Wow! I just received the following note from GPRC; Dr. Scott McAlpine will be leaving Grande Prairie to take on a positions as President of Douglas College in BC!
Scott has been a fixture in GP for quite a while and is probably one of the names I'd most associate with the college. More recently he's been heading up a lot of the action at the Centre for Research and Innovation.
Well Scott, congratulations - you'll be missed.
... and in related news a position has just opened up in GP; moderator for all future political forums.
GPRC Media Release:
"It is with both pride and regret that Grande Prairie Regional College congratulates Dr. Scott McAlpine on his appointment as President of Douglas College in BC’s lower mainland.
Dr. McAlpine will assume the presidency of Douglas College in mid-August of this year, leaving GPRC and the Grande Prairie community after over 20 years of commitment to students, to the College, and to a wide range of community-building initiatives.
Since arriving at GPRC, Dr. McAlpine has been “the voice” of political commentary in this region, providing background and analysis to news media during every local, provincial or federal election, and offering insight into events throughout the world.
He taught political science classes on campus in Grande Prairie and was among the first instructors to engage students in more remote locations via video conference, and has always been a proponent of access to advanced education for students of our region. Dr. McAlpine served as Chair of Arts, Commerce and Education at GPRC from 1999 to 2005, when he was appointed Dean of Arts, Science and Education.
Dr. McAlpine has many strong connections with the greater Grande Prairie community, through work with the Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures (formerly SMEDA), South Peace Planning Council, School Boards and Canadian Parents for French, to name a few. As leader of the Integrated Research Unit at the College for several years, and a key player in the eventual establishment of the Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) by the College and PREDA (Peace Region Economic Development Authority), McAlpine has contributed enormously to the research activities of this region.
Douglas College is a comprehensive post-secondary institution with some 8,000 full-time students in programs from upgrading to degree completion. Dr. McAlpine says Douglas College and GPRC have a similar commitment to students and to enhancing accessibility for learners. “That is one of the things that attracted me to Douglas,” he says. “It is all about excellence in instruction and access for learners. “This is a bittersweet moment in my career,” McAlpine says. “I am delighted at the opportunity now available to me at Douglas, and very much look forward to serving as President. I am, however, leaving GPRC at a time when there is great momentum at GPRC, a great energy in the community and in the current leadership team to open opportunities in education to the people of northern Alberta. I will miss being part of this community and this institution.”
Grande Prairie Regional College President Don Gnatiuk says the College is extremely proud to be sending an esteemed colleague to the top role at another institution. “We are very, very proud of Dr. Scott McAlpine. He has been a valued and honoured member of the GPRC team for over two decades, and we are proud that his experience here has helped prepare him for this leadership at Douglas College. We will greatly miss his contributions to our College and our community.”
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