Fanshawe College's fifth president unveiled: Peter Devlin

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: STEPHANIE LAI
Newly named Fanshawe College president Ret. Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin (centre), is presented with a gift by Crispin Colvin, chair of Fanshawe’s Board of Governors (left), and current Fanshawe President Dr. Howard Rundle.

Fanshawe College announced its newest president on August 6. Effective September 3 Peter Devlin, a retired Commander of the Canadian Army, will helm the College. The Toronto native will become Fanshawe College's fifth president and will replace long-serving president Dr. Howard Rundle, who will end his 18-year tenure at the end of the summer.

“I'm tremendously excited to be here and honored to be joining Fanshawe College,” Devlin stated. “I appreciate the confidence that the Board of Governors has in me, and I commit myself fully to Fanshawe College.”

Devlin's extensive military and educational background, in addition to his experience with managing the Armed Forces budget of $2 billion, will help greatly with educational budgetary constraints that Ontario post-secondary educational facilities are facing.

“What I have been doing over my career is similar what (Rundle) has been doing over his career: developing, growing, and generating enthusiasm and skills in Canada's youth, so that they are positioned in my particular case to help represent Canada internationally or here domestically,” said Devlin. However, the former army commander did admit that he will need some help in understanding exactly what the school faces on the political and educational landscape. “I'm looking forward to working with Howard and the team here to help me better understand the challenges that face Fanshawe College.”

The selection process took over seven months and candidates underwent extensive interviews. Board of Governors Chair Crispin Colvin said Devlin's experience not only in the military but the education system aided in selecting him as the next president.

“His leadership, his integrity, his experience, he's led not just the military but he's been involved in military through the education and the nine different colleges that they have.” Colvin also said the decision was partly based on wanting a president with a London connection.

“The alumni was also a component of it. The fact that we don't want people to just leave and pretend like they've never been here; he was very keen on maintaining the family aspect of it. So all of those qualities tie together.”

Devlin has a long history in London and has B.A. in economic from Western University and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He also has family ties to the college: his wife Judy worked in the Registrar's Office and his father worked in the manufacturing and engineering department. Devlin's decision to relocate from Ottawa to London was based on a promise he made to his wife to return to London.

Despite the bittersweet moment for the outgoing president, Rundle was pleased with the selection. “What he's been able to do in the military, and the fact that he's been involved in education in the military I think has been really good preparation,” said Rundle. “And besides all that, he seems like a really nice guy.”

With such an esteemed and loved president departing, Devlin has some large shoes to fill. “Well his boots are huge, and my feet are smaller than his,” said Devlin. “I'm hoping that my feet, with a bit of time, harnessing the wisdom and the energy in all of the team that's there at Fanshawe will help my feet grow into those boots.”