Don Lovisa was named interim president of Durham College on May 16, 2008, bringing to the position a wealth of post-secondary experience accumulated over a distinguished career in education.
Lovisa joined Durham College in July 2007 as vice-president, Academic, and immediately provided leadership for a number of academic initiatives focused on quality assurance, academic policy development and academic restructuring. All these initiatives have served to reinforce the strong Durham College foundation, positioning the college for future growth and ensuring it will continue to offer high-quality and unique educational opportunities.
Prior to joining Durham College, Lovisa served as dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Among the many other positions he held during his successful 20-year career at Confederation, Lovisa was a trainer, part-time faculty member, business advisor and manager. He was also the dean of the School of Access and Literacy and campus manager at one of its satellite campus locations.
In addition, he was successful in a $5.2-million capital campaign for the creation of the Centre of Applied Media Productions (CAMP); developed many new post-secondary programs; developed and implemented a new program and renewal model, along with a curriculum conversion to performance-based learning; a Students First institutional research project resulting in new approaches and investment in prior learning and recognition (PLAR), student assessment and co-operative education; partnerships with Thunder Bay school boards; and worked in the areas of access and literacy, contract and international training and private/public partnerships.
Lovisa has worked internationally in Jamaica, the Ukraine and Poland where he consulted and provided training and teaching in the area of globalization, market-driven economic transition, international trade and entrepreneurship and business development. He also has an extensive track record of community involvement, including working with chambers of commerce and school boards.
Lovisa has a Master's degree in International Management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Diploma in Adult Education.