President
Dr. Neil Fassina
Dr. Neil Fassina became ¹û½´ÊÓƵ's President in April 2021, drawn to the institution for its reputation for transforming lives and communities.
Fassina holds a PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary and is a chartered professional in human resources (CPHR), and a chartered director through the Institute of Chartered Directors (ICD.D). As an active researcher, he has authored or co-authored a number of refereed articles, a Canadian Human Resource Management text, and pursues research interests in negotiations, applied decision making, and the role of education in shaping societies.
Prior to joining ¹û½´ÊÓƵ, Fassina was the President of Athabasca University (2016-21). He served previously as Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. He has taught as part of his academic career at the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, the University of Manitoba, and in executive environments.
![Neil Fassina, President ¹û½´ÊÓƵ](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_portrait/public/2021-04/fassina_neil_0.jpg?h=bf19d717&itok=C9F5ydc-)
Contacts
Dr. Neil Fassina
President
Email: nfassina@okanagan.bc.ca
Campus: Kelowna
Joanna Campbell
Senior Administrative Officer, Coordination & Operations
Email: jcampbell@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4715
Campus: Kelowna
Provost and VP, Academic
Dr. Samantha Lenci
Samantha was named Provost and Vice President, Academic in December 2023. She brings with her expertise in the design, development, implementation and measurement of complex strategies about teaching and learning.
Samantha’s educational experience started at what was then called Mount Royal College (now University), where she earned a diploma in Early Childhood Education in 1991. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Community Rehabilitation from the University of Calgary in 1995, and returned there for her masters of education degree, where she specialized in adult education and workplace learning. She holds a Doctor of Education degree from U of C, where she has specialized in higher education leadership.
Samantha has spent more than 20 years leading a variety of programs in education that provided leadership, community development, strategic planning, project management and program development during stints at Mount Royal University, Bow Valley College and SAIT. Most recently, she has worked as associate vice president of Academic Services at SAIT. In her new position, she looks forward to supporting and building upon the college’s teaching and learning strengths and working closely with all members of the community to realize the college’s strategic goals.
![Picture of the Provost](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_portrait/public/2024-04/provost.jpg?h=fa98897e&itok=yg7IdHNc)
Contacts
Samantha Lenci
Provost and VP, Academic
Email: slenci@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-862-5628 ext. 4191
Campus: Kelowna
Shannon Hawthorne
Executive Assistant
Email: shawthorne@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4962
Campus: Kelowna
CFO and Vice President, Corporate Services
Curtis Morcom
A Chartered Professional Accountant, graduated from OUC’s Bachelor of Business Administration with honours the year before OUC transformed to become ¹û½´ÊÓƵ and UBC Okanagan (2005). Prior to coming to the College, has been Director of Integrated Planning and Chief Budget Officer at UBC Okanagan and also recently served as a member of the UBC Board of Governors. He has more than 20 years of senior management experience across a range of industries including, education, health, professional services, leasing and land development. At 21 years of age, Curtis was the youngest person to be awarded a franchise agreement of a leading national retailer. By the age of 25, he oversaw operations of 26 retail locations throughout Manitoba. Curtis has also obtained a Chartered Director (C.Dir) designation through McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada.
Contacts
Curtis Morcom
CFO and VP, Corporate Services
Email: cmorcom@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4365
Campus: Kelowna
Tanya Harding
Executive Assistant
Email: tharding@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4205
Campus: Kelowna
Vice President, Enrolment & College Relations
Jenn Goodwin
Jenn Goodwin is the Vice President, Enrolment and College Relations at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ. Her portfolio includes the Registrar’s Office, Strategic Enrolment Management (domestic recruitment and international education), College Relations, Campus Administration, Community Engagement and Careers. Beginning her career as a broadcast journalist in Northern B.C. and Yukon, Jenn then transitioned to leadership in health care in Ontario in 2007. She led communications, community partnerships, and government relations for Providence Care in Kingston for a decade before moving back to B.C. From 2017 to 2022, Jenn was vice president of communications at Interior Health, working closely with communities across the region and provincially. Jenn holds a Master’s in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Journalism and Political Science/Français from Carleton University. She is an Accredited Public Relations professional through the Canadian Public Relations Society and a current member of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Kelowna & District Board of Directors.
![jenn_goodwin_headshot Jenn Goodwin](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_portrait/public/2022-06/jenn_goodwin_headshot.jpg?h=8e8743c8&itok=CZdwYOpQ)
Contacts
Jenn Goodwin
VP, Enrolment & College Relations
Email: jgoodwin@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4534
Campus: Kelowna
Anthony Grzegorzewski
Executive Assistant
Email: agrzegorzewski@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4729
Campus: Kelowna
Associate Vice President, People Services
Gillian Henderson
Gillian Henderson is a certified human resource professional, has a bachelor of arts (Hons) in social science from Manchester Polytechnic, a diploma in personnel management from Suffolk College and has a masters of science in human resource management through Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. She has over 25 years of experience working in leadership roles focused on human resources, change management and organizational development in the public sector. Much of her career has been spent in healthcare environments in both Canada and the UK. Since June 2014 she has been working in leadership roles in the post secondary sector, and prior to joining ¹û½´ÊÓƵ in August 2021 she was the Executive Director, Human Resources at UBC Okanagan.
Portfolio
Contacts
Gill Henderson
Associate Vice President, People Services
Email: ghenderson@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4419
Campus: Kelowna
Diane Adair
Executive Assistant
Email: deadair@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4717
Campus: Kelowna
Executive Director, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Foundation
Helen Jackman
Helen joined ¹û½´ÊÓƵ as Director Advancement and Executive Director of the ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Foundation in 2019. She has over 25 years of experience in non-profit management and leadership, fundraising and partnership development gained in roles in the U.K. and Canada. Helen has a BA in English Literature and Language from the University of Leeds, an MA from Birmingham City University, and executive education from London Business School. Prior to joining ¹û½´ÊÓƵ, Helen was Executive Director UWSIBC, Executive Director Programs National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, and Chief Executive of the Macular Society. When she’s not working with donors who are passionate about education, she’s hiking, skiing or watching her son play soccer.
![Helen Jackman](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_portrait/public/2023-11/hjackman_photo.jpg?h=ab98d8a7&itok=13rMlb7B)
Portfolio
Contacts
Helen Jackman
Executive Director, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Foundation
Email: hjackman@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-215-6029
Campus: Kelowna
Dawn Douglas
Executive Assistant | Advancement & Board Secretary
Email: ddouglas@okanagan.bc.ca
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4774
Campus: Kelowna