Our team

Larry Bouthillier is the Executive Director of Extended Learning at the University of British Columbia, where he leads the university’s central Career, Personal, and Professional (CPP) education unit and supports university-wide initiatives related to CPP.

Before his current role as Executive Director, Bouthillier was Senior Director of Digital Learning Initiatives at Brown University School of Professional Studies, and was the Director of Online Learning at New England Institute of Technology.

Previously, Bouthillier spent 23 years at Harvard in a progression of IT leadership roles, including Educational Technology Architect and Director of Software Development.  He continues to teach Computer Science at Harvard Extension School.

Bouthillier himself is a graduate of a Harvard Extension School certificate program, which reshaped his early career path and sparked a lifelong interest in the transformational effects of continuing education for adult learners. 

Larry holds a Master of Information Technology from New England Institute of Technology.

Don provides leadership for UBC Extended Learning’s (ExL) non-credit personal education programs that meet the needs of learners, from high school students to seniors. Don is a member of the ExL Management Team, and connects with faculties and units across campus. He collaborates with professors, instructors and graduate students to provide our communities access to UBC academic, teaching and research excellence. Before joining UBC, Don spent much of his career in open and lifelong learning. He honed his teaching, research, strategic planning, marketing, and program development skills with organizations like the Open Learning Agency, The Laurier Institution and VANOC.

Billy is a member of the UBC Finance team that supports Extended Learning. He is currently in the role of Acting Finance Team Lead where he provides financial leadership for all facets of ExL.  He is also the Associate Director of the Provost Portfolio supporting FNHL, IRSHDC, EIO and SFA&A on quarter, annual and 5 year planning.

Prior to joining UBC, Billy worked in multiple senior finance roles in retail/wholesale supplies, software/tech industry, event ticketing, and manufacturing.  He was mainly responsible for Financial Reporting, Strategic Planning and Financial Planning & Analysis. In the past as senior analyst with the UBC FP&A team, he was the champion of the University’s planning application and was also involved or led ERP, Reporting, Planning and other system implementations.

Denise leads UBC Extended Learning’s (ExL) digital transformation project that supports broad access to UBC’s non-credit courses and offerings. With more than 20 years’ experience in strategic planning, program development and quality assurance, Denise also facilitates strategic projects and planning for ExL that encompass workforce development, provincial and university relations, and advisory board development. 

A member of the Society for College and University Planning, and Vice-Chair for Professional Development of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, Denise looks to disruptors in higher education for innovative ideas and lessons she can apply to continuing education and lifelong learning. She’s passionate about amplifying UBC excellence by helping the University reach an ever-growing number of students through non-credit and non-degree offerings.

Joenita leads the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Intercultural and International Development programs at UBC Extended Learning (ExL). She conducts research, designs and develops curricula and course materials, and leads a team of approximately 30 facilitators. Joenita also optimizes the integration of new online learning tools, strategies and instructional design to make the online experience accessible and interactive for adult learners. With a PhD in intercultural studies and extensive experience across international contexts, Joenita regularly presents at conferences and hosts EDI workshops, both at UBC, at other post-secondary institutions and for organizations that have included the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources, the Conference Board of Canada and Asia-Pacific Association for International Education. Her outreach activities help inform ExL programs, and ensure it stays at the forefront of current EDI practices.

Karen Rolston oversees the development and delivery of UBC Extended Learning’s (ExL) educational offerings for mid-career learners. She focuses on creating valuable, meaningful educational opportunities that support and enrich people’s careers and professional transitions. A member of the ExL Management Team, she works with ExL’s educational programmers, and liaises with community and campus partners to develop online and on-campus programs that are relevant, flexible and accessible. Karen is passionate about creating inclusive, thriving, engaged and respectful workplaces, and enjoys exploring those themes at ExL, and with staff and faculty across UBC as a certified internal organizational coach with Coaching @ UBC.

As a member of the UBC Extended Learning (ExL) marketing team and the Program Development Advisory Committee, Tracey develops evidence-based, integrated marketing strategies that drive enrolment for all ExL programs, and for UBC faculties’ career and professional education programs.

With more than 30 years’ experience in branding and marketing, Tracey brings a passion for creating and communicating unique stories that enhance the student experience at every touchpoint along their journey.

Ravindu Shanil is the accounting team lead within the UBC Finance team.  His role is responsible for overseeing financial reports, budgeting and forecasting for Extended Learning (ExL) on a monthly and annual basis. Ravindu brings expertise in financial management and he works very closely with all UBC ExL units to support their financial needs. He has a Master's in Business Administration and a Chartered Management Accountant designation from the UK, Ravindu's analytical expertise and meticulous attention to detail shine through in his work. Dedicated to continuous growth, his aspiration is to attain a Master's in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), further solidifying his position as a leader in the field of finance.

Anne-Rae oversees and directs UBC Extended Learning’s (ExL) Academic Services team, an agile incubator for innovative ExL and UBC faculty non-degree programming, micro-credentials and non-credit learning opportunities. She oversees program design, market research, analysis, learning and curriculum design, learning technology, academic cloud services and educational media development. Anne-Rae is also responsible for strategic analysis, solution design and implementation, and budget financial modelling for new programming.

Anne-Rae is a member of the ExL Management Team, the ExL Program Development Advisory Committee, and the Vice-President Academic and Provost’s (VPAO) New Programs Hub. She manages the administration of VPAO funding initiatives such as the Continuous Learning Advancement Fund (CLAF) and oversees the University’s UBCx Edx portfolio, including development of new programming, industry outreach, promotion, delivery and support of existing and faculty partnered programs.

A solutions-focused, team-oriented leader, Anne-Rae brings more than a decade of broad-based and technical experience in strategic planning, design, development, delivery and support of teaching and learning in fully online, hybrid and open modalities to her role.

Ariel Cao is the Student Life Manager for Pre-University Programs at UBC Extended Learning, overseeing the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the residence and student life components of pre-university programs for Canadian and international high school students, including UBC Future Global Leaders. With a BA in Visual Arts and Computer Science from UBC, an MPhil in Education from Cambridge, and an EdM from Harvard, Ariel combines her academic expertise with a passion for inclusivity and access in education. Her experience spans roles at Harvard Business School, Yale’s Office of International Affairs, and UBC Camps, where she honed her skills in curating engaging student life experiences.

Ariel is also the founder of Girls in STEAM, a nonprofit that merges art and STEM education to empower underrepresented groups and foster a more diverse tech community. With a strong background in student leadership and a commitment to community, sustainability, and lifelong learning, Ariel strives to create inclusive educational opportunities that reflect diverse perspectives and promote personal growth.