John Bowman will be North Island College's fifth president.
"The North Island College Board of Governors undertook an inclusive, yet comprehensive, approach to our search for a new President," said Bruce Calder, chair of NIC's Board of Governors. "We needed a strong leader with a passion for post-secondary education to build on our successes and innovative approach to serving the residents of our diverse region, and we found that person in John Bowman.
"John Bowman brings seven years of experience as a president of a BC college to his new position and has a deep appreciation of the challenges facing colleges in rural communities. He believes in a collaborative approach to leadership, fostering a climate and organization culture conducive to improvement, supporting employees as well as student learning, with a focus on developing trust and achieving desired results," added Calder.
Bowman currently serves as president and chief executive officer at the College of New Caledonia (CNC), headquartered in Prince George.
Under his leadership, CNC developed and implemented a new five-year strategic plan; increased student enrolments; enhanced regional campus programs and services; increased Aboriginal participation rates and partnerships; expanded international education activity; undertook major capital facilities renewal; and expanded fundraising capacity and corporate sponsorships.
Bowman has worked in the BC post-secondary system for 22 years. Prior to his appointment as president of CNC, Bowman served as CNC's vice president, student services and regional director for the Quesnel campus. Prior to that, he served as vice president, human resources/development services and director, planning and research, both at Kwantlen University College in Surrey.
Bowman holds a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University, where his thesis project explored the role of collaborative leadership in supporting teamwork and learning.
"It is a privilege and honour to have been selected as the next president of North Island College. I know that NIC has a proud history of success and many achievements. I am also struck by the many similarities between North Island College and the College of New Caledonia," Bowman said. "Our service regions are large with similar population sizes and demographics. NIC and CNC both operate from multiple campuses and learning centres and provide a comprehensive mix of programs and services.
"Leading the NIC team is an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to the development of the institution, the region and its people," he added. "At this juncture in my career, I am highly motivated by a desire to take on new challenges, to apply my knowledge, skills and experience in a new context, to develop new relationships and learn more about other communities. Of course, the prospect of living and working on beautiful Vancouver Island is also very appealing."
Bowman will become the president of North Island College on August 1, succeeding current president Dr. Jan Lindsay, who is retiring after four years with North Island College and 35 years in BC's post-secondary education sector.
For further information about North Island College programs, services and events, please visit www.nic.bc.ca.
— North Island College