Sara Cousins has worked as the Manager, Trades Programs at Okanagan College in British Columbia since 2018. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Enrollment Management from Royal Roads University, a Certificate in University and College Administration from the University of Manitoba, and a B.A. in Archaeology from Simon Fraser University. The focus of her work has been on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ), whether with and for Indigenous communities in land rights and treaty negotiations or for the provincial and federal governments in consultation and engagement with Indigenous peoples, advising for the protection of cultural heritage sites, land use or education. Her current role includes strategic planning and SEM, including supporting the participation and success of Indigenous and female students as part of the larger success of trades students, apprentice admissions, connecting local education and industry partners to instructors and students through mentorship and advisory committees. Cousins is the Chair of the BC Apprenticeship Administrators Working Group and advises on provincial level working groups for enrolment management. She was one of the key authors for the first Okanagan College SEM plan and was instrumental in the priority seat policies for female trades students at her college. Her most recent research focus has been on increasing engagement with families in trades awareness and long-term recruitment. Cousins is a member of the EDISJ Strategy Working Group at Okanagan College, the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology, and the Women in Construction committee of the Canadian Home Builders Association — Central Okanagan.
Scaling Deep to Make Space for Females in Trades: Transformational Inclusion at a Community College