As of mid-January, she has taken on a larger role as the manager for the campus while also continuing as Manager of Indigenous and Regional Partnerships for the Northern Region.
“I'm still doing my previous role,” she said. “Now it's just expanded to include the Campus Manager and the Manager for the Mount Waddington region.”
Kerr will take over from Donna Merry, who will continue in her role with Continuing Education and Training (CET).
“Andrea has a wealth of experience, knowledge and community connections and the college is thrilled to have her lead our continued efforts of providing relevant and high-quality education and training to the north Island region,” said Tony Bellavia, Vice President, Academic. “We would also like to thank Donna Merry for her exceptional leadership and dedication as manager for Mixalakwila. She is moving into CET, manager role, and we wish her continued success.”
Kerr started her Indigenous and Regional Partnerships position in June 2023. Through it she works with First Nations Campbell River and North, including all of the numerous remote access communities.
“It's really been my primary role and a big part of that has just been getting to know people and building those relationships, which obviously is a little harder to do with those remote access communities,” she said.
For the new administrative position, Kerr will serve as the Mixalakwila campus point person for everything from organizing convocation to answering programming questions to working on partnering opportunities.
A member of Teslin Tlingit Council in the Yukon, she spent 12 years living in remote communities in the territory. This experience has given her valuable insight into the unique challenges and considerations involved in making in-community programming successful. Her new role will mean building and strengthening those relationships between communities and NIC.
Kerr moved to the north Island in 2018 and prior to her NIC role was the Executive Director for North Island Community Services, a community services non-profit organization on the north Island. Along with her extensive background in senior administration and with Indigenous governments, she has a Master's Degree in Leadership.
“I’ve brought a broad range of experiences into the role,” she said.
“It's a really nice balance because one of the things I had missed working in non-profit was the connection and the relationship working with our Indigenous communities.”
A big part of that job is to help guide NIC in its commitment to be an Indigenous-serving institution and ensure programming is Indigenous-led. The campus also has a new Elder in Residence, Susan Brown. She is from Rivers Inlet and Bella Bella. Her father was Danny Walkus, and her mother was Dorothy Walkus. Her family started potlatching when she was 10, and she’s been involved with her culture ever since.
Brown’s formal education includes Business Management, First Nation Studies and Administration in Aboriginal Governments. However, she feels her real education comes from the cultural influences of the land and Elders. Much of her career has been focused on supporting the growth of Indigenous communities and organizations, as she has held positions in management, administration and research.
A mom, wife and grandmother, Brown considers herself to be a lifelong learner and is excited to join North Island College. One of her main focuses will be supporting the Awi’nakola Program (We Are One With the Land and Sea) — NIC’s adult upgrading program that is open to all learners. Courses are offered in-person at the Mixalakwila campus, and once a month there are land-based or cultural activities, in addition to English, math and Kwak’wala. Students have the option to take one course or any combination of all three courses.
The Mixalakwila campus is at #140–8950 Granville St. in Port Hardy.
