the importance of continued discussions — in-person and online. During October, TRU Talks will include an in-person discussion time at TRU Williams Lake as well.

Your feedback is shaping the conversations we are having at the senior leadership level. TRU Talks will continue throughout the year as part of our commitment to open dialogue. Thank you to everyone who participated and to those who will join future sessions.

Outstanding

We’re okay at TRU with standing tall. Here are just two in recent times:

  • TRU secures top spot in sustainability
  • Prof. Courtney Mason receives highest honour from the Royal Society of Canada

Since my last update

Since my last message, I have also had opportunities to connect with students, faculty, and staff in so many settings. Members of the senior executive team and I met with students and faculty who are part of the People's University of Gaza at TRU. We agreed to collaborate on meeting notes which will be forthcoming. It was wonderful to attend WolfPack games on Friday and Saturday evenings. The President’s Office and Provost’s Office visited the House of Learning fourth floor to plan for the move there in late October. My thanks continue to the Library team for this opportunity. In addition I visited with Kukpi7 Casimir as part of our regular times for connecting.

Thank you everyone for a wonderful week. I wish you rest over the weekend ahead, for many here within Secwepemcúl’ecw.

Kukwstsétselp,

Airini
Professor of Education
President and Vice-Chancellor
 > TRU Home > The Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor

“I come to this role with deep gratitude and a simple intention: to listen well, to serve wisely, and to work beside you to shape the future of TRU.” — Dr. Airini
President and Vice-Chancellor TRU

About Dr. Airini Deeply Committed to Education

Dr. Airini brings a deep commitment to inclusive education, academic excellence, and community service. She came to Canada as an international student, is a national award-winning educator and researcher, Fulbright Scholar, and a leader with experience across academic, government, and global agencies.

Academic and Professional Background
Dr. Airini

Presidential Installation of Dr. Airini

In an emotion-filled ceremony recognizing culture, tradition and the future, Dr. Airini was formally installed as Thompson Rivers University’s fifth president and vice-chancellor.

Read more about the installation Watch the full installation

At the core of Airini’s vision

People

Recognizing the contributions and potential of students, faculty, staff and community partners.

Purpose

Ensuring TRU remains a place where education transforms lives, where ideas grow and where everyone belongs.

Possibility

Leading TRU into its next chapter with openness to change, confidence in its identity and respect for its roots in Secwépemcúl’ecw.

Updates from the President

September 2025 Updates
August 2025 Updates
July 2025 Updates

President's reports

The President’s Report provides an update on executive priorities, delivered to the Board of Governors during its regularly scheduled meetings and shared on this site for the TRU community and public.

2025 Reports
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2023 Reports
2022 Reports
2021 Reports
2020 Reports
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Statement on Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is fundamental to teaching, learning and inquiry at a university. It permits scholars, and hence universities, to pursue and advance knowledge, which serves society. At TRU, academic freedom is protected and practised every day, guided by academia's principles and ethics, which are given concrete form in agreements between TRU and its faculty.

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Future Student Ambassadors

Thompson Rivers University campuses are on the ancestral lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwepemcúl̓ecw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. The region TRU serves also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.

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