Anna Zuber. Photo by Andrew Graham.
Celebrating Western Education’s longest serving employee Anna Zuber
When Anna Zuber, BA ’88, began a summer job with Western Education right after graduating, she couldn’t have imagined she would become the faculty’s longest serving staff member.
Over the course of 38 years, Zuber has held six different roles supporting staff, faculty and thousands of students and alumni. As she prepares to retire, the faculty is honouring her impact by establishing the Anna Zuber Award in Education.
“Anna has been a mentor and leader to so many,” said Dean Donna Kotsopoulos. “She has been a gift to all those who have had the privilege to work with her and benefit from her wisdom, care and thoughtful guidance.”
Zuber explains that she “fell in” to her first role with the faculty as an administrative assistant with Continuing Teacher Education (now ASPirE AQ) but quickly discovered a passion for working in higher education. At the time, she was a self-described “shy country girl” who was hoping the role would help her grow personally and professionally.
“I grew up on a farm, and I was very quiet when I first was out of university. I was fortunate to have a mentor at that time who truly believed I could do whatever needed doing,” reflected Zuber.
“I felt she trusted that I could do things and so I did them. It was such a confidence builder to learn that I could do hard things. I could come out of my comfort zone and I could be okay.”
During the next 18 years, Zuber pursued a series of roles in Continuing Teacher Education including program coordinator and database coordinator. During her last two years in the area, she held a dual appointment with the Information Technology department where she played a key role in the development of in-house technology solutions for the faculty to support program administration.
“I'm really not a computer person. My degree was in the eighties, and while there were computers, Western wasn’t even using email at the time,” Zuber explained.
“Being able to work successfully to get these tools built, and becoming proficient at using SQL to modify the platform was such an amazing learning experience. I’m proud to have been part of that and know I helped to build tools that made work more efficient for program staff for more than a decade.”
For Zuber, there have been no shortage of opportunities to keep her feeling challenged and engaged at the faculty. In 2006, she transitioned to the Teacher Education office where she held the role of manager for 15 years.
In this role, she helped to lead the team through two major transitions—moving the Bachelor of Education to a two-year program and adapting the program during COVID-19. In 2021, the Teacher Education team won the Western Award of Excellence for their exemplary dedication to “adapt to the changing needs of instructors, teacher candidates, and community and associate teachers in 44 Ontario school boards.”
“It was very meaningful to win the Western Award of Excellence with the team for supporting our community, because really that’s the best part of the job. It's honestly about the people, all kinds of people—staff, faculty, and colleagues across the province,” said Zuber.
“It's also about the students. I really enjoy working with students and being able to support them, especially when they're struggling. I would say it’s been my calling to be that support person for them.”
In the fall of 2021, Zuber made another move to become the manager of the Graduate Education office. From September 2024 to March 2025, she stepped in to fill the role of manager for both Teacher and Graduate Education. Most recently, as special advisor for Teacher Education, she is helping to ensure the transfer of her wealth of historical knowledge.
“Anna has been a steady and grounding presence in Teacher Education for close to two decades,” said Associate Dean, Teacher Education, Anton Puvirajah. “She leads without fanfare, yet her impact is profound, grounded in deep institutional knowledge, a generosity of spirit and time, and a genuine care for the people and programs she supports.”
Looking back over her time at Western Education, Zuber is grateful for each of these roles and the enrichment they have brought to her life. Above and beyond any particular projects or accolades, the most rewarding aspect of her career has been the relationships she has built along the way.
“There are so many people that I know that I can call, that I can go to for advice or support. And I believe it's reciprocal,” Zuber reflected.
“I think people feel comfortable coming and talking to me, all the way from students to instructors to colleagues on campus; whomever might just want to chat something through. It’s quite amazing to realize that I've built this network.”
In retirement, Zuber is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and three adult children. Learning piano and trips to Newfoundland and Alaska are also on the table. While Anna will miss being part of the future evolution of the faculty, she is deeply touched by the ability to continue to support students through her named award.
“It’s beyond humbling. I still see myself as this quiet person in my little corner doing my thing, staying in my lane. It didn’t occur to me that I was making the impact that apparently, I was,” said Zuber.
“It’s also an incredible honor to be able to continue to help students, which is really at the core of why I’m here.”
If you would like to commemorate Anna's retirement by contributing to the Anna Zuber Award in Education, please give here. For more information, please contact Rosie Triebner, Director, Community Engagement & Development.
