UNBC appoints two senior admin

The senior administration at University of Northern B.C. took a more permanent shape as it announced two new hires.

Tim Tribe, after seven years as chief development officer at Conestoga College in Kitchener Ont., will take on the new role of Vice President Advancement and Communications, formerly titled VP of external relations, starting in July.

Robert Knight, who worked in financial administration at New York University and Saint Mary's University in Halifax, will be UNBC's Vice President Finance and Operations starting April 18.

UNBC president Daniel Weeks said the hiring committee chose from dozens of candidates in each category after "an absolutely incredible response" to the call for applications.

"They're notoriously difficult positions to fill wherever you are. The fact that we had such a outstanding response and high quality applications, I think it just speaks to the reputation of UNBC and the quality of life here in northern British Columbia.

Weeks credited UNBC's maturity and number one Maclean's magazine ranking for garnering such interest, but said Prince George can take some of the credit too.

"It's just such a great example of how UNBC is doing well, but it's the partnership with our community and the attraction of our community that seals the deal," said Weeks, noting Knight has already bought a house here.

Tribe's biography noted that at Conestoga College he launched a new alumni engagement tool, oversaw a 250 per cent increase in total dollars raised, and built an award-winning donor relations program.

Is the hope he'll have a similar fundraising effect at UNBC?

"Absolutely," said Weeks with a laugh, adding Tribe has held the "advancement portfolio" at several institutions. "At Waterloo, he worked in the faculty of engineering. He led the team that raised $41 million on their campaign.

"It’s not about the money so much as it’s what the money can do. The money allows us to support our students and advance our programs and really make us a better institution."

That focus on fundraising and renaming the "external relations" role is a part of the university's evolution.

"Before the focus was more government relations, external relations," said Weeks, adding those things are still important and with some reorganizing will still be addressed, "but in your first 25 years, the focus on those kinds of activities was far greater."

Rob van Adrichem, who became the city's director of external relations in September 2015, previously held the position at UNBC.

"We're more mature, we have relationships that are strong throughout the north and now that our alumni are getting a little bit older, we have a significant number of alumni it's time to begin the process of refocusing and planning for the importance on advancement that so many universities do," Weeks said of changing that role.

Once the two are settled in, Weeks will focus on filling the other two interim positions - vice presidents of research and academic - likely in the fall.

In the meantime, he said it will make a difference having two permanent vice presidents take over for those filling in on an interim basis.

“These individuals will come in and will place their portfolios right square in the centre of their desk and make sure that we’re moving on so many of the initiatives that we have,” said Weeks, who credited the deans and directors for all their extra work. “Everyone’s been doing yeoman's duty. They’ve been stepping up and helping us….When you also have another job, many of the things you’re working on are on the side of your desk.”

Weeks said it's hard to know why UNBC has seen so much movement at a senior level in the last year or so.

"There's a considerable amount of change right across Canada in these roles. The amount of time that individuals in senior positions hold those positions is getting shorter and shorter. They're highly demanding positions, so some degree of turnover is not surprising," Weeks said.

"In our case each one of them was an individual choice and there were different circumstances with each one of those but fortunately we've had incredible people step up and serve in acting and interim roles and we will continue to move forward to fill these positions in a permanent way."

Knight replaces interim VP of Finance Barb Daigle, who has held that position since the summer of 2015. Eileen Bray was previously in the position, according to UNBC's website, until at least April 2015.

"I am proud and excited to join the leadership team at UNBC at such an important time in the university's history," said Knight, who worked in human resources, finance, information technology, facilities planning and construction at NYU for five years.

"The UNBC Faculty Association looks forward to meeting UNBC's new vice presidents and welcomes them to Prince George," said Stephen Rader, faculty president, by email.