Ursula Sytnyk

Ursula Sytnyk’s passion lies in sharing the beauty and richness of a classical liberal arts education with others. She holds a Master of Education degree from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Dramatic Arts from York University. She teaches curriculum design and course evaluation at Seneca College, served as Board Chair at Trent Valley Literacy Association, and was the primary grade 7 and 8 teacher at Wayside before accepting the Academic Dean position in 2025. When she's not at school, you'll likely find Ursula in a valiant but losing battle against garden weeds or delighting in the wonderful world of words. A polyglot at heart, she's fluent in Polish, can converse in French, and has dabbled in Spanish and Latin. She finds the origins of words utterly fascinating. A lifelong student, she continuously seeks to expand her knowledge through courses and reading, finding great joy in shared learning with others. Her strong Catholic faith is paramount, and she cherishes time with her husband and three children. Perhaps her greatest joy is simply reading aloud to children, sharing the wonder and beauty of stories that, through rich language and exquisite craft, illuminate goodness, honour, virtue, and faith.

Masters of Education, Athabasca University Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Dramatic Arts, York University