Leslie Lindballe

‘08 BA (AU)
Augustana Representative

Leslie began her post-secondary education at the University of Alberta, but was drawn away by the excitement of travel and teaching English. Upon her return to Canada, the Augustana campus had recently become part of the University of Alberta, and she transferred her credits to Camrose as she had never lived in that community before.   

She excelled in her studies and actively engaged with the community through student clubs, activist groups, volunteerism, and even editing the campus newspaper, the Dagligtale. These experiences prepared her for a position at the University, where she collaborated with students and faculty to develop international, outdoor, and community service-learning programs. Later, she coordinated and taught summer programs for both international students and professors eager to explore the Liberal Arts approach.

During another extended absence from Canada, Leslie completed her Master of Arts in Integrated Studies program at Athabasca University. With the support of a SSHRC grant, she explored  various online and offline Liberal Arts campuses worldwide and deepened her appreciation for her time at Augustana, fueling her desire to contribute to its development. Upon her return, she was invited to teach and expand the English for Academic Purposes program at Augustana. She refined community service-learning courses specifically designed for her cohort and developed integrative activities to enhance the international students’ campus experience.

Since then, Leslie has transitioned to the non-profit sector. She coordinated the Outreach Team at the Camrose Women’s Shelter and recently began a new role as the Housing and Community Supports Navigator for the City and County of Camrose. Her ability to facilitate relationships between agencies, government, the private sector, and vulnerable populations stems from her interdisciplinary undergraduate program. In those diverse classrooms, she learned to integrate ideas from various disciplines and find common ground, building community and solutions at the same time.