Faculty Leadership in Action
When Jeremy Bergen began attending Canadian Theological Society (CTS) annual meetings during his doctoral studies, he didn’t expect that he would end up as its president. This is just one example of how professors often step into leadership positions in scholarly associations, a demonstration of their commitment to service.
Now Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies at Grebel, Jeremy described the society—like many scholarly associations—as a “place for scholars to share their research with each other, make connections, and engage in conversation on the deeper questions of a particular discipline.”
“It was a supportive environment for me to present work, test ideas, and meet other scholars,” he added. “I had some ideas about how to improve how the society operated, and that may have been one reason I was nominated to serve as president, which I did from 2016 to 2017.” Jeremy remains close with established scholars he met at CTS—some of which have led to collaborative research projects like the one he is currently working on about church apologies.
As past president of Canadian University Music Society, Associate Professor Laura Gray organized the annual MusCAN conference at Grebel in May 2025, with workshops, panels, keynotes, and concerts. Under her five-year leadership, the society underwent a major management restructure and overcame financial challenges.
Troy Osborne, Grebel’s Dean and Associate Professor of History, serves on the Classics of the Radical Reformation Series board, where he assists in translating and publishing scholarly documents. “I am very grateful for the work of the teachers and scholars who taught me. I want to support the work of future historians, just like I was nurtured by the work of so many others,” explained Troy.
“Serving on a music board is important for making connections and for supporting others,” said Karen Sunabacka, Associate Professor of Music at Grebel. “It fosters creativity and excitement and allows me to support others in their own creative work.”
Similar to Jeremy and Troy, Karen spent several years as a board member for the Canadian New Music Network, serving as vice-president of NUMUS, and as GroundSwell’s Board Chair, which is Winnipeg’s New Music Series. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen continued building GroundSwell’s board. She assessed its needs, strengthened operations, and overcame other significant challenges, resulting in a strategic plan that set the organization on a stable path for her successor. “It was rewarding to see a small organization begin to thrive and move forward in many exciting ways,” Karen said.
“Serving in my capacity has underscored to what degree Canadian scholars, whether working in Canada or other countries, have contributed to the academic discipline of biblical studies in both French and English,” Alicia Batten explained, Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies and the President of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies. “Canadian scholars have made a significant impact, and it is an honour to serve on the executive.”
Other Grebel professors also serve in their respective scholarly organizations, reflecting Grebel’s mission to seek wisdom in service to church and society.
