Nilgün Önder, PhD
Contact Info
Biography
Dr. Nilgün Önder was initially appointed Associate Vice-President (Academic) on 1 July 2018 for a five-year term. She was reappointed for a second five-year term (2024-2028) following the University’s process of appointment renewal review.
Dr. Önder grew up in Istanbul, Türkiye. After receiving a BSc with the highest distinction in political science and public administration from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, she moved to Canada to pursue graduate studies. She completed her MA degree with distinction in political science at Wilfrid Laurier University. She holds a PhD in political science from York University.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Önder was the Acting Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina from July 2015-June 2018. She also served as the founding head of the International Studies Program, Faculty of Arts.
Her areas of research and teaching include international relations, international political economy, global governance, Turkish political economy, and Turkish foreign policy. In addition to publishing peer-reviewed journal articles and presenting numerous papers at refereed international and Canadian conferences, she is the author of The Economic Transformation of Turkey: Neoliberalism and State Intervention. Her current academic research focuses on global governance, foreign policy theory, and Turkish foreign policy. She has also been working on student success and retention related topics.
Dr. Önder served several international scholarly associations in various capacities. She was Vice-President of International Studies Association – Canada for 2017-2018 and President of the same association for 2018-2019. She is a member of the Editorial Board, International Comparative Social Studies (ICSS) Book Series, Brill, Netherlands.
In her role as AVP (Academic), Dr. Önder initiated and led several major projects focusing on facilitating students’ transition from high school to university, supporting student success and retention, and enhancing quality teaching and teaching supports through the Centre for Teaching and Learning. She provided leadership and support for the Open Education and Publishing Program and initiated the Zero-Cost-Material Courses project to lower textbook costs for students. She created and chaired the Microcredentials Working Group to develop an institutional microcredentials framework. The Working Group released the Microcredentials Framework in April 2021. In September 2021, together with the Provost, Dr. Önder established the Task Force on the Future of Technology Infrastructure Supporting Teaching, Learning, and the Academic Mission of the University to develop a vision for the University’s academic technology infrastructure and related supports for faculty and students. In consultation with the Task Force, she authored the Task Force Report with Recommendations (April 2022). In collaboration with relevant units at the University, she has led the implementation of the Task Force’s priority recommendations, including the review of the University’s Learning Management System (first such review undertaken at the University) and a major review of the Distance and Distributed Learning program. She has collaborated with the AVP (Informational Services) to develop a classroom technology plan in alignment with the Task Force’s recommendations.
For Dr. Önder, maintaining excellent relations with the three Federated Colleges has been of high priority. She led the review and renewal of the Guidelines for A Working Academic Relationship Agreement between the University and Campion and Luther Colleges. Dr. Önder also led the renewal of the University’s five-year Affiliation Agreement with Gabriel Dumont Institute twice and played active roles in the development of new academic program agreements with this important partner institution. Her efforts to build and enhance the University’s collaborations with other education institutions have also involved initiatives focusing on the Saskatchewan Regional Colleges. Her recent related activities include developing and implementing a strategy aimed at expanding the University’s dual credit course program with high schools in Saskatchewan in collaboration with the Centre for Continuing Education.
Position Profile
Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Associate Vice-President (Academic) has a broad range of responsibilities and plays a key role in fulfilling the University's stated aspiration to be one of Canada's best student-focused comprehensive universities.
The Associate Vice-President (Academic) (AVPA) works with academic leaders from across campus to ensure Strategic Plan goals are met or exceeded in the areas of quality, relevance, and attractiveness of academic programs; the academic reputation of the University and its faculty; the quality of teaching and academic support services for students; and the alignment of academic programming with the needs of current and prospective students.
The AVPA works with the Deans of the three federated colleges - Campion College, First Nations University of Canada, and Luther College - to maintain and enhance the University’s academic relationship with these partner colleges. The AVPA is also responsible on behalf of the Provost for the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
On behalf of the University and in collaboration with the Deans, the AVPA oversees academic contracts and agreements with other domestic postsecondary institutions. In collaboration with Human Resources, the AVPA provides academic leadership to the faculty performance review process and supports the Academic Development Review committee. The AVPA is also responsible for oversight of the University’s Academic Conference Fund allocation. The AVPA’s responsibilities also include acting on behalf of the Provost in the Provost’s absence and representing the University externally as required.