< Leadership

Lena Patterson, EdD

Assistant Dean,
Programs

As Assistant Dean, Programs, Lena provides strategic leadership in the delivery and development of programming across The Chang School. Before this role, she served as Program Director, Microcredentials, where she established the award-winning Curv microcredential program. Lena's leadership extends beyond the University; she's held influential positions as President of the Ontario Council for University Lifelong Learning (OCULL), Co-Chair of the UPCEA Council for Credential Innovation, and President of the Open Education Global Board of Directors.

Prior to joining The Chang School, Lena was Senior Director, Programs and Stakeholder Relations at eCampusOntario. There, she led the design and implementation of the Microcredentials Principles and Framework, significantly contributing to its widespread adoption through pilot funding, research, and community engagement. Further underscoring her expertise in the evolving education landscape, Lena's publications include Implementing a Competency-based Assessment Approach to Microcredentials and Is the Future Micro? Unbundling Learning for Access and Flexibility.

Lena holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Western University and a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University.