Loyalist College board appoints new President & CEO

Belleville, Ontario, Feb. 22, 2023 – Pam Jolliffe, Chair of the Loyalist College Board of Governors, is pleased to announce that Mark Kirkpatrick has been appointed as the next President and CEO of Loyalist College, effective Mar. 1, 2023. Following an extensive Presidential search led by Knightsbridge Robertson Surette (KBRS), the appointment was approved unanimously by the Board of Governors.

“We are delighted to announce Mark Kirkpatrick’s appointment as the new President and CEO of Loyalist College,” said Chair Jolliffe. “After conducting an exhaustive search across Canada, the search committee believed Mark was the most qualified candidate and in the best position to make a positive and meaningful impact on Loyalist College going forward. He has led transformational change across the institution for the last 17 years, and is recognized as an approachable, consultative, and visionary leader with an unmatched ability to translate strategy and ideas into execution.”

Mr. Kirkpatrick has been serving as Acting President of Loyalist College since Aug. 1, 2022. He originally joined Loyalist in 2005, assuming additional responsibilities over the years as he earned the confidence, respect, and trust of senior leadership. As Director of Information Technology, Mr. Kirkpatrick modernized the College’s IT department and implemented a campus-wide IT infrastructure. In the role of Senior Director, Infrastructure, he reimagined Loyalist’s indoor and outdoor spaces to align with the College’s caring and inclusive institutional values. After joining the senior leadership team as Senior Vice-President Corporate Services and CFO, Mr. Kirkpatrick operationalized the College’s Private College Public Partnership, Loyalist College in Toronto. He was also the architect behind the business case, financial model, and operational plan that realized Loyalist’s vision for a new campus in Port Hope.

“Mark’s vision and leadership helped steer Loyalist through the pandemic as he worked tirelessly to protect the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff, and ensured that the institution avoided any deficits or employee lay-offs,” said Chair Jolliffe. “Mark remains attuned to the needs of our students and industry and community partners and is dedicated to program innovation and renewal. I am confident that he will build on Loyalist’s solid foundation while executing new and emerging strategies that advance our Destination College vision.”

Prior to joining Loyalist in 2005, Mr. Kirkpatrick held other managerial roles such as Manager – Technical Services, Technology Architect at Empire Financial Group and Infrastructure Technology and Projects Leader at EDS Canada. He is a licensed electrical engineer and was an early leader in Information Technology, working with engineering and technology professionals in the manufacturing, insurance, and financial services sectors. Mark holds a Master of Business Administration from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and has an Applied Science Degree from Queen’s University.

“It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as the new President and CEO of Loyalist College,” said Mark Kirkpatrick, current Acting President of Loyalist College. “Loyalist is a special and unique place where our core values of being caring, inclusive, engaging, creative, and accountable are exemplified by everyone at the College. During my 17 years at Loyalist, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know our students, employees, and industry and community partners. I care deeply about this institution, its people, and the communities we serve. As Loyalist drives fundamental change and growth in our region, I am confident that our students, employees, and partners will continue to disrupt and lead innovation across the province, and beyond.”

Mark Kirkpatrick will officially begin his role as President and CEO of Loyalist College on Mar. 1, 2023, replacing former President and CEO Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, after she resigned from her position at Loyalist and was appointed as Humber College’s President and CEO in Aug. 2022.

“The Board of Governors sincerely appreciates and recognizes the strong leadership that Acting President Kirkpatrick has provided during this period of transition,” said Chair Jolliffe.

About Loyalist College 

Loyalist College is located on the territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge our shared obligation to respect, honour, and sustain these lands and the natural resources contained within. Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $398.9 million annually to the regional economy – based on a November 2022 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit loyalistcollege.com.

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Contact: 
Kate Gardner
Manager, Strategic Communications
Office of the President & CEO
kgardner@loyalistcollege.com