Update February 16, 2023: The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Board of Governors has named Dr. Jeff Zabudsky as the Institute’s next President. Dr. Zabudsky joins BCIT as the most recent Provost for the American University of Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain, having also served as the CEO for Bahrain Polytechnic. Before his career took him to the middle east, Dr. Zabudsky served as the President and Vice Chancellor for Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and President and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic. Dr. Zabudsky will officially join BCIT on July 10, 2023.
After over eight years as President of BCIT, President Kathy Kinloch will retire at the end of June 2022. The BCIT Board of Governors has appointed Paul McCullough, current Vice President, Advancement, to serve as Interim President beginning July 1, 2022. With BCIT’s interim leadership secured, the search for the Institute’s next president continues. The President Search Committee continues to guide this search for an outstanding leader who is passionate about BCIT learners, and the strategic opportunities ahead for the Institute.
President Kathy Kinloch has been a truly inspirational leader, and BCIT is grateful for her incredible contributions to the Institute throughout her tenure. She succeeded in elevating BCIT, building a team of strong leaders, and implementing numerous transformational Institute priorities. Under Kathy’s leadership, BCIT has established a passionate and proactive Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships team who are embedding Indigeneity across BCIT while helping to make BCIT the first-choice post-secondary for all learners. She led the establishment of the BCIT Centre for Ecocities which is advancing sustainable cities and lifestyles here in BC, as well as globally through partnerships with organizations including the United Nations. Additionally, BCIT campuses are transforming to keep pace with the digital age and evolving learning needs, including the new BCIT Health Sciences Centre, the Tech Collider at BCIT Downtown Campus, new expanded student housing featuring Mass Timber construction, a new BCIT Trades and Technology Centre, and much more.
Paul McCullough will begin his appointment as Interim President on July 1. Among his many accomplishments at BCIT, Paul and the Advancement team have been the architects for INSPIRE, the largest fundraising campaign in BCIT history. Through this campaign, BCIT has doubled the size of the Institute’s endowment fund and successfully raised over $100 million in private sector support for BCIT, our students, Indigenous programs, and capital projects. BCIT looks forward to working with Paul and the Leadership Team to continue implementing the strategic priorities outlined in the 2019-2023 BCIT Strategic Plan.