Institute Chairs and Personnel

Suzanne Gagnon Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education and Associate Professor Director, James W. Burns Leadership Institute Phone: (204) 474-7395 Email: Suzanne.Gagnon@umanitoba.ca

Suzanne Gagnon is the Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education, Associate Professor and Director for the James W. Burns Leadership Institute. In her role, she directs all educational activities of the Institute, and spearheads and designs the programming which the Institute offers, including the flagship President’s Student Leadership Program. She interfaces with the Board of Advisors for the Institute and with all stakeholders including partner postsecondary institutions in Manitoba. She engages in extensive community outreach to understand and implement the Institute's educational programming. Dr. Gagnon also conducts research in leadership, often with a focus on diversity, identity and equity.

Zhenyu Wu, Ph.D. Associate Dean Research and Graduate Research Programs Canada Research Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation IG Wealth Management Chair in Leadership Research Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance I.H. Asper School of Business University of Manitoba 318 Drake Centre Winnipeg MB Canada R3T 5V4 Phone: (204)474-8425 Email: zhenyu_wu@umanitoba.ca

A new role within the Institute, Dr. Wu will conduct and lead new research that assists in understanding a range of questions on the dynamics of leadership. His expertise is in strategy leadership and entrepreneurship.

Melissa Gayle Program Coordinator and Assistant to the Director Phone: (204) 474-8959 Email: Melissa.GayleSmith@umanitoba.ca

Melissa Gayle is the Program Coordinator and Assistant to the Director for the James W. Burns Leadership Institute. In her role, she supports all of the work of the Institute as the primary person responsible for coordination of new activities and programming, and in particular the President’s Student Leadership Program (PSLP). Within this role she developed and administers the PSLP Mentoring Program.

Michela Troia Co-op Summer Student, Marketing and Communications Asper School of Business and James W. Burns Leadership Institute Phone: (204) - 272 - 1639 Email: Michela.troia@umanitoba.ca

Michela is a Co-op Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) student majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship/Small Business. Michela is an active member of the University of Manitoba Marketing Association and the Asper Network of Empowered Women. She is also serving as Director of Marketing and Social Media for the JDC West 2021 Organizing Committee.