U of S lands new vice-president of university relations

The University of Saskatchewan has announced Debra Pozega Osburn as its new vice-president of university relations.

She will officially assume the role in October.

"Every university is different," said Pozega Osburn. "So what I really need to do first is learn about the University of Saskatchewan and its communities, and then I'll know which aspects of the long experience I've had in other post-secondary institutions will be most applicable here."

Pozega Osburn is currently the vice-president of university relations at the University of Alberta,a role she'sbeen in for the past six years.

The Michigan State University alumnahas held a wide range of positions, mainly in media and communications, and has also worked as a journalist with the Lansing State Journal for a stretch of 13 years.

"The position of vice-president university relations is such an important part of our institution's leadership team and I know Debra will be able to take the U of S to new heights in regards to our external relationships," said University of Saskatchewan president Peter Stoicheff in a press release.

"The search for our vice-president university relations was national and international in scope, and I couldn't be more confident in our choice."

The move follows a period of upheaval and change at the university. Ilene Busch-Vishniac was terminated without cause in 2014. She was replaced by then interimpresident Gordon Barnhart, a former lieutenant-governor of Saskatchewan. Stoicheff assumed the position of president in July 2015.

• University of Saskatchewan board fires president Ilene Busch-Vishniac

Pozega Osburn said she's excited with the direction the university is going in.

"I think that combination of quite a bit of experience in the post-secondary sector, plus some experience in the private sector - particularly in the media and communications - I think is something I am pleased to bring to the university."