RRU double alum Debora Linehan steps into academic leadership role

Learn more about the Doctor of Social Sciences and Master of Business Administration at Royal Roads. 

Debora Linehan’s experience covers farming, banking, leading, learning and teaching. Her diverse professional, personal and academic experience enables her to thrive in her new role as Royal Roads University’s Interim Vice-President Academic and Provost.  

Linehan began her one-year term in January and is the first RRU alumni to hold the leadership position, having earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Social Sciences. 

From farm to board room 

Growing up on her family farm in rural Alberta, Linehan learned young about the value of hard work and running a business. A seasonal job as a bank teller took her away from the farm, a pursuit which eventually led to leadership positions at CIBC and Royal Bank of Canada. 

“I like learning new things, contributing, and building a team,” says Linehan. 

Flexible admission opened the door 

The promise of broader education and a degree first led her to Royal Roads, where she earned an MBA, made possible by RRU’s flexible admission option, she says. That opportunity paved the way for the DSocSci – a transformative experience that, she says, brought together her management expertise and her passion for people and culture. 

After completing both degrees, Linehan wasn’t ready to leave RRU. She became an Associate Professor of Business and Program Head for the Master of Global Management and Master of Business Administration programs. She also served on the RRU Board of Governors as the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council appointee for six years. 

Navigating rough waters in post-secondary 

Now, Linehan is enjoying the challenge of her new role, though she is realistic about the pressures facing universities and colleges across Canada as they contend with tight budgets and the impacts of increased federal regulations for international students. 

“We need to quickly figure out how we can be relevant, how we can build more partnerships, how we can build revenue, how we can manage the university,” says Linehan. “Our academic mission is to support teaching and research, but we also need to operate our universities to be sustainable.”  

Renewing innovation at RRU 

In her interim role, Linehan aims to advance several key priorities designed to strengthen RRU’s learning, teaching and research environment, including working on an academic reorganization. 

“Now, more than ever, we need to unlock some of that innovative spirit that created Royal Roads. Our goal is to serve educational needs in a way that preserves our unique RRU model while meeting students where they are with programming to address flexibility, accessibility and affordability.” 

Learn more about the Doctor of Social Sciences and Master of Business Administration at Royal Roads.