Ron McKerlie term renewed as Mohawk College president

The Mohawk College Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Ron McKerlie will continue to lead the college for the next five years.

President McKerlie, who has served Mohawk College since 2014, received the support of the Governors to extend his contract for an additional five-year term. Prior to being named as the eighth president of Mohawk College, McKerlie served as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Open Government after a distinguished 25-year career with Rogers Communications and the Bank of Montreal.

In addition, the Board of Directors of the Mohawk College Foundation, the arm’s-length fundraising body for the college, concurrently announces that it is also renewing McKerlie’s contract as president in line with the college’s extension.

QUOTES:

“Under Ron’s tenure, Mohawk College has flourished as a national leader among postsecondary institutions. Over the past five years, the college has improved and expanded facilities at all three campuses, developed a strong reputation in applied research and is effectively executing on an ambitious five-year strategic plan. Ron has had a guiding hand in these achievements while remaining committed to the success and well-being of Mohawk students and the communities we serve. The Board of Governors looks forward to working with Ron for the next five years.”

– Katrina McFadden, Chair of Mohawk College Board of Governors

“Over the past five years, Mohawk College Foundation has financially supported transformational projects at the college and forged strong new partnerships while offering financial assistance to thousands of students through bursaries and awards. Ron’s continued leadership will provide stability and focus in the coming years, as we work to support increased community engagement and the growing needs of our students.”

– Glen Steeves, Chair of Mohawk College Foundation Board of Directors

“On behalf of all Mohawk students, The Mohawk Students’ Association looks forward to continuing to work alongside President Ron McKerlie as he begins his second term. We believe that Ron and the staff at Mohawk College have helped shape this community into the great place it is today. Over the past five years, Ron has proven to be a champion of student success and growth. We are excited to continue our partnership and see what the next five years will bring for future Mohawk students.”

– Sheldon Coombs, President of The Mohawk Students’ Association

“I am grateful for the support of the Board of Governors of Mohawk College and the Board of Directors of the Mohawk College Foundation. We have accomplished a great deal together over the past five years and have laid the framework for a bright and exciting future. I am happy to be able to continue working with Mohawk faculty and staff to educate and prepare job-ready, future-ready students.”

– Ron McKerlie, President of Mohawk College/President of Mohawk College Foundation

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Accomplishment under President McKerlie’s 2014-2019 term

Facilities Expansion

• 2017 Stoney Creek Campus expansion
• 2017 Centre for Healthcare Simulation opens at Institute for Applied Health Sciences
• 2018 The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation completed with the largest investment ever from the Government of Canada ($20 million) and the largest private donation from The Joyce Family Foundation ($5 million)

Community Engagement

• 2015 leads the Welcoming Communities Task Force and Interact Summit in support of the community and college’s shared goals on internationalization and global citizenship
• 2015 Chair of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development
• 2015 first City School by Mohawk learning hub in the Keith Neighbourhood. A second opened in 2016 at the Hamilton Central Library and in 2017 launched mobile classroom
• 2016 embarked on five-year strategic plan, Future Ready - Learning for Life
• 2016 signing of the Indigenous Education Protocol
• 2017 launched Centre for Climate Change Management
• 2019 announced Challenge 2025, creating intensive access strategies for challenged neighborhoods and communities
• 2019 signing Dimensions Charter on equity, diversity and inclusion; one of 17 pilot institutions in Canada

Partnership & Growth

• 2016 partnership with IBM, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences creates new applied medical research collaboration
• 2017 $3 million partnership with FANUC Canada creates new FANUC Robotics Lab
• 2017 Launch of CityLAB in partnership with the City of Hamilton, McMaster University and Redeemer University College
• 2018 partner with EON Reality to develop its first Canadian AR/VR training centre
• 2019 announced expansion of Hamilton Airport facilities and new aerospace training hub, in partnership with KF Aerospace