On July 1, 2026, Wilfrid Laurier University appointed Colleen Myronyk as executive director of Experiential Learning and Career Development (ELCD), which provides co-operative education, career development services and community and workplace partnerships.
This newly established role also brings WLU’s global engagement team under Myronyk’s leadership, expanding her portfolio to include involvement with international academic exchanges, internships and initiatives such as the intercultural certificate program and the WUSC local committee. Joining the university’s senior leadership group, Myronyk reports jointly to the vice-president of student affairs, Kate McCrae Bristol, and the associate vice-president: academic, Trish McLaren.
Myronyk, who first joined WLU in 2004 as a co-op and career consultant, returned to WLU as the director of co-operative education and workplace partnerships after working at the University of Guelph from 2012 to 2022. She has led the ELCD unit on an interim basis since former leader Jan Basso retired in June 2025.
“Under Colleen Myronyk’s leadership, Experiential Learning and Career Development, has developed and implemented a strategic vision for co-op education and workplace partnerships,” said McLaren. “Myronyk is skilled at developing impactful partnerships with academic leaders, employers, community partners and government. I look forward to our continued work together to expand experiential learning and integrate academic curriculum with labour market needs.”
The portfolio expansion came as post-secondary institutions adapt to rapid shifts in the Canadian job market. McLaren noted that the department is actively aiming to address emerging workforce needs as employment expectations evolve alongside advances in technology.
“The Canadian labour market is changing rapidly, with advances in technology, evolving employer expectations, and increasing emphasis on transferable skills,” McLaren said. “In this context, an important opportunity for Experiential Learning and Career Development is to help students connect their academic learning to emerging workforce needs through experiential learning, career education and skills development.”
Addressing how WLU prepares students for long-term career resilience, McLaren pointed to the university’s focus on combining functional knowledge with core transferable skills.
“As the nature of work continues to evolve, career resilience increasingly depends on a combination of functional knowledge, technological and digital fluency, adaptability, and transferable skills,” McLaren said, noting that 94 per cent of recent graduates completed at least one experiential learning opportunity during their degree. “Through curricular and co-curricular experiences, and guided by Laurier’s Competency Framework, students develop and articulate competencies such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, adaptability and resiliency.”
Looking ahead, Myronyk shared her vision for building on the department’s existing momentum.
“Laurier has a strong reputation as a leader in experiential learning and career development, and I am excited to build on that foundation,” Myronyk said. “Through collaboration with students, faculty, staff, employers and community partners, we will continue to create innovative learning opportunities that connect academic experiences with evolving workforce and community needs.”
When asked what single piece of advice she would offer to students preparing for their first co-op work term or post-graduation position, Myronyk emphasized mindset over immediate technical perfection.
“My advice is simple: be curious and be engaged,” Myronyk said. “No one expects you to know everything on your first day, but employers do notice your attitude, work ethic, willingness to learn and how you treat others. The way you show up everyday matters.”
Contributed Photo by Sangjun Han
