ADA Appointment
College of Nursing Associate Dean - Academic Appointed
Please join the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Nursing in congratulating Dr. Mary Ellen Labrecque (PhD) on her recent appointment to College of Nursing Associate Dean - Academic.
Dr. Labrecque began her nursing career in 1986. Since graduation, she has worked in a variety of health care settings, including acute care, community agencies, and northern and arctic outpost across western and northern Canada. She has spent a great deal of her career in rural and remote communities, working with northern students, instructors, and stakeholders, and has a passion for northern nursing.
Since joining USask in 1997 in a contract teaching position with the College of Nursing, Dr. Labrecque has held a number of positions within the college. In 2007, she was hired into a tenure track faculty position, in 2012 she became the director of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) program, and from 2013 – 2016 and six months in 2018, she was acting associate dean north for the Prince Albert, La Ronge, and Ile-a-la-Crosse nursing sites, while maintaining her position as director of the NP program.
In addition to working for the College of Nursing, Dr. Labrecque has also practiced as a NP for the past twelve years with the USask Student Wellness Centre.
Dr. Labrecque completed her nursing diploma at Kelsey Institute in 1986 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan in 1992. The positive experiences she encountered with nurse educators motivated her to return to nursing education and complete her Master of Nursing (Thesis) at the University of Saskatchewan in 2002, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan in 2008, and Post-Masters Advanced Practice Nursing Nurse Practitioner from Athabasca University in 2010. She is registered with the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan as a Registered Nurse – Nurse Practitioner.
Throughout her graduate studies, Dr. Labrecque was part of a variety of research projects. Today her program of research is focused on advanced practice nursing and education. She is involved in numerous local, provincial, national, and international committees with this focus.
“Dr. Labrecque has a long history with the College of Nursing and brings to this position a wealth of knowledge,” said College of Nursing dean Dr. Solina Richter (DCur). “She has been instrumental in the success of the College’s nationally acclaimed nurse practitioner programs and I look forward to working with her in her new leadership role to advance our undergraduate nursing programs.”
“In my career I have been fortunate to have many opportunities and practice in diverse settings,” said Dr. Labrecque. “As associate dean - academic, I want to facilitate similar opportunities for students, staff, educators, and researchers in the College of Nursing. I envision this role to be an advocate for excellence in distributive learning and nursing education.”
The associate dean - academic is a member of the Dean’s Executive of the College of Nursing and a Senior Administrator of the University of Saskatchewan. The role is responsible for the leadership and direction over the academic quality and integrity of undergraduate programming at the College of Nursing across Saskatchewan. The associate dean - academic has delegated authority, responsibility, and accountability for all matters related to undergraduate education programming.
This appointment is a five year term, beginning July 1, 2022.