A message from David Atherton, Dean, Academic and Liberal Studies:
Jim Butko, Associate Dean, Liberal Studies, will retire at the end of Fall term after 25 years at the College.
After nearly 25 years of exceptional service to Niagara College, Jim Butko will be retiring at the end of this term. Jim came to Niagara College from Brock University, joining in 2000 as a professor of Economics, Finance and Accounting in the School of Business before moving into academic leadership, first as Associate Dean in Business and later in Liberal Studies. His steady, thoughtful approach and unwavering commitment to supporting students and faculty earned him the Administration Award of Excellence in 2020.
Throughout his career, Jim has been dedicated to strengthening the teaching and learning environment. He encouraged and supported faculty in pursuing international opportunities, recognizing how these experiences enriched both their teaching and our academic culture. He also supported the development of new EDI focused curriculum and courses, ensuring that Liberal Studies programs continued to evolve in inclusive and meaningful ways. In recent years, Jim became a strong advocate for exploring online and flexible delivery to expand access for nontraditional learners and broaden the reach of Niagara College programs.
Among his proudest achievements, Jim often points to the success of his six children, all of whom graduated from Niagara College. He has always said that watching their journeys reaffirmed his belief in the power of applied and hands on college education and the formative role it plays in launching meaningful and successful careers.
Jim’s influence has extended well beyond the Liberal Studies portfolio. He has quietly mentored new Associate Deans across the institution, offering guidance grounded in thoughtful reasoning, practical judgment and many years of experience. He also provided important leadership support to the School of Trades during periods of transition. And true to his economist roots, Jim had an innate curiosity for budgets, forecasts and financial questions, often diving deep into the details simply because he genuinely enjoyed understanding how things worked behind the scenes and how we could improve processes.
Jim leaves behind a legacy of integrity, responsiveness and thoughtful leadership that has made a lasting impact on students, faculty and colleagues across Niagara College. We are deeply grateful for his many contributions and wish him a very well earned, healthy and enjoyable retirement.
