Maureen Adamson has made history with Fleming College as the first woman, Peterborough native and alumna appointed as college president.
Fleming made the announcement on Friday, stating the college’s board of governors are excited to select Adamson as the college’s sixth president.
“We are very excited to a bring Maureen to Fleming,” said Dana Empey, board chairperson.
“Maureen is a dynamic leader with tremendous experience in our sector and others. We are particularly proud to bring an alumni of the college back to assume the presidential role. Her experience, along with her familiarity with our communities, will allow her to very quickly build on the success of the college.”
Adamson was most recently the province’s deputy minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, a 900-employee organization that is responsible for all policy and programming, accountable for the oversight of 20 agencies and attractions such as the Ontario Media Development Corp., Ontario Place, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum. She also established the first ever Ministry of the Status of Women in Ontario and held the position of deputy minister of the Status of Women.
The college noted Adamson has 25 years of “progressive leadership” experience in the postsecondary, healthcare, government and not-for-profit sectors.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Fleming College to its next generation of excellence where students are our priority and our society benefits from the talent that we produce at Fleming. Clearly, the quality of people, programs, facilities and reputational strength, along with our community partners, is a cornerstone of pride,” Maureen Adamson said.
Adamson holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Lakehead University and a diploma in Business Administration from Fleming and is an accredited director with the Institute of Corporate Directors, Canada.
She has been the president and chief executive officer of the Michener Institute, which is devoted to applied health sciences education and a leading academic partner for the healthcare system in Ontario. She also held the position of vice-president, corporate services, at Mohawk College.
From 2011 to 2014, Adamson was the CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, responsible for transformational leadership, strategy, fundraising, advocacy, innovation and research, and clinical investments.
“It’s great to be home and I look forward to working with our local communities and building strategic partnerships within and beyond the region,” she said.
Adamson succeeds Tony Tilly, who will end his 14-year tenure as Fleming’s president on June 29.
“On behalf of the Board, we wish to thank Tony Tilly for his exceptional leadership over the past 14 years,” Empey said. “I’d also like to thank the members of the Board and the college community who participated in the presidential search process.”
Adamson will officially assume the role on Aug. 21.
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