Kelly Shopland will become North Island College’s first Indigenous vice-president.

For more than a decade, she has been the Executive Director of Indigenous Education at NIC. On June 22, she starts a new role, as she will become Vice-President, Students and Community Engagement. The position oversees roles in the college such as student life, registration, recruitment, marketing, alumni, events and communications.

“With over 18 years in the B.C. post-secondary system and more than a decade in senior leadership at NIC, Kelly brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong commitment to reconciliation and a genuine student-centred philosophy to this role,” said Tony Bellavia, acting NIC President.

Shopland is a member of the K'ómoks First Nation who grew up in the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks and Pentlatch peoples. She started at NIC in 2008, beginning her career in frontline student services as an Indigenous Education Navigator before advancing steadily into senior leadership.

“It is an honour to accept this position, and I look forward to collaborating even more closely with President Lisa Domae and the rest of the Leadership Team,” she said. “My work is deeply rooted in community engagement and partnership. Through working collaboratively, I will continue to strengthen the connections between NIC and the communities we serve.”

Since 2015, Shopland has served as the Executive Director of Indigenous Education where she has provided strategic oversight across NIC campuses. Her responsibilities have included oversight of NIC’s co-strategic plan Working Together, as well as the development of programs, services and partnerships that support Indigenous learners and communities throughout the NIC region. She has built and sustained strong relationships with First Nations, Métis communities and regional organizations to support in-community programming, place-based learning and pathways that reflect community-identified priorities.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Victoria, a Post-Baccalaureate Education degree from Vancouver Island University and a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.

Shopland will be taking over from Kathleen Kuhnert, who is retiring after more than 30 years of service at NIC.

“Kathleen has been an exceptional leader and a deeply respected colleague, unwavering in her commitment to putting students at the heart of everything she does,” Bellavia said. “Her approach has shaped our community in ways that will be felt for years to come, and we wish her all the very best in this well-deserved next chapter.”

There is more information on the Leadership Team on the NIC website under Leadership and Governance.