Message from Jeff Murrell, associate dean, School of Trades:
It is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of Tim McLeod, a valuable faculty member in the School of Trades, who will be leaving Niagara College at the end of April 2021. I know that this was a difficult decision for Tim to make and one that he did not make lightly, but he is doing what is in the best interest of himself and his family as they move to Northern Ontario. Although I am sad to see him go, I am pleased for Tim and his family as they venture out on this next phase in their lives.
Tim started at Niagara College in 2001 as a part-time faculty member in the Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship program and eventually transitioned to a full-time faculty position in 2011. In 2014, Tim was seconded to the position of associate dean of the School of Trades, a role which he held for two years.
I first met Tim in 2014 when we were both members of the provincial Heads of Apprenticeship Training committee. From those early interactions and in those that have followed, I know that he has a strong emotional connection to the School of Trades. I also know that as the associate dean he worked tirelessly to transition the group into the School of Trades and always had everyone’s best interests at heart. There were several successes during his time as associate dean, including the sign in our office, which he had created by the Welding team. This might seem insignificant to most, but the sign was a pivot point for the School of Trades. He was also instrumental in getting the Green Tech Automotive building, as well as getting the Training Delivery Agent status to deliver the Construction and Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship – evening release program at Niagara College. These are significant accomplishments and things I hope he is very proud of.
As an instructor, I know Tim to be very student-centred. He is a dedicated, passionate educator who has worked hard to ensure that the students are prepared to be successful in the automotive industry when they graduate. In our conversations, he regularly brought up changes to the courses he taught and to the program indicating the need to ensure that the students were well-positioned, not just to achieve a Certificate of Qualification as an Automotive Service Technician but to be ready to take on any leadership opportunity that presented itself. This fulsome understanding that to be a tradesperson means to be a life-long learner and on a continual journey of improvement is something he brought to the classroom. Many of the future managers and owner-operators in this sector will owe their success to being taught by Tim.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tim for his 20 years of dedicated service to the students, the School of Trades and Niagara College.
Please join me in wishing Tim and his family all the best as they venture forth and move to Northern Ontario.
