As I prepare to take on my new role as president on February 24, several changes within the International Division are also underway, and I am pleased to announce three senior leadership appointments.
Dave Taylor, recently retired associate vice president, Academic and Learner Services, will be rejoining the College to take on the role of interim senior vice president, International. Dave assumes this new role on February 24, and continue until a new SVP, International is in place. The search process for a new SVP, International will commence in early spring. Dave’s extensive experience with Niagara College over the years in a number of positions within the Academic and Learner Services and International divisions will be invaluable as we transition into the next phase of the College’s global growth and engagement.
Director, International, Sean Coote has accepted the role of managing director of the College’s operations in Saudi Arabia on an interim basis from January to August 2020. I am confident that Sean’s senior leadership expertise will be a tremendous asset to this critical position, which has been vacant since David Atherton was appointed dean of Academic and Liberal Studies in August 2019.
With Sean assuming the managing director role, I am also excited to announce that director of Marketing and Student Recruitment, Dorita Pentesco, has accepted the role of acting director, International from February 3 until the end of August. Dorita will bring strong experience in marketing, student recruitment, communications and CRM implementation to the International division, and I am pleased that she has accepted this new interim leadership role. An announcement related to the interim director of Marketing and Student Recruitment will be made shortly.
Please join me in congratulating Dave, Sean, and Dorita on their appointments.
On a personal note, through my different vice president roles, I have very much valued the opportunity to work closely with the remarkable team in the International division over the past six years, along with so many exceptional colleagues across the college since I joined NC in 2006. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for the incredible number of congratulatory messages I have received and conversations I have had since the presidential announcement on January 10.
It is truly an honour to have been selected to lead NC as its sixth president and I look forward to working with our dedicated faculty and staff to ensure that we continue to enrich the lives and fulfill the dreams of our students, and serve our many communities and employers through innovative programs and services.
