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Meet Paul Dangerfield, Capilano U's next president

Paul Dangerfield has had good reason to reflect upon leadership, and what makes organizations excel, over the past few months.

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Paul Dangerfield outside the Birch building on Capilano University’s North Vancouver campus.
Photo: Larry Goldstein

I enjoy working with students. I have always been impressed by their enthusiasm and determination to solve the problems of the world.– Paul Dangerfield

Paul Dangerfield has had good reason to reflect upon leadership, and what makes organizations excel, over the past few months. Dangerfield, whose career in advanced education began in 2005 as an instructor, and then dean, of Capilano University’s faculty of business and professional studies, was announced on Tuesday, April 19 as the next president of Capilano University. Dangerfield will replace Kris Bulcroft, who retires in July.

Dangerfield’s 20 years in the Canadian Forces initially informed his understanding of the importance of what business advisor and author Ram Sharan calls “leadership at all levels.” During the president’s search interview process, Dangerfield was asked in particular how his background in the military helped to shape his perspective as a leader.

“The way you see the military depicted in the movies—as an institution that thrives on giving orders—is not that reflective of how it operates in real life,” says Dangerfield. “It’s actually a very effective model for empowering people at all levels to make decisions.”

Dangerfield has continued to strengthen his understanding and leadership experience through roles as vice-president of education, research and international at BCIT; Vancouver campus dean of the New York Institute of Technology; through his MBA studies and as a doctoral candidate of Fielding Graduate University.

“Organizations thrive when they empower leadership at all levels,” says Dangerfield. “It’s the leadership of students, faculty and staff, working as a community, that fuels a university forward.”

When he returns to Capilano University in October to assume the role of president, Dangerfield is looking forward to “celebrating our history, where we’ve come from and where we’re going in the next 50 years,” he says. “There’s a lot to be proud of, and even more we can achieve in supporting students and society.”

Submitted by: Communications & Marketing