Katy Bindon
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Bindon was the President of Okanagan University College
between 1997 and 2004. She was the only woman to hold the position.
Katy Bindon was born in Toronto, Ontario. She moved to Montreal in 1969 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in History at Sir George Williams University. She graduated in 1972 with an Honours degree in Canadian History, was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and moved to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen's University
where she earned a master's degree
in history in 1974; and a Ph.D.
degree in 1979.
Bindon returned to Montreal in 1978 to teach history at Concordia University, where she was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in 1983. She was appointed Principal of the School of Community and Public Affairs/Ecoles des Affaires Communautaires et Publiques in 1981. After four years, she moved to the Rector's Office as Special and Executive Assistant.
In 1986, Bindon was appointed Vice-President (Academic) of Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. In 1991, Bindon accepted the position of Principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, the West Coast campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland
.
On 1 November 1997, Bindon become President of Okanagan University College
, succeeding Dr. Bill Bowering. Between 1997 and 2004 she oversaw significant growth in the institution, including obtaining recognition from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Under her stewardship external research funding grew from virtually nothing to $6.8 million in 2004-2005.
Along with the Chair of the OUC Board, Ian Wickett, Bindon was heavily involved in lobbying the Provincial Government for full university status for OUC. This intensive lobbying lead to strained relations between the Board and the Ministry and, as a result, the Board was fired by the Ministry and replaced with a new Board in 2001. Bindon, now along with the Chair of the new Board, Dr. George Ivany
, continued her intensive lobbying efforts. Relations between the Ministry and OUC grew even more strained resulting in a government decision to dismiss the new Board in 2004 and replace it with a public administrator. At the same time, the Government announced that OUC would be dissolved, with the University of British Columbia taking over the university operations and the non-university operations becoming the basis for a new community college, which would later be named Okanagan College
. Bindon was dismissed, and replaced by OUC vice-president, Dr. Peter Ricketts
, for the final year of OUC's existence.
Bindon was for a time the President of The Royal University for Women (RUW, which describes itself on its home page http://www.ruw.edu.bh/main.asp as the first private, purpose-built, international University in the Kingdom of Bahrain
dedicated solely to educating women). She was removed as president in 2007 after 18 months and is now a Program Director at Bahrain Teachers College.
Okanagan University College
Okanagan University College was a public, post-secondary educational institution based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It evolved from Okanagan College , and the college's predecessor, the B.C. Vocational School 1963-1965...
between 1997 and 2004. She was the only woman to hold the position.
Katy Bindon was born in Toronto, Ontario. She moved to Montreal in 1969 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in History at Sir George Williams University. She graduated in 1972 with an Honours degree in Canadian History, was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and moved to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
where she earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in history in 1974; and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in 1979.
Bindon returned to Montreal in 1978 to teach history at Concordia University, where she was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in 1983. She was appointed Principal of the School of Community and Public Affairs/Ecoles des Affaires Communautaires et Publiques in 1981. After four years, she moved to the Rector's Office as Special and Executive Assistant.
In 1986, Bindon was appointed Vice-President (Academic) of Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. In 1991, Bindon accepted the position of Principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, the West Coast campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
.
On 1 November 1997, Bindon become President of Okanagan University College
Okanagan University College
Okanagan University College was a public, post-secondary educational institution based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It evolved from Okanagan College , and the college's predecessor, the B.C. Vocational School 1963-1965...
, succeeding Dr. Bill Bowering. Between 1997 and 2004 she oversaw significant growth in the institution, including obtaining recognition from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Under her stewardship external research funding grew from virtually nothing to $6.8 million in 2004-2005.
Along with the Chair of the OUC Board, Ian Wickett, Bindon was heavily involved in lobbying the Provincial Government for full university status for OUC. This intensive lobbying lead to strained relations between the Board and the Ministry and, as a result, the Board was fired by the Ministry and replaced with a new Board in 2001. Bindon, now along with the Chair of the new Board, Dr. George Ivany
George Ivany
J. W. George Ivany was President of the University of Saskatchewan from 1989 to 1999.-Biography:Born in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and physics from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1960, a Master of Arts degree in...
, continued her intensive lobbying efforts. Relations between the Ministry and OUC grew even more strained resulting in a government decision to dismiss the new Board in 2004 and replace it with a public administrator. At the same time, the Government announced that OUC would be dissolved, with the University of British Columbia taking over the university operations and the non-university operations becoming the basis for a new community college, which would later be named Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
. Bindon was dismissed, and replaced by OUC vice-president, Dr. Peter Ricketts
Peter Ricketts
Sir Peter Forbes Ricketts, GCMG is a senior British diplomat who currently serves as National Security Adviser to HM Government...
, for the final year of OUC's existence.
Bindon was for a time the President of The Royal University for Women (RUW, which describes itself on its home page http://www.ruw.edu.bh/main.asp as the first private, purpose-built, international University in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
dedicated solely to educating women). She was removed as president in 2007 after 18 months and is now a Program Director at Bahrain Teachers College.