CREDIT: MICHELLE BEAUDOIN AND JEFF WRIGHT PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHELLE BEAUDOIN AND ELAINE GAMBLE
Jeff Wright brings his years of experience as Vice President Strategy and will become Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development. Michele Beaudoin will become Vice President of Student Services.

Fanshawe students and staff are set to welcome two newly appointed vice presidents to campus on Aug. 29.

Jeff Wright, Fanshawe's current associate vice president Strategy, will become vice president of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, and Michele Beaudoin will be Vice President of Student Services, according to a press release.

This comes after a nation-wide collaborative search between Fanshawe president Peter Devlin and advisory committees.

“I am thrilled to have such highly qualified individuals join Fanshawe's leadership team,” Devlin said in the release. “I am confident that Mr. Wright and Ms. Beaudoin each bring a unique set of skills and experience that will help us to ensure Fanshawe's continued success as we move into our 50th year of unlocking the potential of our students,” he said.

Having worked at Queens Park for over ten years, with roles such as director of research and outcome measurement at the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Wright made his way to Fanshawe in 2009, the release said.

He is a candidate in the doctor of education program at Western University, has a post-graduate diploma from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland and a master of social work degree from the University of Windsor.

In his current associate vice-president role at Fanshawe, Wright has given executive leadership in a number of areas including strategic planning, institutional research, government relations and corporate training, the release stated.

Wright volunteered for a number of organizations, including as a member of the Mayor's Economic Advisory Panel, the City of London Community Grants Review Panel and Women's Community House Board.

“I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured to join president Devlin's new leadership team,” Wright said in a press release. “In my new role I hope to work closely with the fantastic staff, to build on an already strong college brand, and to swiftly identify and seize new, exciting opportunities for the college.”

Wright said he will work across the college with students and staff to “develop strategies [to] help [Fanshawe] be a really strong sustainable college.”

His role will also allow him to work with government and international recruitment too.

Wright said his role includes an “outfacing division” that includes creating and “nurturing interest among a full range of stakeholders,” he said. This is “all with a view of helping the college be more sustainable when funding isn't what it used to be.”

“I'm still in shock because I'm so excited and so delighted first of all to have the opportunity and I love the organization and when I come to work it doesn't feel like work,” he said.

“I think we're [with students] just going to do really explosive things together,” he said.

Beaudoin, a London native herself, has been working for over 25 years at Georgian College, where she is currently the associate vice president and dean of students, the release said. She is a PhD candidate in information studies at the University of Toronto and has a masters degree in library and information science from Western University, the release said.

Beaudoin is interested in higher education and wants to “launch confident, skilled students who have a sense of hope about their future and who can see themselves contributing to the world with their unique talents and perspectives.” She has worked on committees such as the Heads of Student Affairs, Coordinating Committee of Vice Presidents and the Heads of Libraries and Learning Resources. Beaudoin is “looking forward to returning to her roots,” according to the release. “I am excited to be joining the strong team of student-focused leaders at Fanshawe,” Beaudoin said. “And [I] look forward to contributing my energy and passion for post-secondary education to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Beaudoin said her role will allow her to work with students and staff to be successful.

“[My role] would influence the direction and provide broader leadership and vision in terms of where the services would go,” she said.

Beaudoin said she wants to first learn and hear from students and faculty to see what their needs are, and see how she can help improve them. She said she'd like to help students and staff “create the path and break down any barriers” they might be facing which are preventing them from achieving their goals.

She also said she believes the school has a “robust and sweet support services” and likes the school's philosophy.

Beaudoin replaces Cathie Auger, who has been with the college for 38 years, while Wright replaces Bernice Hull, who will be retiring after 39 years at Fanshawe, the release said.