(Primary/Elementary)'14, B.Sp.Ed.'18, M.Ed.'20 (586 votes)

Great institutions are shaped by people who care deeply about how decisions are made—and who those decisions serve. I am seeking election to the Board of Regents because I am ready to contribute directly to the governance of an institution that has shaped my education, leadership, and service across this province.

I am currently an Instructional Resource Teacher with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, working at the centre of inclusive education—supporting literacy, intervention, and school-wide decision-making. Every day, I collaborate with educators, families, and support teams to translate complex student needs into practical, equitable action.

My commitment to service extends well beyond my professional role. I am a former Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, an experience that strengthened my voice in public advocacy and community engagement across the province. Today, I serve on the Board of Directors for two provincial leadership organizations—one focused on youth leadership and one on women’s leadership—and I actively support organizations such as Young Adult Cancer Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

My vision for Memorial is clear: a university that is accessible, accountable, and deeply connected to the province it serves. Strong governance requires leaders who can bridge policy and lived experience, challenge assumptions, and keep student success at the centre of every decision.

I bring a collaborative, grounded, and community-minded perspective—rooted in education, leadership and service, and I am ready to contribute to Memorial's next chapter. 

B.Comm.(Co-op.)'02, MER'11 (619 votes)

As a proud graduate of Memorial University, I have maintained a deep and lifelong commitment to the institution. As the first member of my immediate family to graduate from university, Memorial played a critical role in my life, and I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities it provided. That experience instilled in me a strong belief in the power of accessible, high-quality post-secondary education.

I have spent my career in senior leadership roles focused on strategy, people, and organizational leadership. My work has centred on supporting organizations, strengthening people and culture, and making thoughtful, long-term decisions. I have complemented this experience with formal governance education through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program (ICD.D), along with practical board experience serving on several community organizations.

My interest in serving on the Board of Regents reflects a genuine desire to give back to Memorial and to contribute experienced, steady leadership at an important time for the University. I am motivated to contribute practical experience, sound judgment, and a strong sense of responsibility to help ensure the University’s long-term sustainability and success for generations to come.

BA'91 (650 votes)

I am a proud graduate of Memorial University in 1991 and a passionate supporter of Memorial’s academic vision and place within our province.

During my time as an employee in international student recruitment, as well as undertaking contractual work on their behalf thereafter while residing overseas, I have been committed to advancing Memorial’s mission of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement.

My specific intent in seeking a alumni position on the Board of Regents is to contribute these lived experiences and perspectives, along with my strategic insights, and to offer a strong voice for alumni, students, and the broader community as the institution enters a critical phase of restructuring and renewed growth.

My vision aligns with Memorial’s strategic commitments to our province and people: fostering innovation and rationalization in academic programming, strengthening well defined and relevant research capacity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all learners.

I believe the University must continue to be a driver of economic, cultural, and social growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, all while also expanding its global reach. This requires thoughtful governance, transparent decision-making, and a focus on the longterm sustainability of the institution.

Professionally, I bring over 35 years of experience in business and community activity and relations, with a track record in strategic planning, project management, fiscal oversight, and stakeholder engagement. I feel this coupled with my distinct interest in shaping Memorial’s future that I would be a reasonable fit for an alumni position on the Board of Regents.

MA'93, M.Ed.'05 (618 votes)

Serving on the Board of Regents from 2023-2026 has been an honour as well as a learning experience. I have often felt inadequate to the task because I lack the experience in governance and finance that other Board members bring to the table. But I’m a firm believer that, especially in difficult times, we need people with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives on our Board.

Memorial faces the same issues as other North American universities – the twin challenges of decreased government funding and declining enrolment. We also face the added challenge of being this province’s only university, called upon to serve a wide variety of needs across a huge geographical area with a small population. There are no easy answers to the issues facing our (or any other) university, but part of the solution must be Board members who recognize that a university is more than just the bottom line on its budget. We must continue finding ways to be fiscally responsible without degrading the quality of what MUN offers to the students of this province.

As a writer and a retired teacher, I’m passionate about four things: education, the arts, our province’s history, and social justice. In every discussion I have participated in over three years on the Board of Regents, those passions have been front and centre for me. These will continue to be my priorities if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected for a second term on the Board of Regents.

B.Ed.(Native and Northern)'09 (673 votes)

Kanani Penashue Davis (Sheshatshiu, NL) is an Innu educator and graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Education (2009). She was the first Innu graduate to become a teacher and holds a foundational role in development of Innu-led education in Labrador. She received the President’s Award for Public Engagement Partnership (2019) for her collaboration on a tri-lingual Innu-aimun language dictionary. She served on the selection committee for the Alumni Tribute Awards and was honoured as a recipient of Memorial’s Centennial 100 (2025). She is currently Executive Director of Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, leading to strengthen education for students in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, a member of the Academic Council for the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies at Memorial’s Labrador campus and serves on the Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Education Advisory Committee.

Kanani was instrumental in the transition from a provincially run system to one Innu-led and Innu-defined, creating a system grounded in language, culture, and community priorities. She brings experience in governance, financial oversight and planning with a focus on improving student outcomes while strengthening accountability and fiscal responsibility.

As a candidate for Memorial University’s Board of Regents, her experience aligns with Transforming Our Horizons (2021-2026), supporting programs, learning, and community commitment, with a focus on Truth and Reconciliation, EDI-AR, sustainability, and social responsibility. Born and raised in Sheshatshiu, Kanani is fluent in Innu-aimun and grounded in land-based knowledge, having travelled Labrador’s waters and interior with her mother, Elizabeth Penashue. She is married, with four children and two grandchildren.

B.Eng.'17 (1067 votes)

As a proud Memorial graduate and your alumni representative, I lead with integrity, compassion, and empathy. I am seeking re-election to maintain leadership continuity and to safeguard Memorial as a world-class institution.

My journey of community involvement started as a student leader in the Students’ Union and Residence Life, eventually serving on the Board of Regents. This experience connects governance with the everyday realities of our students. I bring diverse public and private sector expertise as an Engineer, Consultant, Oxford MBA, and Institute of Corporate Directors member—recognized globally as an energy industry leader—along with an "open-door" approach to ensure your voices are heard directly in the boardroom.

I have a proven track record of consensus-building and deeply value the trust of my peers on the Board of Regents, which includes students, faculty, ex-officio, LGIC appointees, and alumni representatives, who have twice elected me as Vice-Chair.

Together, we supported the vision that saw Memorial reach the Top 300 globally and MUN Engineering rank in the Top 6 nationally.

However, Higher education is entering a turbulent period characterized by significant financial, demographic, and policy-driven headwinds. To overcome these, I will serve this final term focused on five strategic commitments:

1. Culture & Community: Fostering a Vibrant, Inclusive, and Respectful campus.
2. Student-Focused Decisions: Prioritizing the Student Experience at EVERY level.
3. Accessibility: Keeping world-class education accessible to ALL.
4. Fiscal Stewardship: Ensure long-term Financial sustainability.
5. Transparency: Championing a university of the people, by the people, and for the people.