P.E.I. native Betty Anne Younker will never forget the day that her high school band teacher, the late Gerry Rutten, called her into his office at Colonel Gray High School and told her that she should become a music teacher.
She was more than a little surprised.
“I loved playing the flute and making music. But I had never thought about taking it at university. He’s the one who put the idea in my head. So I went home and told my parents I was going to do a music degree,” says the daughter of Phyllis Younker and the late Robert. E. Younker of Charlottetown.
Little did she realize how that decision, made in the 1970s, would change the direction of her life.
“Up until that point I was thinking of studying law or social work,” said Younker in an interview earlier this summer before taking the biggest step yet along her career path to become the dean of music at a university in Ontario.
After completing her undergraduate degree at UPEI in 1978, she went off to get her masters of music education from Pennsylvania State University in 1980 before working as a music instructor in several junior and senior schools in Newfoundland from 1981 to 1989 and at Birchwood Intermediate School in Charlottetown, 1989-90.
“I enjoyed teaching because making music with young people is such an amazing experience. But I wanted to know more about what my field did. So I set out on an academic path,” said Younker, who wrapped up her time as dean of academic affairs and associate professor of music in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan in July and began a five-year term as the new dean of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario on Aug. 1.
“It’s daunting because it’s a huge job. And I’m excited,” says Younker.
After working as an associate dean she has learned about how universities function.
“But this is the next step. Now I’m the one guiding the ship as opposed to working behind someone else,” she says.
Younker is confident that her leadership skills will be put to good use.
“I’m looking forward to working with the faculty, to help them shape where they see the school’s ship going next. I’m curious about that,” she says.
On P.E.I., her music colleagues are thrilled with the news about her new appointment.
