FREDERICTON (NBCC) – Marilyn Luscombe has been appointed as president and chief executive officer of the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC). Board chair Cheryl M.G. Robertson announced the appointment today. The five-year appointment is effective Jan.1, 2011.
“The choice of Marilyn as the inaugural president and chief executive officer for NBCC will have a most significant impact on the success of the new NBCC, “ said Robertson. “We all look forward to working with her as we bring our college into the future.”
Luscombe is a native of Newfoundland and Labrador, and is currently president of Selkirk College in southeastern British Columbia. She has extensive experience in publicly-funded community colleges, both at the College of the North Atlantic (NL) and at Selkirk College, where she has served as president and chief executive officer for 10 years.
Earlier in her career Luscombe worked in a variety of roles including: instructor, director of Student Services, co-ordinator of International Initiatives, director of Planning, vice -president Academic. She recently completed three years as board chair of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) within her six-year elected tenure on the ACCC Board.
“I am honoured and privileged to be chosen to provide leadership for NBCC at this significant time,” said Luscombe. “NBCC has a rich history created through dedicated people. I am enthusiastic and inspired to have this opportunity to join new colleagues in the work of building a renewed and vibrant college system for New Brunswick, and to come back to my native Atlantic Canada after the privilege of serving Selkirk College and calling beautiful British Columbia home for the past decade.”
Luscombe's appointment comes after a national search process was announced by Minister of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour Donald Arsenault in February 2009. Caldwell Partners International worked with the community college corporation, then with its Board of Governors, to identify candidates. The Board had the mandate to choose its president and chief executive officer.
“I commend the NBCC Board for their wise decision on the selection of Ms. Luscombe,” said Arseneault. “Her impressive experience and credentials will be a true asset to the new NBCC corporation and will benefit the entire post-secondary education sector in New Brunswick.”
Additional biographical information
Professional volunteer experiences include: chair of the Canadian College Presidents' Network and the Presidents' Academy; board member of the Post-Secondary Employers' Association; guest faculty and chancellor of National Executive Leadership Institutes for Potential Vice-presidents and Presidents; presenter at multiple national and regional conferences and institutes; speaker for the Canada-China Forums; 10-year term as a Board Trustee for the Western Regional Hospital Corporation (NL); and chair of the Committee on Family Violence ( NL), where she was awarded the National Lifestyle Award for Community Voluntarism.
Her leadership with her colleagues at Selkirk resulted in enhanced services for students including: increased investments and partnerships for the college, the establishment of a research centre in GIS and a research chair in rural economic development and increased and ongoing support for the College's Peace Centre.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sonya Gilks, communications, New Brunswick Community College, 506-444-3320.
Barry Auliffe, communications, Selkirk College, 250-505-1384.