A Warm Welcome to Moragh MacAulay

“20 Anniversary events are planned for Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Vancouver. I’m hoping we are able to establish new and lively channels of communication with both prospective students and alumni. I’m very much looking forward to meeting our alumni and hearing their stories in person.” Moragh MacAuley

Martine Durier-Copp is pleased to introduce CFAME’s newest staff member, Moragh MacAulay, who joined the CFAME team in early January as the Recruitment/Marketing Coordinator. Moragh (Mora) will be working with Martine in organizing the 20^th Anniversary events to be held in cities across Canada, the first being Montreal on February 28^th at the gaZette Restaurant in the Westin Hotel.  Moragh is looking forward to meeting our vibrant alumni community and celebrating this great milestone.

In a recent interview with CFAME Connection, Moragh echoed Martine’s enthusiasm for connecting with CFAME graduates.  “I’m hoping we are able to establish new and lively channels of communication with both prospective students and alumni. I’m very much looking forward to meeting our alumni and hearing their stories in person.”

How did you become involved with CFAME?

Up until last summer I was working in the marketing department at a ski & mountain bike resort near Vernon, BC. Then … my husband got offered his dream job, which just happened to be in Halifax. In September, I hopped into my trusty and ancient Honda Civic and drove to Nova Scotia in a five-day cross-country trek. As much as I enjoyed working on a mountain and spending time with people who love living actively outdoors as much as I do, I missed working in post-secondary and really wanted to get back to a campus.

The job at CFAME was the first job I applied for when I settled in, and I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to work with the team here.  I have many years of marketing communications experience in post-secondary education: I worked at a small liberal arts university in Alberta for five years, at Okanagan College in the BC interior for 2 years, and in the Open Learning division of Thompson Rivers University for 4 years.

CFAME has been on the forefront of blended learning. What educational trends do you see unfolding in the next few years?

That’s a huge question! It’s definitely exciting to be working at a university with over 20 years of experience delivering blended learning at the graduate level. The level of support CFAME provides to students and the pride the staff here have in their students and alumni is impressive and inspiring.

Interesting trends are the ongoing rationalization of the online learning landscape and how new technologies are being rapidly incorporated into course delivery to narrow the distance between student and professor. The huge growth in online programs over the last decade, including free online courses is now slowing, and it’s a time to watch and see what programs and technologies survive and thrive and which ones fall by the wayside.

It’s encouraging to see that the blended model is doing well. Blended programs are emerging as a clear favourite because students can enjoy the benefits of connecting with other students and with their professors.

What are your suggestions for anyone considering an CFAME program?

I’d encourage them to contact CFAME by phone or email. The wealth of knowledge about the program that the staff have is exceptional – plus they’re friendly and helpful folks! No matter what your life circumstances, they’ll be able to assist you in making the choice that’s right for you. I’d also suggest talking to one of the CFAME alumni. There’s no better way to find out what a program is really like than talking to someone who has experienced it. We’d be happy to help potential students connect with an alum to discuss the program benefits and what to expect.

How can the alumni community encourage others to consider CFAME as the place to obtain a MBA?

CFAME alumni are an amazing asset and have proved to be our best ambassadors.  I hope they feel comfortable sharing their experiences and successes with others. Earning a Master’s degree while working full time and dealing with all the other things life throws at you is a genuine achievement. But it can be difficult to take the step of going back to school after many years out of the classroom. It can be daunting. The more the alumni community can share their positive experiences, the easier it is for potential students to realize they too can take that step and enjoy the benefits for themselves.