David Walls selected as College of the Rockies’ seventh President

College of the Rockies incoming president David Walls.

Walls will assume his position as President and CEO of College of the Rockies on August 19, 2013, succeeding current President and CEO Dr. Nick Rubidge who is retiring after twelve years as President and with 40 years’ experience in BC’s post-secondary education sector.

“College of the Rockies’ Board undertook a comprehensive and inclusive six-month search for our new President,” said Board Chair Orest Federko. “The Board unanimously passed a motion at its June 13, 2013 meeting to offer the position to David Walls on the recommendation of a 16-member search committee which included members from the Board, students, senior administration, management, faculty and support staff.”

“The focus of the search process was to secure a President with the experience, leadership qualities and vision to build upon College of the Rockies’ achievements and take the innovative spirit of the College to additional heights,” said Federko. “David Walls has displayed to us his passion for post-secondary education and student success, and has given us confidence in his ability to lead a consultative process which will set a strategic course for our future.”

“He is a dedicated, successful leader who has served in progressively senior post-secondary positions from instructor to Provost and Vice-President. He is experienced in strategic management and institutional growth, has led the development of market-driven education and training, is skilled in building innovative partnerships and successful teams, has an entrepreneurial flair and leads with a consultative style,” Federko concluded.

Walls most recently served as Provost and Vice-President Academic at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) where he also held the positions of Associate Vice-President Academic and Student Affairs, and Dean of Industrial Training.

Prior to joining SIAST, Walls held progressively senior positions at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) including Dean of Energy and Natural Resources, and Dean of Mechanical Trades and Technologies.

Walls has served as Chair and a member of the Board of the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre, and as a member of the Boards of the Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences Network and the International Mining Innovation Institute.

“I am delighted to have been selected as the next President of College of the Rockies,” said Walls. “The enthusiasm and pride for the College exhibited by everyone I met during the selection process was both gratifying and infectious.”

“College of the Rockies has earned a solid reputation for innovation and growth. I’m excited to have the opportunity and privilege to lead this great institution into a future I have no doubt will be filled with amazing opportunities and interesting challenges,” said Walls. “I’m looking forward to living and working in this beautiful region of British Columbia and experiencing the wonderful East and Central Kootenay communities served by the College.”

Walls holds a Master of Science, Welding Technology and Management from Aston University in Birmingham, England and a Bachelor of Technology, Metallurgy from Brunel University in Uxbridge, England.

He will be joined in Cranbrook by his wife Kathleen, a psychologist. They have three grown children.