Timmins, Ont – March 11, 2021: Northern College is pleased to announce its appointment of a new vice-president of academic and student success. Aaron Klooster, dean of trades and technology at the institution, has been selected to join the ranks of the senior management team in this esteemed position.
Dr. Audrey J. Penner, who joined the college six years ago, served in the role until becoming the college’s president this past August, with the director of IT, Glenn MacDougall, filling an acting role until such time as a new candidate was found for Penner’s previous role.
“We were very pleased to see the high calibre of candidates in this competition, and grateful that we continue to be an employer of choice. With over 100 candidates applying, we had a strong applicant pool to choose from. We are only too pleased to promote one of our own and grow leadership from within at Northern with the selection of Aaron to this important role,” Penner said of the appointment.
Aaron Klooster is well known in the institution and has experienced roles as faculty, coordinator, and dean. He brings a broad range of strategic initiatives as well as strong links with government through his work with apprenticeship as well as industry in his work with talent pipelines.
“I am honoured to have been chosen to fill this position at Northern,” said Klooster of the news. “I have spent 15 years here with Northern and am proud and very pleased to continue to serve in another leadership role here and join my colleagues at the senior management level to do so. Northern has a bright future ahead of us, despite what we have seen globally with the pandemic over the past year, and I look to be a part of making the future even brighter.”
The competition for the vice-president of academic and student success was coordinated internally, with human resources and corporate services overseeing the process. The search committee, comprised of six college employees from across the college’s various campuses and employee groups, was assembled to select the new leader. The posting was released in January.
“A sincere thank you to everyone for their work on this process,” stated Penner of the competition.
“It was a highly detailed and very time-consuming exercise, yet an important one, and it was very well done. We have already received a great deal of positive feedback from candidates involved in the competition on how professional and caring the process was, which is the Northern College way. I would like to thank the hiring committee for their collegiality and professionalism, which contributed to a smooth process and positive outcomes, as well as to Glenn MacDougall for serving in the role and continuing to guide us as he has over the past few months,” added Penner.
“There is much work ahead,” stated Klooster of his new role. “With a new strong strategic plan having been launched, a Presidential Task Force engaged in equity, diversity and inclusion, an academic plan in place, and many initiatives such as micro-credentials and degreed programs upon us in the academic area, it is indeed an important time for post-secondary education in general and Northern College specifically. I’m eager to work closely with everyone here and throughout the region and province to grow educational and employment opportunities for learners, which is what Northern stands for, more than anything,” he added.
The new position will begin in May, with the posting of the dean of trades and technology position, Klooster’s current role, to happen later this month.
