CHARLOTTETOWN — Holland College President Brian McMillan announced at a special board meeting Wednesday that he plans to retire from Holland College effective Dec. 31.
McMillan joined Holland College in December 1996 and became the college’s fifth president in July 2005.
“President McMillan has successfully led the college through a time of fiscal restraint and enrolment challenges. His exemplary leadership skills have enabled the college to maintain relevance in programming and instruction while remaining responsive to the needs of industry, business and students,” said Mike O’Brien, Holland College Board of Governors Chair. “During his tenure, Holland College has been able to rejuvenate existing facilities and construct new ones across the Island thanks to our donors, and financial contributions from our provincial, federal and private sector partners.”
When his tenure at the college ends, McMillan will have served as president for 13 and a half years.
“It has not been an easy decision to make, because I’ll miss all the people I have worked with over the years. I have been most fortunate to have received outstanding support from staff, students, Board of Governors, Foundation Board of Directors, donors, government and private sector partners, not to mention my tremendous senior leadership team. Together, we have done so much to make Holland College a highly-respected post-secondary educational institution,” he said.
McMillan accomplishments include being awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour in 2012. He was also inducted into the Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame in 2014, received the Junior Achievement H.E. Miskiman National Leadership Award in 2015 and is an honorary lifetime member of JA PEI.
He has over the years served as vice-chair for Colleges and Institutes Canada, Junior Achievement of Canada and on other boards including Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, Canadian Police Knowledge Network, the PEI BioAlliance, the University of Prince Edward Island, Innovation PEI, Junior Achievement PEI and CHANCES, among others.
The Board of Governors expects to act quickly to establish a search process and details of what will be communicated over the next few weeks.
“It’s business as usual until a successor is chosen because we still have lots to do,” McMillan said.
