Red River College taps provincial civil servant as new president
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/05/2020 (1949 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Red River College’s board of governors announced Tuesday that Fred Meier would become the school’s next president and CEO.
Meier, currently serving as clerk of the executive council and cabinet secretary with the provincial government, will begin his five-year term on July 6, taking over from interim president Christine Watson.
“Fred brings a tremendous amount of senior leadership experience to the role,” said Loren Cisyk, chairman of the board. “A successful college relies on strong leadership, and we look forward to how Fred’s experience leading at a high level will translate into new opportunities for our students and our province.”
Cisyk also thanked outgoing president Watson for her work as president, especially during such a time of upheaval as has been witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meier said the pandemic has created a great deal of uncertainty for the college, as with most institutions, and the response and possible continued integration of online learning will need to be nimble.
“When we look at other recessions that have happened in the past, (we can see) that education and post-secondary education — especially in the college stream — does actually increase in enrolment. People are looking to take this opportunity to improve their skill set and their learning. So I think we need to prepare for some of that as well,” Meier told the Free Press.
As the economic fallout from the pandemic is better understood, Meier said the college will need to be flexible in its response, offering the courses and programs that leave students with the skill sets that are most in demand from industry.
Meier said he will use what he’s learned in his current role with the province to help the college adapt to changing demands. He also looks to continue the school’s focus on improving outcomes for Indigenous students.
“There’s a bright future at Red River College and I’m excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to step into the presidency,” Meier said.
The search for a new president was started when the college’s board decided last summer not to extend the contract of then-president Paul Vogt. At the time, Cisyk said the decision was made to take the college “in a different direction.” This decision was hotly debated at the time, even drawing speculation that partisanship played a role in the move as Vogt expressed interest in staying on.
The tenure of the president who preceded Vogt, Stephanie Forsyth, ended in her resignation amid a provincial review of the college’s finances and leadership.
sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik