Christina Alcena (she/her/hers) is an innovative and strategic higher education leader with extensive experience working and learning within Canadian post-secondary institutions. She is an avid champion of student and employee recruitment, retention, and success, with a strong commitment to decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Christina has over a decade of experience in the field, where she has worked in progressively senior roles within student affairs and enrolment management.
Christina joins us from the Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, where she holds the position of Director, Division of Students as part of the Vice Provost, Student Experience & Enrolment Management senior leadership team. Within this inaugural role, she directs divisional leadership capacity for talent development, assessment and evaluation, integrated planning and resource management, special projects, channeling student voice into decision-making, and supporting leadership communications.
Christina previously worked at the Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, where she held the leadership positions of Associate Director, Advising & Career Services, and the inaugural Manager, Equity & Student Life. Within both dynamic portfolios, she led large strategic and operational projects, and successfully advanced new initiatives amidst the global pandemic, and the changing Canadian College-sector landscape. Christina has also worked in various student affairs roles at the University of Toronto (Woodsworth College, and Victoria University in the University of Toronto) and the University of Windsor.
Christina earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree (with Distinction) from the University of Windsor, a Master of Education in Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (Arts in Education) from the Ontario Institute for Students in Education, University of Toronto, and a certificate from Seneca College, in Student Affairs & Services. She is a doctoral student at the University of Toronto, where she is pursuing an EdD in Social Justice Education.
As a Black, Chinese-Bahamian first-generation Canadian settler, Christina is passionate about representing and giving back to her diverse communities and has the long-term goal of seeking out progressively senior executive opportunities within the College-sector, with the goal of becoming a President & Vice-Chancellor.
Outside of work, she strives to live a healthy lifestyle through therapy, fitness, and nutrition, and enjoys spending time with her partner and connecting with her family and friends.