North Island College is set to have its first Indigenous vice-president.

Kelly Shopland has been the Executive Director of Indigenous Education at NIC for more than a decade. She begins her new role on June 22.

Shopland 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, acting college President Tony Bellavia says Kelly brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong commitment to reconciliation and a genuine student-centred philosophy to this role.

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.

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.

“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,”  said Tony Bellavia, acting NIC President..

“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.”

The college says 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.

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