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Olds College names new vice-president

Jason Dewling has been hired to take on the role of vice-president of academic and research at Olds College. His position will begin on July 4. Dewling will oversee all six schools as well as all research that is undertaken at Olds College.

Jason Dewling has been hired to take on the role of vice-president of academic and research at Olds College. His position will begin on July 4.

Dewling will oversee all six schools as well as all research that is undertaken at Olds College. Dewling said he is eager to join the college, which he said is recognized as a leader both provincially and nationally in research.

“We're looking forward to building on that reputation and really separating us from the pack. It's a really neat place to work here. It's (got) highly creative and innovative people with a can-do attitude and so it was very attractive for people and I think that's why they had such a rigorous competition for this position,” he said.

Dewling said several factors played into his decision to apply for the position. The number 1 consideration was institutional reputation, followed by the solid group on the board of governors and the leadership team. Dewling said he also checked out the community and found that it suited him and his family well.

“Our family came and spent two or three days in the community before I even went to my first interview and … the community had so many of the things that we would want in a community when it came to small-town safety, community atmosphere, lots of activity for kids. The location of the community was like a homerun for us,” he said.

Dewling most recently spent time as the associate dean of arts, science, business and academic services at Lakeland College in Wainwright. He also spent nine years as councillor for the Town of Wainwright while his wife Heather sat on the local school board.

Dewling said his job at Lakeland College prepared him well for his role at Olds College, as he coordinated library, counselling, and academic technology services between two campuses.

“The diversity for which I was tasked with prepared me for a big-picture view of post-secondary,” he said, noting that he also sat on several provincial boards such as the Alberta Rural Development Network.

Dewling replaces Robert Wilson, who stepped down after 14 years at Olds College.

"We're looking forward to building on that reputation and really separating us from the pack."Jason Dewling, vice-president of academic and research, Olds College
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