Yukon government appoints five to the Yukon College Board of Governors

Whitehorse – The Government of Yukon has appointed Kluane Adamek, Alyce Johnston, Vera Holmes, Mary Samolczyk and Matthew Landry to the Yukon College Board of Governors.

Kluane Adamek was nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations. She is a Kluane First Nation citizen and alumni of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship focusing on northern education. A former advisor to the National Chief, Assembly of First Nations, Adamek currently serves her community as co-founder and co-chair of Our Voices, an organization that supports Northern Indigenous emerging leaders, and is a member of the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers.

Alyce Johnson was nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations. She is a Kluane First Nation citizen who holds a Master of Education from the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D in Indigenous Studies from Trent University. Johnson is a former principal at Denetia Elementary School in Lower Post, B.C., and was an assistant professor and adjunct faculty member at the University of Northern British Columbia from 2010 to 2013.

Vera Holmes was nominated by the Yukon College Dawson City Campus Committee. She is a resident of Dawson City who serves her local and the wider Yukon community in a number of ways. Holmes has been chair of the Yukon College Dawson City campus committee since 2012, sits on the Klondike Training Trust Fund committee and Yukon Child Care Board of Directors, and is a Yukon Hospital Corporation Trustee.

Mary Samolczyk was nominated by Yukon College staff and faculty. She is an instructor for the Geological Technology diploma program and holds a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Calgary.

Matthew Landry was nominated by the Yukon College Student Union (YCSU). He is currently a student in the Business Administration diploma program and serves as vice president internal on the YCSU executive.

Adamek, Johnson, Holmes and Samolczyk will each serve a three-year term. Landry’s term will end in March 2017 when he is expected to graduate.

“These five new members will bring a fresh mix of ideas and perspectives to the Yukon College Board,” said Patti Balsillie, Interim Chair of the Board of Governors. “We welcome their perspectives, enthusiasm and diverse experience.”

The Yukon College Board of Governors consists of 12 members appointed by the Yukon Government. The College Act provides for three First Nations members, three Community Campus members, three members-at-large, one staff representative, one student representative, and the College President (non-voting).