Michel Tarko was recently named as the new president of the New Westminster-based Justice Institute of B.C.
Tarko has more than 25 years of experience in the post-secondary education system, serving in leadership roles ranging from faculty member to curriculum manager, associate dean, dean, and most recently as the institute's vice-president, academic since September 2009.
Tarko succeeds Jack McGee, who is retiring at the end of September after serving as the institute's president since 2000.
Tarko's five-year appointment culminates a six-month, cross-Canada search for a successor to McGee.
"The board is confident that Michel will continue to lead JIBC with the same integrity and commitment as his predecessor, while bringing his own strategic vision and style," Douglas Eastwood, chair of the institute's board of governors, said in a press release.
As vice-president, academic, Tarko was effective in building relationships within the institute and externally with government officials and stakeholders around public safety education, at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Tarko has also forged partnerships with other post-secondary education institutions in B.C. and international institutions with similar mandates to the institute.
Tarko led the development of the institute's 2010 to 2015 strategic plan and 2010 to 2013 academic plan.
"I am very honoured to have been chosen to lead JIBC and build on the institution's reputation as Canada's leading public safety educator," Tarko said in a press release.
Prior to joining the institute, Tarko served in several capacities at Douglas College, including dean in the faculty of health sciences. Tarko also previously taught psychiatric nursing at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre in Selkirk, Man.
Tarko holds a diploma in psychiatric nursing from the Manitoba School of Psychiatric Nursing, a bachelor of arts degree in criminology from the University of Manitoba and a doctor of philosophy degree in education from the University of British Columbia. He is a member of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia.
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