Support Staff
Tracy Giles, Cert. Ed.
Coordinator, Student Affairs & Financial Aid Cowichan
Tracy comes with 35+ years of experience in office administration and office manager roles both in the corporate section and adult education. She has also worked as a tutor in IT subjects for a community education organization, and a volunteer tutor for English for foreign learners.
Tracy provides front–line service for students coming to the department for assistance to connect them with the right person for their needs. She can also provide information about programs and services, as well as providing administrative support for the department.
Cowichan Campus is a beautiful campus that is small enough for us to know nearly every student by name. It’s a wonderful thing to see our students progress and succeed and the support we can provide through Student Affairs is so crucial to that success.
Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.
Amanda Rozenboom
Administrative Assistant
Amanda provides front-line service for students coming to the department for assistance. She also assists with administrative support for the department and other areas of the campus. Amanda is a former VIU student and is grateful to work alongside all the supportive and welcoming staff that were there for her on her educational path, and enjoys assisting others on their own journey.
Gaby Lepitre
Supervisor, Assessments & Exam Invigilation
Gaby started working at the Cowichan Campus in 2006 in the role as a casual. A few years later, she was supervising and coordinating program assessments and exam invigilation services on a part time basis. Two years later, she added the part-time position of Record Clerk in the Registration Department.
Gaby works out of the Student Affairs department with an exceptional team who values high standards of customer service. You can be assured of a welcoming and efficient testing environment.
Faculty
Albert Seinen, M.A., M.Ed.
Educational Advisor and Counsellor
In his counselling practice Albert draws from a number of approaches using them as seems appropriate, particularly Satir, EMDR, and other body-centred psychotherapy. In his educational counselling, Albert uses a person-centred approach to facilitate understanding of how education and work can be part of how a person wants to live their life.
Dave Barck, MEd, CCC
Educational Advisor & Counsellor, Accessibility Services
Dave approaches his multiple roles through a humanistic, student-focused perspective. He listens, engages, and works in collaboration with students to help them identify options and resources pertinent to their educational pathways. As an Access Specialist he values promoting accessibility on campus for students with disabilities through proactive initiatives as well as through the removal of barriers to education through academic accommodations.
Lexis Linklater, M.Ed., RCC
On Temporary Leave
Lexis is our Aboriginal Counselor/Advisor for Services for Aboriginal Students. She has extensive counselling experience and a specialized Master’s Degree in Counselling in Indigenous Communities from UVIC. Utilizing a holistic and compassionate approach, Lexis provides therapy and academic support that respects and honours the whole needs of the student. Lexis is Metis of Anishinaabe and Cree descent and is grateful to be a guest on the Quw’utsun lands. She welcomes you to come and meet her should you have any questions or needs.
Miranda Conlin
Educational Advisor
Miranda is passionate about supporting students as they navigate their personal and educational paths and goals. As an Educational Advisor, she incorporates a motivational student-centred approach to her work. She holds a Master of Education degree, specializing in Adult Learning, from the University of Calgary. She has 11 years of experience working in a post-secondary environment and has been an integral part of the VIU community since 2018. She has in-depth operational knowledge of VIU's admissions and registration policies and procedures, and a deep understanding of VIU's various departments to connect students with the appropriate services and resources they need to succeed.
Nola Remi-Adelasoye
Clinical Counselling Intern
Nola Remi-Adelasoye is completing the final step in her MACP to qualify as a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She has a background in Health and Human Services. Nola is originally from Nigeria and has worked in Canada since 2009. Her work is supervised by our International Education counselling team.
Elders
Marlene Rice (Hwiem')
Cowichan Campus Elder-in-Residence
Marlene is fully active in cultural activities throughout the island. Her passion, goals and vision are in helping all people with culture, traditional values, language and education, which is all part of creating a strong foundation for successful employment and healthy living .