UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
University appoints next VP, University Relations

I am very pleased to share with you the news that Cheryl Hamelin has been appointed the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) next Vice President, University Relations (VPUR), beginning on June 1, 2022.

In this position, Ms. Hamelin will play a crucial role in managing the reputation and key donor relationships of the university, and in providing vision and leadership to the UR team that includes fundraising and development, alumni relations, strategic communications, and operations and services. She will be responsible for leading a team dedicated to building relationships with alumni and the larger community, building a culture of philanthropy, leading a successful institutional campaign, and telling the stories of the institution and its people. Ms. Hamelin will lead a team of professionals and excel at encouraging and facilitating collaboration and communication across the institution in service of USask's mission, and will support academic and administrative units in their advancement efforts, including development and implementation of the comprehensive campaign.

Ms. Hamelin has been a fundraising and communications leader for three decades. During that time, she has served many important organizations and institutions locally and nationally. Between 2000-2011, Ms. Hamelin held Director of Development roles in the School of Public Policy, the Faculty of Law, the Haskayne School of Business and the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Calgary (U of C). From 2016-18 she served as Executive Director of the RESOLVE campaign, successfully leading a team of senior fundraisers in a $120 million capital campaign to provide homes for homeless and vulnerable Calgarians. In April of 2018, Ms. Hamelin returned to the U of C in the capacity of Senior Director, Faculty Development, and in January of 2020 she assumed her current role of Executive Director, Faculty Development where she provides leadership to advancement staff and activities in twelve of the U of C's faculties and schools.

Ms. Hamelin is a proud USask graduate and holds her professional fundraising accreditation, CFRE. She is a consummate volunteer, serving both her profession and her community. She has been actively involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) both in Calgary and nationally since the Calgary Chapter's inception in the early 1990s - including serving as AFP Calgary and Area's President in 2001 and 2002, and as Philanthropy Day Co-chair in 1998. In 2015, AFP Calgary honoured Ms. Hamelin with the organizations' Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award.

I am proud that Ms. Hamelin is joining our senior leadership team in this very important role. As we welcome Ms. Hamelin to the position, I also want to acknowledge Danielle Dunbar, who has been serving superbly as interim VPUR since March 1, and who will continue to serve in that capacity until the end of May when she will return to her role as AVP Advancement and Chief Development Officer. 

Sincerely, 

Peter Stoicheff
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Saskatchewan