The Okanagan College Board of Governors is pleased to announce the renewal of Dr. Neil Fassina's contract as president and has appointed him to the role on a permanent and ongoing basis.
Dr. Neil Fassina, president, Okanagan College
"The decision to extend Dr. Fassina's initial five-year contract a year early, and to appoint him to the position permanently, is a reflection of the Board's confidence in his outstanding leadership, abilities and commitment," said Dale Safinuk, chair, OC Board of Governors. "In the four years that Neil has been president at Okanagan College, he has led our teams through external challenges and complexity, while also helping co-create a vision and strategic direction for OC that is centred on expanding access to post-secondary education for learners across the region. Our Board is confident in Neil to continue to lead OC today and into the future, even as so many things in our environment are changing."
In his first year as president, beginning in April 2021, Dr. Fassina led College-wide engagement with students, employees and the broader OC community to develop a 10-year strategic plan and roadmap, called Inspire. Since that time, the College has delivered on many foundational elements of the plan, including:
- The announcement by the provincial government of the construction of the $55.8 million Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism at the Kelowna campus;
- Adding student housing in Vernon, Kelowna and Salmon Arm (with a fourth building under construction in Penticton);
- Completing an Indigenous Strategic Plan with partner Nations through the region, and building relationships to continue collaboration;
- Implementing a Flexible Workplace policy and supports;
- Launching several key initiatives OC-wide, such as a new Learning Framework, Wellness for Students and Staff strategy, and Accessibility Plan.
Dr. Fassina came to Okanagan College following close to five years as President of Athabasca University (AU), in Alberta. Before that, Dr. Fassina was Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and the Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. He has taught at the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, and the University of Manitoba. Dr. Fassina received his Ph.D. in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management in 2005 from the University of Toronto.
The Okanagan College Board of Governors made the decision to appoint Dr. Fassina to the role of president on a permanent basis earlier this spring.
