Wednesday August 11, 2021 | SAANICH, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
As the ‘return to campus’ phase of post-secondary life fast approaches amidst the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Camosun College is busy getting organized for the 2021-2022 academic cycle.
Key issues at this time include attention to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic on campus (including organizing for easy access to COVID-19 vaccination for returning students) and Indigenous aspects of campus life.
And behind the scenes is the work of preparing for transition, as President Sherri Bell will wrap up her time there at year-end (incoming President is Dr Lane Trotter who starts in 2022).
Sherri Bell as president has focussed on “engaging students in learning to find their passion and make a difference in their community and the world.” Her statement on standing with Indigenous peoples was issued on July 14, 2021.
Two new board members:
Joining the leadership mix at this time are two new appointed board members, as announced August 10: Lindsay Kearns (who brings a focus on the trades) and Ruth Mojeed (who brings a focus on equity and inclusion). The appointments are effective July 31, 2021, for terms ending July 31, 2023.
- Lindsay Kearns is an outreach coordinator for the BC Centre for Women in the Trades. Previously, Kearns was a field service electrician in the Controls Division for Houle Electric Ltd. Active in her community, she is vice-president of the BC Tradeswomen Society and serves on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. She is also a volunteer for the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre and coordinator of Greater Victoria Queer Parents Group. Kearns holds her Red Seal Construction Electrician designation from Camosun, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Indigenous Studies from the University of Victoria.
- Ruth Mojeed is the founder and chief equity officer of The Inclusion Project. She brings extensive lived experience and grounded expertise to her work in racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Ruth is indigenous to the Yoruba tribe from western Nigeria. She migrated to Canada in 2015 to pursue a master’s degree in intercultural & international communication at Royal Roads University. She also holds certificates in community organizing and leadership from Harvard University and community-based participatory research from the University of Victoria.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Lindsay and Ruth to the board,” says board chair Dr. Monty Bryant, who was elected to that role in August 2020. “All of our board members play an important role in contributing to the success of our students. Their backgrounds will be an enormous benefit to the board in serving the college and our learners.”
About the Board of Governors:
The Camosun College Board of Governors administers the college on behalf of the B.C. Government and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training as legislated by the College and Institute Act.
The Camosun College Board of Governors is comprised of nine appointees (appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council), and four elected members (one faculty, one staff, and two students — each elected by their respective memberships), and the President of Camosun and the Chair of the Education Council are non-voting members. Board member profiles are posted on the Camosun website.
The role of the board is to act on behalf of the public, and oversee the affairs of the institution including property, revenue and expenditures. The board must establish the key policies that guide the activity of the organization, and is responsible for hiring their one employee, the President. The board focuses on policy and strategic leadership rather than administrative detail.
About Camosun:
Camosun College is located in Greater Victoria, BC on South Vancouver Island. There are two campuses (Lansdowne and Interurban) within the District of Saanich on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. It’s one of the largest colleges in the province.
Established in 1971, Camosun now celebrates 50 years of delivering innovative, life-changing academic and applied programs to 20,000 students annually.
===== RELATED:
Dr. Lane Trotter named next president of Camosun College (July 21, 2021)
BC post-secondary wooing students back to campus under Step 4 (July 18, 2021)
Camosun student goes for rugby gold in Tokyo Olympics (July 17, 2021)
Popular: Additional COVID support funding for students at Camosun, UVic & Royal Roads (April 19, 2021)
Camosun manufacturing solutions assist with COVID-19 vaccine deliveries (April 17, 2021)
===== About the writer:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR, has been actively covering news of the west shore region since 2008 including a focus on education, health and community growth. Former names of the publication have been MapleLine Magazine, Sooke Voice News, and West Shore Voice News.
All four of her children have attended post-secondary in BC, launching careers in health science, software engineering, animal care, and literary arts.
Daily Twitter posts @IslandSocTrends .
