Brock University’s new president on the job
He’s still moving into his office atop the Schmon Tower, but Brock University’s new president already has his hands full.
Gervan Fearon said at the top of his agenda is the completion of a comprehensive strategic plan for university operations that will touch most aspects of Brock’s operations.
The plan was started by interim president Tom Taves, but it will be up to Fearon to finish and implement it.
“It’s only my second day, so obviously there is still a great deal of work to do,” Fearon said in an interview Wednesday. “We have to do a comprehensive consultation process (about the strategic plan) at the university.”
The five-year plan will, among other things, ensure that Brock is a top post-secondary choice for students, Fearon said.
Fearon started his job on Tuesday, stopping to meet students on campus.
He comes to Brock from Brandon University in Manitoba, where he served as president.
Brock, with a student body of about 18,000 people, is a significantly larger institution than Brandon, which has just more than 3,000 students.
However, Fearon said he is no stranger to large campuses, having worked as dean of continuing education at Ryerson University in Toronto and associate dean of liberal and professional studies at York University.
Fearon has also worked as an analyst with the treasury board at the Ontario Ministry of Finance and the executive assistant to the deputy minister of agriculture.
Fearon said there are some unique features of Brock University he is look forward to adapting to.
“Brock, as you know, is one of the few universities in Canada with a UNESCO World Biosphere designation,” he said.
He also said he wants to further not just Brock’s mission of improving post-secondary education in Niagara, but strengthening Brock’s role in helping build Niagara’s economy.