North Island College has hired an experienced administrator and educator known for her collaborative and respectful leadership style to strengthen its community connections and oversee its business and applied studies programs.
NIC’s new dean of business and applied studies, Diane Naugler is responsible for educational outreach in the Comox Valley.
“I’m excited to join North Island College, where faculty, staff and community partners already have a strong reputation for supporting students collaboratively,” said Naugler. “I know I’ll be working with a talented team to deliver applied, innovative, community-based education that benefits students and the community.”
The Dean of Business and Applied Studies is a new position at NIC, created to strengthen applied learning experiences and educational opportunities for students in NIC’s business degrees, diplomas and certificates, applied business technology, fine arts, tourism and hospitality management and culinary programs.
Naugler comes to NIC from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she is the Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts. She is also the university’s Director of Diversity and Equity, a unique role where she is responsible for implementing new diversity and inclusiveness policies across the institution. Her position at NIC begins May 9, 2016.
As a faculty member and administrator, Naugler helped develop and revise a diverse range of credentials, including a Minor in Indigenous Community Justice, Major in Sociology and the Education Assistant Certificate. She was also a member of the BC Council on Articulation and Transfer Associate Degree review committee.
“Diane is an experienced leader who has developed programs and taught courses across Canada,” said Lisa Domae, NIC’s Vice President of Learning and Students. “Her passion for education, diversity and community-based learning are a strong addition to NIC’s Senior Education Team and its commitment to supporting students and their programming needs.”
Originally from New Brunswick, Naugler is looking forward to moving to the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island, where she and her partner have property at Sproat Lake, near Port Alberni.
“I come from a small coastal community and in many ways this really feels like a homecoming for me,” she said.
NIC is a premier community college offering post-secondary education and training programs to more than 159,000 residents of Northern Vancouver Island and the BC central coast. It offers a wide range of university transfer, fine arts, business, health, human services, trades and technical, upgrading as well as personal and professional training programs to 9,000 students annually.
For more information on NIC programs and courses, visit nic.bc.ca.