December 18, 2008

Extensive college system and leadership experience will be great benefit in years ahead

OSHAWA, ON. – Pointing to his vast breadth of college system experience gained over more than two decades, including a number of significant projects while serving in executive and leadership roles, the Durham College Board of Governors announced today that it has appointed Don Lovisa as college president.

Lovisa, who had been serving in the role on an interim basis since May, was unanimously endorsed by the board following an exhaustive national search of candidates from across all educational sectors that began in the summer and concluded with the board’s vote last night. His appointment is for a five-year term, effective January 1.

“Don has proven himself to be a trusted leader over the past seven months as interim president, earning great admiration and respect at Durham College, in the community and within the broader post-secondary sector,” said Aileen Fletcher, chair of the Board of Governors and chair of the presidential search committee. “Everyone on the search committee was struck by Don’s vision for Durham College and his belief that our future is bright and that the road ahead of us is challenging but also full of opportunities to further our reputation as one of Ontario’s leading colleges.”

Fletcher noted the search committee was also unanimous in its selection and that the college community clearly indicated over the past several months that it has rallied around and supports Lovisa’s leadership. The committee also received countless unsolicited recommendations in support of his application.

Lovisa has a number of priorities in the coming months and years as president, including a commitment to the principles and foundations of the college’s Success Matters Strategic Plan and a desire to strengthen existing relationships and establish new ones with industry, government and other community partners. Durham College faces a number of significant financial challenges in the coming year which Lovisa is prepared to meet head on by working with the college community, community at large and government.

All of this, he notes, is crucial to ensuring the college’s mission that the student experience comes first at Durham College and will result by developing a strong team on campus that utilizes the collective strengths of all faculty and staff.

“I’d like to thank the Board of Governors for this opportunity to lead a college that has been defined by its ability to consistently make a difference for students and for being an essential fabric of the Durham and Northumberland communities,” said Lovisa, who is the fifth president in the college’s 41-year history. “I’m proud to lead such a talented and dedicated team of professionals on campus and look forward to furthering Durham College’s reputation province-wide and across the country.

“We understand that our role is to meet the training and education needs of our community and we take that responsibility quite seriously. In the years ahead we will continue to ensure our students have the necessary skills and training to find rewarding careers so they can contribute to our communities’ collective economic and social well-being.”

Lovisa added he looks forward to working with leaders at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) to strengthen the unique partnership between the two. It is a relationship that offers students more opportunities than ever before to obtain a diploma and a degree – all in less than the traditional time and without ever having to leave the schools’ shared Oshawa campus.

Lovisa joined Durham College in July 2007 as vice-president, Academic, and immediately provided leadership for a number of academic initiatives focused on quality assurance, academic policy development and academic restructuring. Prior to joining Durham, he served in a number of roles during a 20-year career at Confederation College, including dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts, dean of the School of Access and Literacy, trainer, part-time faculty member, business advisor and manager. In addition, he led a successful $5.2-million capital campaign for the creation of the Centre of Applied Media Productions; established partnerships with local school boards; and worked in the areas of access and literacy, contract and international training and private/public partnerships.

He has also worked internationally in Jamaica, the Ukraine and Poland where he consulted and provided training and teaching in the area of globalization, market-driven economic transition, international trade and entrepreneurship and business development. In addition, he has an extensive track record of community involvement, including working with chambers of commerce and school boards.

Lovisa has a Master’s degree in International Management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Diploma in Adult Education.

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 100 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,300 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
Durham College 
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca

 

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