Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College (DC) today announced an upcoming rotation of three academic executives at the college. The following moves will take effect Monday, November 5:

• Kevin Baker, dean, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology (START) and Centre for Food (CFF), and principal, Whitby campus, will become executive dean, School of Business, IT & Management (BITM).
• Rebecca Milburn, associate vice president (AVP), Academic, will become executive dean, START and CFF, and principal, Whitby campus.
• Marianne Marando, executive dean, BITM, will become AVP, Academic.

Mr. Baker will bring his extensive business and leadership expertise to BITM, recent achievements of which include growing START and CFF enrolment by 15 per cent, apprenticeship by 10 per cent, Bistro ’67 revenues by more than 100 per cent and improved START financial contributions by 9 per cent. In his time as principal, he has overseen an incredible evolution of the Whitby campus, including major capital projects like the new front entrance and steam plant, expansion of the trade shops and outdoor additions to the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, among others. He also led development of three new post-secondary programs: Mechanical Techniques – Elevating Devices, Welding Engineering Techniques, and the TSSA-accredited Power Engineering Techniques – Fourth Class.

With her current portfolio including oversight of DC’s involvement with Skills Ontario and Skills Canada, as well as Corporate Training Services, Ms. Milburn’s move to START, CFF and the Whitby campus will mark a greater return to her trades and technology roots. Ms. Milburn began her career in the college system with the School of Applied Technology at Humber College as a faculty member in the chemistry program. Since joining DC in 2016, she has led the review, consultations and training for the updated Program Advisory Committee resources, Board of Governors’ policy and processes as well as the development and revision of more than 20 academic policies and procedures. She has overseen operations of and improvements to the Pickering Learning Site and led, chaired or co-chaired a number of academic task forces.

In her new role as AVP, Academic, Ms. Marando will continue to build and expand on the success she’s achieved in her time with BITM. All three of the new programs launched this month that Ms. Marando led in developing – Cosmetic Techniques and Management, Esthetics and Spa Management and Data Analytics for Business Decision Making (graduate certificate) – succeeded in achieving both budget and recruitment targets. She recently spearheaded Ministry approval to develop the Artificial Intelligence Analysis, Design and Implementation graduate certificate, the first program of its kind in Ontario, and managed the significant capital projects of establishing the Durham College Spa and two new computer labs. Since joining DC in 2016, Ms. Marando has also driven significant growth in enrolment and improved reputation for BITM programs, increasing first-choice applications by 14 per cent (fall 2016 vs fall 2018) and more than doubling international student enrolment in the same time period.

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About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 13,600 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and eight apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market. The college also launched its first four-year degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management, in September 2018.

The Oshawa campus features the state-of-the art Student Services building and the Centre for Collaborative Education, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017. The newly-opened facility brings together local, Indigenous and global communities, providing a new home for several of the college’s most innovative and ground-breaking programs.

The Whitby campus features the award-winning W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, which includes Bistro ’67, a full-service, teaching-inspired restaurant, and Pantry, a retail store featuring food prepared by students in the college’s culinary programs.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

 

Media contact:
Melissa McLean
Communications and Marketing
Durham College
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2952
M: 905.259.8483
melissa.mclean@durhamcollege.ca