A message from Sean Coote, Vice-President, International:
With mixed emotions, I announce the upcoming retirement of Dr. Holly Catalfamo, Senior Director, Global Education & Training. Holly’s dedication and passion for education have profoundly impacted Niagara College and the many lives she has touched.
For over 20 years, Holly has been a leader in education, supporting learners, educators, and institutions in Canada and around the world. The hallmarks of Holly’s career have been her ever-present compassion and positivity, coupled with her extensive knowledge and dedication to excellence.
It has been a true pleasure working with Holly over the past years, as she led significant, trailblazing initiatives in the international work that NC does around the world. Holly’s passion for education and global development will be missed by all her colleagues, but her impact will continue to be reflected through thousands of students, partners, and colleagues who she inspired throughout her career at NC.
Holly joined Niagara College in 2000 as a part-time instructor and became a permanent faculty member in 2003, after successfully working in the public and private sectors in the field of Human Resources (HR) Management. Her ability to foster strong relationships, coupled with her passion and innovation, led to her success in numerous leadership roles, eventually advancing to become the Senior Director, Global Education & Training.
As a professor in the School of Business and Management, Holly became known for her love for teaching and her dedication to providing an exemplary and innovative learning environment for her students. When Holly took on the role of Program Coordinator for all HR programs, including the HR Management Graduate Certificate program and the Business Administration – HR three-year Advanced Diploma, she set her focus on student success, becoming a champion for all human resources and business students.
Holly developed the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – HR degree program, launched in 2016, in collaboration with the faculty team and partners in the HR community. In addition, she served as Associate Dean for the School of Business and Management and Chair of the School of Community Services.
Continuing her role as student champion, she was the original faculty lead for HR@NC, a student association that fosters relationships with industry through networking, a regular speaker series, and employer appreciation events, focusing on building leadership capacity for students. HR@NC has been a successful model for community-building and has been replicated throughout the School of Business and Management at Niagara College.
Committed to applied learning in the classroom, and embracing applied research, Holly originated the first Community of Practice in Applied Research at Niagara College. That dedication extended to her support of domestic partners, such as the United Way and Heartland Forest, and extended to global partners and guiding students in the development of cross-cultural competencies, working with partners in Brazil and Jamaica, including the global food manufacturer Chas E. Ramson based in Kingston, Jamaica.
Holly’s direction of global academic initiatives included taking the lead in developing the Global Leadership in the 21st Century, Be World Ready program, bringing business students to Ireland for a cultural and global exchange including workshops, industry visits, and cultural experiences. Through the immense challenges presented by the COVID pandemic, Holly was able to persevere in her commitment to global engagement as she initiated the first Collaborative Online International learning experience in the School of Business and Management in 2021 and 2022 with Niagara College HR students and partners at Munster Technological University in Ireland.
A strong global education advocate, Holly has participated in several global development projects in Brazil, Jamaica, Kenya, and St. Lucia, among others, sharing best practices through her collaboration with our partners. Her first project, the Mulheres Mil Impact Assessment project in Brazil, was transformative for Holly, as she realized the impact that education and training have on the world at large. As the primary researcher, Holly worked with a Brazilian team to develop an evaluation framework, engaging her own students in course-based applied research to ensure they would have a meaningful cross-cultural experience.
As Senior Director, Global Education & Training, Holly has fostered an environment of collaboration and encouragement, understanding that by empowering her team she was able to effectively realize our collective vision for strengthening the global reach of NC.
In May of 2024, Holly led the launch of Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training, which builds on the many global initiatives coordinated and delivered by the NC team over the years. Bringing together the expertise of a highly skilled NC team with partner organizations worldwide, the Institute provides educational solutions designed to inspire sustainable global change in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite the demands of her leadership roles, Holly has never been far from the classroom and continues to share her expertise and love of learning by teaching within the School of Business and Management. Holly’s commitment to academic and professional excellence is also evident through the numerous awards she has received, including The Outstanding Leadership award by the HR Professional Association of Niagara (2015), the Colleges and Institutes Canada Gold Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty (2018), and the National College Sector Educator Award from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE), where she was recognized as a 3M Teaching and Learning Fellow (2016).
Holly’s dedication to life-long learning demonstrates her passion for education and personal growth. While her undergraduate studies focused on business administration and education, Holly continued her studies at Brock University receiving a Master of Arts in Public Administration. She also holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Toronto with a focus on Leadership and Leadership Development in the postsecondary sector and co-authored the book “The Invisible Rules: What’s Really Holding Women Back in Business and How to Fix It” in 2021.
As Holly steps into a new chapter, we celebrate her remarkable career and legacy. Her dedication, vision, and leadership have significantly supported shaping Niagara College’s global reach and reputation for excellence in learning.
Holly’s last day at Niagara College will be September 30, 2024. A celebration is in the planning stages and will be shared with the College community. A search for a new Senior Director will commence shortly.
On behalf of our division and the NC community, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Holly for her many years of service and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
