David Bressler appointed as vice-president (international and enterprise)
"I think I get the best job on campus running a unit that's working with people to dream what we can become," Bressler says.
John Ulan/Ulan Photography David Bressler has been appointed as the University of Alberta’s vice-president (international and enterprise) (VPIE). Bressler, a professor in the faculty of agricultural, life, and environmental sciences (ALES), began his term on July 1.
The U of A Board of Governors (BoG) approved the creation of a new vice-president portfolio on June 14, 2024. The position was created through the elimination of the vice-president (facilities and operations) position.
As VPIE, Bressler’s portfolio deals with international academic and industry partnerships.
The Gateway spoke to Bressler about his recent appointment and his vision for his five-year term.
Expanding global partnerships and attracting investment
Bressler explained that the office of the VPIE is designed to operate horizontally across the university.
“This position allows us … to have almost an institutional business development office that’s working with all the different faculties to explore what they might do to grow or engage in new and unique ways.”
When the creation of the position was presented to BoG, President and Vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan said that international student recruitment can help address the university’s revenue problem.
With the university facing ongoing financial constraints, The Gateway asked Bressler if he believes international recruitment can help solve this issue. While Bressler believes international recruitment is “an important tool” for the university, he said it’s not the only one to be concerned with.
Bressler emphasized the importance of working with regional partners and companies to “[create] new trust relationships that spin out into advancement opportunities where companies or regions want to donate to the university or partner.”
“[The position] is about generating new revenue. It is about putting the university’s best foot forward to raise our reputation and ranking and impact. But I like to think it’s also the great opportunities for students, for postdocs, for deans that want to undertake big builds and initiatives.”
The Gateway inquired about the importance of international enrolment growth when it comes to raising the university’s global profile.
Bressler said having a strong international presence attracts “higher impact” international students. He added that raising the university’s impact leads to more investment, which results in better opportunities for students.
“It’s all tied together,” he said.
Being among the top 50 internationally ranked research universities by 2033 is a “very reasonable” goal, Bressler says
The university’s 10-year strategic plan, SHAPE, has a preliminary target for the university to be among the top 50 internationally ranked research universities by 2033. The Gateway asked Bressler for his thoughts on this target.
According to Bressler, this goal is “very reasonable” and is possible through “being very intentional to partner globally.”
“I don’t think getting to the top 50 is a fool’s errand that we’re chasing down the road. I think in many ways we have the capacity to already be there.”
The Gateway asked Bressler how he plans to navigate the changing relationship with the United States (U.S.) while U.S. academic institutions continue to face cuts.
Bressler said the international portfolio will establish a regional management system with five regional councils. The regional councils “will work with academic participation and regional partner participation.”
One of these regional councils will focus the U.S. and Australia. Bressler said the two countries are linked based on the ways security and business is done.
“For the first time, I think, in the U of A’s history, we’re going to have a unit looking at the U.S. and how to strategically engage and partner with the post-secondaries.”
Bressler expressed his excitement about helping the university envision what it can become and working alongside external partners towards those goals.
“There’s some big, ambitious, very audacious goals that we’re going after to move the institution forward. And so instead of worrying about cutting and cutting, I think I get the best job on campus running a unit that’s working with people to dream what we can become.”
