Mohawk appoints new Executive Management Group
Two academic leaders with 64 years of combined service at Mohawk College have been appointed Vice President, Academic and Vice President of Student Services.
Cheryl Jensen is Mohawk’s new Vice President, Academic. Cheryl joined Mohawk as a professor in 1983 and has served as Dean, Executive Dean, Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training, and Acting Vice President, Academic. Cheryl was instrumental in the development and launch of Canada’s first Bachelor of Technology collaborative degree program with McMaster University and the award-winning Hydro One – College Consortium. Cheryl also led the $27 million transformation of the Mohawk STARRT Institute for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Research, Resources and Training.
Cheryl also serves as Chair of the Industry Education Council of Hamilton, is co-lead of the Immigration working group with the Jobs Prosperity Collaborative Hamilton and is a member of the Board of Directors with the Burlington Economic Development Corporation, Skills Canada Ontario and the Hamilton Community Foundation. Cheryl graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Certificate in the Metallurgy of Iron and Steel, and a Master of Education, Organizational and Administrative Studies from Brock University.
“Cheryl brings tremendous leadership and a proven track record of innovation and collaboration,” said President Rob MacIsaac. “Students, faculty and our partners in industry, community, education and government will be well served by Cheryl in the role of Vice President, Academic.”
Cheryl succeeds Rosemary Knechtel, who joined Mohawk in 1971 as a nursing professor and has served in leadership roles including Chair, Dean and Executive Dean of Health Sciences and Human Services during her career at the College. Rosemary was appointed Vice President, Academic in 2006 and served as Acting President in late 2008 to February of 2009. Rosemary is deferring retirement to serve in the newly created position of Vice President, Student Services. In her new role, Rosemary will further improve the accessibility and quality of services and supports that help students graduate to success.
Rosemary received the Distinguished Service Award in 2007 from Colleges Ontario in recognition of her leadership role in developing collaborative degree programs in health sciences and building the Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences, the first facility in Canada to combine college and university health science education and research.
Rosemary is a member of several provincial and local committees including the Colleges Ontario Quality Assurance Management Board, and is the Past Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Home Care and Past President of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton. Rosemary graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a Master of Science in Teaching degree from McMaster University.
“Given Rosemary’s extensive and distinguished experience and dedication to quality learning and student success, I cannot imagine anyone else who is better qualified to serve in this new role as Vice President, Student Services,” said President MacIsaac.
Ronald Holgerson was appointed Vice President, Advancement & Public Affairs. Ronald was formerly Vice President, Marketing, Communications, Alumni & Government Relations, previously worked for Sheridan College, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and Canada Council of the Arts. Ronald serves on the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee and the Colleges Ontario Advocacy and Marketing Committees. Fran Agnew from the City of Burlington and Metrolinx joins the President’s Office as Director Strategic Planning & Community Liaison. Former City of Burlington General Manager of Corporate Services and Acting City Manager Bob Carrington serves as Interim Vice President of Corporate Services while a search is underway for the newly created position. A search is also underway for a new Chief Innovation Officer to join Mohawk's Executive Management Group and champion a culture of innovation at the College.
For more on MOhawk's Exective Management Group, click here.