As we enter the mid-term break, I want to thank you for a successful first half of the Winter term, including a quick pivot early on to adapt to stay-at-home and lockdown orders from the province. Your ongoing flexibility, resilience and dedication to our students continues to inspire, and I am very grateful for your work.
I also want to extend a warm welcome-back to Rick Anderson, who officially joins us today as vice president, Student Success. Rick comes to us from St. Lawrence College where he most recently served as vice president, Student Affairs. Many of you will remember Rick from his time at Niagara College from 2012-2016, when he held the positions of director, Student Services and interim vice president Student Affairs.
For more than 15 years, Rick has been a passionate advocate for student success in Ontario’s college system, and he is also Niagara College’s first Indigenous vice president. As vice president, Student Success, he leads our athletics and recreation, enrolment services, marketing and recruitment, and student services teams. While Rick has spent the last four years in Kingston, his NC DNA is as strong as ever, and I am thrilled to welcome him home.
Rick’s appointment completes a series of changes to our executive team that began with the retirement of Steve Hudson in the summer – including the appointment of Fiona Allan as vice president, Academic; Marc Nantel’s expanded role as vice president, Research and External Relations, Sean Coote’s appointment as vice president, International, and senior vice president Pam Skinner’s re-named and expanded College Operations portfolio.
This new executive structure is designed to create a balanced and effective senior leadership team that is well equipped to guide us through the current challenges of COVID-19, while providing the strategic, forward-thinking leadership that will position Niagara College to thrive in the recovery period that lies ahead.
I would also like to share a few additional organizational changes that have recently taken effect. In recognition of the budget challenges for the year ahead, we have filled key positions while avoiding new complements, including the reduction of a dean position, as Environment and Horticulture returns to the Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Sport division:
- After a year-long secondment as acting director, International, Dorita Pentesco has returned to her role as director, Marketing and Recruitment. The International marketing function has also moved to the Marketing and Recruitment division;
- Policy and special projects advisor Kim Rose has been seconded to the position of executive assistant to the vice president, Student Success;
- Effective today, Shawna Luey has moved from associate director, International Student Services to associate registrar in Enrolment Services, and Maxine Semple has accepted a secondment as associate director, International Student Services;
- As Justin Williams departs NC for a new role in British Columbia, the Environment and Horticulture division has been brought back to the Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Sport division. Al Unwin moves from dean of Environment to dean of the consolidated business division.
I want to extend my best wishes for a successful conclusion to the Winter term. While it may be hard to imagine at times, we are moving towards better days and an eventual return to the more “normal” times that we all miss. I hope you are finding ways to stay connected within your teams and are staying safe and well. Thank you again for your ongoing dedication to our students’ success.
