It’s a question Marcia Friesen has been asked many times but still isn’t quite sure how to answer. Friesen was appointed the dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba on Jan. 1, 2021. She is the first woman to ever hold the post in the history of the Price Faculty of Engineering, the oldest engineering school in Western Canada. One of the most frequent questions she’s had to respond to since her appointment is how she feels about that distinction. “I do get asked that question a lot. In some ways I try to shy away from it. For me, I was following a career path that made sense to me and reflected my interests and the opportunities that I’d had along the way. I wasn’t trying to make a point by being the first woman in the role,” she says. “At the same time, I’ve come to realize how many young women, including young adults in my own family and their friends, were so excited about this. It’s made me reflect on how my appointment is encouraging and inspiring to the
people around me, which can’t be underestimated. That joy is really pure and is really neat to see.” Friesen’s appointment is for a five- year term. One of her top priorities as dean is to increase enrolment in the U of M’s undergraduate engineering program by 25 per cent to meet the demands of both students and the business sector. While acknowledging that goal is ambitious, Friesen believes it is achievable. As part of that growth strategy, the faculty will need to extend its relationships with the community it serves and reimagine its outreach and recruitment strategies, she explains. “COVID has really thrown a wrench into enrolment trends, and I think we will need to diversify our prospective student base. It’s a real positive opportunity for us to reach out to students who have interests that they may not know align with engineering and never saw themselves here and say ‘this is a place for you,’” she says. For Friesen, one of the most enjoyable parts of her current position is the opportunity it provides to inspire young people the same way she once was. As a teenager, she attended
Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) where she studied math and physics under Harry Wall, a former engineer and recipient of the prestigious Champion of Engineering Education Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba (now known as Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba). Friesen says his impact on her and her career choice can’t be understated. “He was a strong advocate for the profession and women in the profession. I think his voice rose above the other voices at the time that may have been nudging me towards other things,” she recalls. As for the next generation of young women who may be considering a future career in engineering, Friesen has some advice. “Whether they’re motivated to be on the cutting edge of technology or are motivated to contribute to social and human development in their communities or motivated to express their artistic and creative talents, an engineering degree can be a pathway to a really fulfilling career. Think big and find other girls and women who support you and maybe even want to participate in that dream with you.” ◗
“ Marcia Friesen is the first woman to serve as the dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba.
"Whether they’re motivated to be on the cutting edge of technology or are motivated to contribute to social and human development in their communities or motivated to express their artistic and creative talents, an engineering degree can be a pathway to a really fulfilling career." - Marcia Friesen, dean of engineering at the University of Manitoba
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 19
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