Langara College Board Chair announces new President

    VANCOUVER, July 30 /CNW/ - David Chiang, Chair of the Langara College
Board of Governors, today announced the appointment of Dr. David Ross as the
incoming President of Langara College effective November 1, 2008 for a five
year term.
    "It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Dr. David
Ross as Langara College's incoming President," says Chiang. "An accomplished
academic and administrative leader, his breadth of experience spans 19 years
of academic, corporate, and administrative successes, with marked strengths in
strategic planning, financial management, facility development, enrolment
management, student-centred learning, community partnership development,
marketing and fundraising."
    Most recently Vice President Administration and Student Services at
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - a position held for the past seven years -
Dr. Ross joined Kwantlen's Marketing Faculty in 1994; became Department Chair
in 1996; Undergraduate Business Chair in 1997; and the Associate
Vice-President Advancement and External Relations in 1999. Dr. Ross has also
held faculty positions in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Langara College,
the University of New Brunswick, and the Shad Valley Program based in
Waterloo, Ontario where he worked with gifted and high potential Canadian high
school students.
    "I am truly honored to join Langara College as President, and look
forward to the continued and future success and development of the College in
its mission to serve learners as they embark on their personal and
post-secondary educational goals," says Ross. "A very rewarding part of my
career has been my involvement with learner success, both directly in the
classroom and as a senior administrator collaboratively developing vision and
strategy to guide future growth and success."
    A passion for developing strong relationships with internal constituents,
students, government, and local, national and international communities has
enabled Dr. Ross to successfully lead initiatives that supported the
institution and communities he has served. These include new programs focused
on student retention and success, fundraising initiatives for student
scholarships and awards and ongoing work with Government to establish funding
priorities.
    "Langara is well known for quality education and the excellent
opportunities it provides its students," explains Ross. "I am looking forward
to serving Langara's communities and to continuing Langara's well established
tradition of teaching and service excellence."
    His community service includes current Board positions as President of
the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations and Vice President of
the Surrey Board of Trade. He has also worked as part of a United Nations
funded initiative in Eastern Europe, as Chair of the Cultural Diversity
Council in the South Fraser Region and numerous other provincial, national and
international leadership roles.
    Dr. Ross holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nebraska; a
Master of Aquaculture from Simon Fraser University; and a Master of Business
Administration and Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University. A committed
lifelong learner, his own educational journey has taken him across Canada, and
through a range of disciplines including executive leadership, business, and
science.
    Dr. Ross becomes Langara College's second President. Linda Holmes, who
has served the College for 35 years, the past 14 years as the College's first
President, is retiring.
    The Board of Governors established a Presidential Search and
Recommendation Committee earlier this year that included membership from the
College Board, Executive, the Langara Faculty Association, the Langara
Administrators' Association, CUPE Local 15 VMECW, and the Langara Students'
Union. Janet Wright and Associates was contracted to facilitate the search,
which took six months to complete.

    Located in Vancouver, BC, Langara College has earned a reputation for
academic excellence providing 8000 students a year with university and career
studies programs. Students may choose from more than 70 programs of study,
culminating in degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Langara
offers the most comprehensive Arts and Science (university transfer) program
in the BC College system, and UBC accepts more transfer students from Langara
College than any other College in Canada. More than 90 percent of career
program graduates find employment in their chosen field within four months of
graduation. Langara's Continuing Studies offers more than 700 courses for
personal growth and professional development to more than 12,000 life long
learners each year.
    Langara students, graduates, and employees regularly win prestigious
awards in academic achievement, creative pursuits, business competitions and
community service. The Falcons Athletic program has a rich history of success,
having won 22 national titles in the past 26 years, more than 150 provincial
titles, and hundreds of individual player and coach awards at all levels.

    Backgrounder

    Langara College Vision Statement:
    Freedom Through Knowledge

    Langara College Mission Statement:

    Langara College provides accessible education that meets the needs of our
diverse community. The education and services provided are comprehensive,
current, and innovative. Our curriculum is based on an integrated and
cross-disciplinary approach designed to enhance the learner's ability to apply
and transfer knowledge. We value and are committed to a learning and working
environment characterized by encouragement, free enquiry, integrity, mutual
respect, professionalism, recognition of achievement, and social
responsibility.

    
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For further information:

For further information: Media contact: Nancy Wickham, Director,
Communications & Marketing Services, (604) 323-5671, nwickham@langara.bc.ca,
www.langara.bc.ca