Innovating, Renovating
Glen Weppler was the Canadian District Representative on the ACUHO-I Executive Board from 2006-2008, and during that time, he outmoded his own job. Of course, that was the plan. By working with other members of the Executive Board and the Association to manage the transition to a new governance structure, Weppler eliminated his role on the board, but moved the Association forward to become a more dynamic organization, fit for the 21st century. During that transition, Weppler helped ensure that non-U.S. voices, such as those from Canada, where Weppler is director of student community life at Ryerson University in Toronto, would be heard. ACUHO-I had its beginnings in the U.S., and while it is now an international association, a majority of the members are from the U.S. In this situation, the interests and viewpoints of those from outside the U.S. can be unintentionally disregarded; the work of Weppler and our other non-U.S. members helps prevent this. Weppler also worked with EBI to make their assessment process more useful to Canadian institutions, giving institutions there a new tool for benchmarking. Weppler wasn’t new to working without a precedent; when he started at Georgian College, he created a student housing department; that institution opened its first residence in 2002. Weppler has also served at McMaster University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Western Ontario, before arriving at Ryerson.
The Global Initiatives Award honors housing professionals who are helping ACUHO-I become a pre-eminent international association. We are indebted to Weppler for his assistance with one of the Association’s primary strategic goals.
Tags: Awards