Dear Colleagues,

I want to be the first to tell you that I have decided to conclude my tenure as president when my current contract ends on June 30, 2020.  At that time, I will be stepping away from my position as president of Niagara College. John Scott, the Chair of our Board of Governors, will issue a public announcement shortly, which you will also receive.

This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I am just as energized and passionate about Niagara College as I was when I became president almost 25 years ago. Despite my enduring love for the college, the time has come for me to make a change and for our Board to seek out a new president to lead this wonderful institution into the future. Our board will be providing information on the search process in the near future.

The most important message I want to convey with this announcement is my profound “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you. Thank you for making Niagara College one of the best institutions in the country, and thank you for affording me the privilege and honour of serving as its president for so many years.

I have often said that you define yourself and your leadership style by the people you choose to surround you. I have been blessed to work with an extraordinary group of faculty and staff throughout my tenure.  You are simply the best!  Your commitment to excellence, to placing teaching and learning at the very heart of what we do, and to living our compelling vision of enriching lives and fulfilling dreams of our students, has made for an exciting journey.

I prepare to leave Niagara College knowing it is in a strong place.  Together, we have accomplished so much.  We continue to distinguish ourselves as a top performer on key success indicators.  Our students consistently express exceptionally high satisfaction with the quality of our teaching, curriculum and learning environment.  We are financially strong.  We just completed a major campus redevelopment that places us among the best and most beautiful learning environments in the country.  We continue to work closely with our employer communities to anticipate and meet labour market needs, not just of today but of tomorrow. I am so proud of all that we have done together.

It is a hard for me to imagine life after Niagara College, but my first priority definitely will be to spend quality time with my spouse, Saundra.  As many of you know, she has been integrally involved in the life of the college and absolutely key to welcoming college groups into our lives and our home on so many memorable occasions.

I also look forward to finding continued professional fulfillment by remaining active in postsecondary education, through opportunities such as being involved in mentorship programs for student and college leaders, advocating at the national level for more investment in colleges, and engaging in international development work.

In the year ahead, I plan to be just as engaged as I always have been as president of Niagara College. The future looks very promising, but we must keep up our momentum.  While this announcement marks the end of an era in many ways, it also marks the path toward a new beginning, with new leadership that will lay the foundation for the next 25 years of student success at Niagara College.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to connecting with you in the days and weeks ahead.

Sincerely,