Val Mullholland

Valerie was born, raised, educated in Saskatchewan, and except for a year in Alberta and three in Ontario, her career as an educator happened here. For example, she was a science information officer at PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) and a high school teacher. An archive project she completed at PFRA changed how she understands prairie settlement and agriculture. The last 22 years of her career were spent at the University of Regina where she taught in the Faculty of Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her last title was Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Student Services.

During her U of R years, Valerie volunteered as an adjudicator which provided her with a rich opportunity to learn about the cultural organizations funded by SaskCulture. Reading, writing, debating, pondering and ultimately recommending alongside other grant adjudicator volunteers was one of the most rewarding experiences of her working life.

As an academic she studied, wrote and presented on museums as sites of knowledge production. Valerie understands museums in Saskatchewan as influential in determining the stories educators tell children about the past, the present and the future. Museums are curriculum; curricula are plans for the world we want to live in and the people we want to be.

She served on the Museums Association of Saskatchewan Board for three years (2020-23) and completed the MAS Certificate in Community Museum Studies with the intention of being a useful museum volunteer in retirement. The people she met in those courses, both participants and instructors, were from museums and galleries across the province. She learned directly about the quality of the work they do and the challenges they face.

Other volunteer roles Valerie had held relevant to SaskCulture include serving on the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB) and the Saskatchewan Teachers of English Language Arts (STELA).

Valerie’s commitment to this province and its people is genuine. She has a deep respect and affection for the organization and employees of SaskCulture.