The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Board of Governors has named Dr. Jeff Zabudsky as the Institute’s next President.
Dr. Zabudsky’s appointment is the result of an extensive and competitive search following the retirement of former President Kathy Kinloch in July 2022. Dr. Zabudsky joins BCIT at a pivotal time in the Institute’s growth – with extensive capital projects currently underway including the BCIT Tall Timber Student Housing Project and the $162.6 million Trades and Technology Complex at the Burnaby Campus.
The BCIT Board of Governors extends its sincere appreciation to Paul McCullough for his continued leadership in the role of Interim President, a position he will continue to serve until Dr. Zabudsky assumes his duties as President on July 10, 2023.
“With over 30 years of experience within post-secondary and polytechnic leadership roles, Dr. Zabudsky brings an exceptional skillset that will advance BCIT’s impact to our learners and the province of British Columbia,” says Dan Reader, Chair, BCIT Board of Governors. “From our first meeting, Dr. Zabudsky established his extraordinary passion and talent for cultivating innovative partnerships that benefit students, faculty, staff, industry, and government. Both in Canada and abroad, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to growing applied education opportunities for learners and communities – which makes him a valued addition to BCIT.”
Dr. Zabudsky joins BCIT as the most recent Provost for the American University of Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain, having also served as the CEO for Bahrain Polytechnic. Before his career took him to the middle east, Dr. Zabudsky served as the President and Vice Chancellor for Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and President and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic.
Dr. Zabudsky holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, a Master of Distance Education from Athabasca University, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University.
“It is an honour to join BCIT as President at such a significant time in its history, and I give my deepest thanks to the search committee and the Board of Governors for the confidence they have bestowed in me,” says Dr. Zabudsky. “BCIT plays a critical role in economic and community development throughout British Columbia and I am privileged to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading BCIT into this next era of growth. With more than one-million estimated job openings over the next decade in British Columbia, learners will continue to rely on BCIT for the skills and training they need to find fulfilling and rewarding careers. I look forward to working with the Board of Governors, the team at BCIT, our industry partners, and government to advance the important work still to come for Canada’s premier polytechnic.”
