Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) announced today (June 25) that Mohawk College President & CEO Ron McKerlie has been awarded the CICan 2024 Distinguished Service Award.
Each year, the CICan Distinguished Service Award recognizes a college and institute leader who demonstrates outstanding and exemplary leadership at the institutional level, with stakeholders, the community, and other postsecondary education leaders.
Since assuming leadership in August 2014, Ron McKerlie has guided Mohawk College through transformative changes that have significantly influenced both the institution and the broader postsecondary education sector. His unwavering commitment to sustainability and combating climate change has been a defining aspect of his tenure. McKerlie's dedication is evident through milestones such as the inauguration of The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation in 2018 Canada's foremost Zero Carbon Institutional Building the implementation of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, and the establishment of the School of Climate Action in November 2023.
President McKerlie's commitment to truth and reconciliation is another hallmark of his leadership, demonstrated through initiatives such as signing the CICan Indigenous Education Protocol and increasing Indigenous awareness and presence on campus. Under his guidance, Mohawk College has also played a pivotal role in founding Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, consistently ranking among Canada's top 10 research colleges and earning international recognition from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics. The inauguration of the Centre for Integrated and Advanced Medical Imaging further exemplifies Ron's leadership and Mohawk's commitment to cutting-edge research.
"Ron McKerlie's dedication to excellence, sustainability, and equity, diversity and inclusion is truly inspiring," says Pari Johnston, CICan's President and CEO. "His exceptional leadership has propelled Mohawk College to achieve outstanding success, positively impacting its community and Canada's entire postsecondary education landscape. Congratulations, Ron, on this well-deserved recognition!"
