This message is sent to you on behalf of James McIntosh, Chair, Algonquin College Board of Governors.
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On behalf of the Board of Governors, it gives me great pleasure to announce Cheryl Jensen as Algonquin College’s eighth President. Cheryl will assume her duties as President on Monday, August 25, 2014.
In selecting Cheryl, the Board’s Presidential Selection Committee concludes a four-month international search aimed at identifying the person most able to navigate the College through the rapidly changing higher education landscape. Supported by executive search firm Boyden, the Board established a thorough and deliberate selection process. From the over 50 expressions of interest, the Committee moved to establish a short list and conduct interviews in June.
Cheryl is a proven leader who brings a wealth of academic experience to the role of President. She comes to the College from Hamilton’s Mohawk College, where she has worked for the past 31 years as a professor, dean and vice president. In her role as Vice President, Academic, a position she has held for five years, Mrs. Jensen led a reimagining of the academic plan at Mohawk, creating a strategy that responded to both industry trends and to the needs of students, employees, alumni, and the community. Cheryl was also the driving force behind the launch of applied research at Mohawk, and an outreach project aimed at improving increasing access to postsecondary education among young people from priority neighbourhoods in Hamilton and surrounding regions.
She previously held the role of Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training, where she led the proposal submission for a major partnership agreement with Hydro One (of which Algonquin is also a member). Cheryl was instrumental in the launch of Canada’s first bachelor of technology program with McMaster University. She also championed innovative integrated technician apprenticeship programs and led the transformation of Mohawk’s skilled trades campus.
Prior to becoming a Vice President, Cheryl was Mohawk College’s first female Dean, Faculty of Engineering Technology and Skilled Trades; and Chair of Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology. She taught in the Chemical Engineering Technology program for 16 years.
Cheryl holds a Master of Education, Organizational and Administrative Studies from Brock University. She graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Certificate in the Metallurgy of Iron and Steel.
She is the 2012 recipient of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Silver Award for Leadership Excellence, and of the YMCA Hamilton Women of Distinction award as a ‘Trailblazer’. Cheryl serves as Chair of the Skills Canada Ontario Board of Directors. She served as a member of the Hamilton Community Foundation for four years, and was recently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors with the Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford YMCA.
Cheryl and her husband Tom, who is retired, have two daughters – Lorraine, a doctor, married to Brian; and Monica, a veterinarian – and one son, Neal, who is an electrician and a Mohawk graduate. They are also proud grandparents to five-month old Colton. She is an avid camper and her hobbies include canoeing, hiking, and running.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate and welcome Cheryl to the College. I would also like to express our appreciation to Dr. Kent MacDonald for his sixteen years of service to the College community, including his time as President.
