Meet the Instructors


Terri Barber

Office Administration Instructor

Terri Barber has over 20 years’ experience teaching in the Office Administration program, teaching both online and in the classroom. She has taught a wide variety of the courses in the program but specializes in Microsoft Office computer applications, as well as human relations and office administration skills. Terri holds a Provincial Instructor’s Diploma from Vancouver Community College and a Masters of Education degree from Athabasca University (Distance Education specialty). She believes strongly in the opportunities and skills the training in Office Administration provides for its students – she too was once a student in the program!

Phone: 250.753.3245 Ext. 2386

Cowichan Campus
Phone: 250.746.3596
Email: Terri.Barber@viu.ca

Tara Smith

Office Administration Instructor

Applied Business Technology Instructor, Tara Smith

Tara Smith has 22 years’ experience as a Designated Paralegal working in Family Law and Civil Litigation. She holds a Paralegal Diploma with Capilano University, a Diploma in Criminology, and a Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate with Vancouver Island University. Tara is a member of the BC Paralegal Association and has been instructing in the Office Administration Legal Specialty Program since 2016. Tara specializes in teaching Family Law and Civil Litigation part-time, while continuing to work in the field of civil litigation. Tara feels strongly that it is essential for an instructor in the legal specialty program to continue working in the legal field in order to remain current in procedural and substantive law. She continues to attend courses through the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, the Trial Lawyers Association, and the Canadian Defence Lawyers association. Continuing to work and further her education in the legal field enables Tara to achieve high standards of competency, professionalism and education in the practice of procedural law and to accurately relay that up-to-date information to her students.

Phone:  250.753.3245 Ext. 2344
Email: Tara.Smith@viu.ca