I suspect my granddaughters will stifle a laugh or two as I am cloaked and fitted with my very interesting hat when I am officially installed as chancellor of Huntington University this week.
They have no idea of the significance of the convocation, for me or for them.
Lily and Amelia will no doubt squirm through the prestigious event at Bryston’s on the Park, surrounded by academics, community leaders, politicians and invited guests. But one day, they will boast to their friends that their Nanny was the first woman chancellor of Huntington University in Greater Sudbury, and be inspired to pursue their highest goals as girls.
I hope to lead by example to my granddaughters, daughters and other family members by pursuing goals and community participation in initiatives and institutions that are in line with my values and beliefs.
Establishing those values and beliefs have taken a lifetime to develop and it’s been quite the journey getting there.
I’ve reported from international war zones, covered almost every community event, exposed questionable politics and politicians, championed the underdogs of worthwhile causes, taken big industry to task and attended union rallies.
There were times when I cried I hated my job so much and other times when you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to give up on an investigative story I was working on.
Community reporting was the backbone of my career for many years before I moved into an editing role and finally a publishing role. Throughout it all, I continued to learn and grow and develop.
I learned how important a formal education was to expand my understanding and knowledge of my craft, and how continuing my education was paramount to my success. I learned that education doesn’t end with a degree or diploma, for many people, it’s just the beginning.
This is why it is so exciting to take on the role of chancellor and serve as an ambassador of Huntington University in the promotion of academic and community excellence at the post-secondary level. It is such a positive and motivating institution, which has seen immense growth in the past few years, due in large part to the vision, inspiration and tenacity of its president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Kevin McCormick.
Under his leadership, Huntington University has established articulation agreements with provincial, national and international partners, invested in generous scholarship and bursary programs and developed new and relevant courses for today’s students.
Beyond the classroom, the university remains dedicated to fostering community and educational initiatives and champions the importance of excellence in learning alongside service for others in the community.
It’s a perfect fit for me and I am extremely honoured to be chancellor.
Maybe one day my granddaughters will study at Huntington or wear the chancellor’s robe at a convocation ceremony where she will speak about her Nanny, the first woman chancellor of Huntington University.
Patricia Mills is the former publisher of Northern Ontario Business and Sudbury Living Magazine, the new chancellor of Huntington University and president of the NEO Kids Foundation.
