North Island College has bade farewell to Karsten Henriksen, its Associate Regional Director for the Mt Waddington region.
Henriksen, who assumed the role at the college two years ago, finished in the position last week in order to pursue doctoral studies. He will travel to Guelph, Ontario, and focus on Rural Studies at the university there while also teaching.
"My time at the college has been an exciting time," said Henriksen. "It was a fantastic opportunity to get to know the communities."
During his tenure at NIC, Henriksen was instrumental in the establishment of the Nursing program in the Mt Waddington campus as well as the Carpentry Access courses and launch of Elder College, which reflects Henriksen's belief in life-long learning.
Henriksen said that his experience in the position was "very positive" and that he had no doubt that his replacement will enjoy the same level of community support that he did.
Interviews for the position are expected to take place in September, with Douglas Campbell rejoining NIC as the Interim Associate Director until a permanent replacement for Henriksen is found.
Campbell was NIC's Director of Industry Training and Continuing Education until his retirement in 2009. Since then he has been involved in corporate training in Alberta.
Campbell is expected to begin his role later this month and has been in contact with Henriksen to ensure a smooth transition. He will also meet with some of the college's community partners in the coming weeks.
In a statement, NIC expressed its appreciation for the support that the community offered Henriksen during his tenure.