The search is on for a new college president
Thu May 22, 2008
By: By Crystal Crimi
DURHAM -- The vacant president's position at Durham College is expected to lure some "first class" candidates, board chairman Phillip 'Rocky' Simmons said. Following the immediate resignation of Leah Myers, an executive meeting was scheduled Thursday night, May 22, to start plans for establishing a presidential search committee. "We obviously want to move as quickly as possible," Mr. Simmons said, citing the start of the new school year in September. The search committee will likely be formed In the next few weeks. The group is to be created by the Durham College board and a company hired to find candidates. The process typically takes three-to-six months and can go quite quickly if they get some really good people, he said. The search committee then narrows down the candidates and conducts interviews until they're down to one person who will be offered the position, Mr. Simmons said. "We're really confident we're going to get some first-class people," he said. Durham College is experiencing an increase in enrolment and shares its campus with a university. "We are the talk of education," Mr. Simmons said, and added they're the role model for post-secondary. "If I was 30 years younger I'd apply," Mr. Simmons said. In the meantime, Don Lovisa accepted the role of interim president following the resignation of Ms. Myers on May 16. She held the position for two years and was previously the executive lead at the Ministry of Research and Innovation. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Myers worked with Bob Rae on his post-secondary review report as the executive director of the Secretariat that provided the research, policy, consultation, communication and project support. Mr. Simmons would not comment if her resignation came as a surprise or on any other details involved. "Out of respect for Leah and her decision, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on her reasons for leaving," Mr. Simmons said. Mr. Lovisa, vice-president, academic, joined Durham College in August 2007, and was previously dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. He has a master's degree in international management, a bachelor's degree in sociology, and a diploma in adult education. Mr. Lovisa started his career 21 years ago as a small business advisor for Confederation College. Although he can't speak for Mr. Lovisa, Mr. Simmons said he hopes he applies for the college president position.