YukonU welcomes Alexia McKinnon as Vice-President Reconciliation

Yukon University is pleased to welcome Alexia McKinnon as Vice-President, Reconciliation.

A Citizen of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and a proud Yukoner, McKinnon has built a distinguished career in Indigenous leadership at some of Canada’s most respected institutions, advancing Decolonization, Indigenization, and Truth and Reconciliation across academia, arts, the energy sector, and philanthropy.

McKinnon most recently served as Director of Indigenous Business Programs at Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Beedie School of Business. Prior to SFU, she served as Associate Director of Indigenous Leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. McKinnon earned a BA in Canadian Studies from Mount Allison University, an MBA in Aboriginal Business and Community Leadership from Simon Fraser University, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with research focused on Decolonization and Indigenization of post-secondary institutions.

Since the establishment of an office of Reconciliation at Yukon University, the position has continued to evolve and will be expanded to include direct connection with YukonU’s Community Campuses. This recognizes ongoing collaboration between the University and First Nations governments and the ongoing post-secondary training programs that the University provides throughout the territory. The VP Reconciliation also provides oversight and implementation of the Reconciliation Framework that was published in 2024. As Vice-President, Reconciliation, McKinnon will work with community to set priorities and strategies that the university will implement to advance its journey of Truth and Reconciliation.

“This moment feels significant; not only for the institution, but also for the Yukon. It reflects a moment our ancestors dreamed of in Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow” says McKinnon. “I feel that the last fifteen years of my career have been a time of learning, building, and preparing to bring the knowledge and experiences I have gained back home,” she says. “I’m ready to honour, support and continue to build upon the legacy of the leaders who have lifted up and continue to advance this work.”

“We’re very pleased to welcome Alexia as part of Yukon U’s executive leadership. Her experience includes both strong work in academic settings designing and delivering graduate-level business courses grounded in Indigenous methodologies, pedagogies and decolonization, as well as in leading institutional commitments to Truth and Reconciliation and deep connections,” says Shelagh Rowles, YukonU interim President and Vice-Chancellor.

McKinnon will begin her new role at Yukon University in August 2026.