Dean, Global Access and Foundational Learning

Elza Bruk

Welcome to the School of Foundational Learning and the School of Global Access. With the support of Dean Elza Bruk, both schools help thousands of students make the first step towards employment, further education, or active community participation. 

Elza Bruk has a life-long commitment to adult education. She has worked extensively in immigrant advancement, and has served as the Dean of Business and Dean of Foundational Learning at Bow Valley College. 

Elza managed international student programs at the University of British Columbia, taught courses for ELL instructors, launched a language school in Hong Kong, and trained college administrators in Mozambique. A founding member of the Canadian Language Benchmarks, she has helped to make language teaching and testing consistent throughout Canada. She is a member of the National Language Advisory Body, a group that provides advice on language and settlement issues to the Canadian government. She is on the Board of Talent Pool, an organization that supports workplace attachment for under-represented groups.

As Dean of Foundational Learning from 1997 to 2001, Elza oversaw the introduction of the FLEX/Self-Paced attended system, and merged literacy and essentials skills with high school programming, which were previously two schools. What does she enjoy about Bow Valley College? In all schools Elza has led, she says the faculty and staff are united in a commitment to make a difference in the lives of individual students. 

Elza holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Adult Education from the University of Toronto.