Briercrest College and Seminary has announced alumnus Michael Pawelke will become it’s new president.
“I will be overseeing the institution, working very closely with a cabinet of leaders and representing the school within the larger landscape and community at large,” Pawelke told the Times-Herald following the announcement Monday. “We have a great team of leaders, a very strong faculty and our curriculum is outstanding.”
Pawelke, who has served on Briercrest’s Board of Directors for the past ten years, succeeds Dwayne Uglem, who is concluding his eighth year in the position.
For Briercrest, Pawelke had nothing but praise.
“I have such a high regard for the school. I believe what it has contributed to the landscape, both in Saskatchewan and the country at large, is very positive,” he said. “I’m really excited about the environment, the calibre of students and the calibre of the faculty.”
But, Pawelke said, the job will not be without it’s challenges.
“I will be managing the culture of the school ... (and) growing the relationship with the community at large and the province,” he said, mentioning the school’s endeavour to become a full-fledged, “unambiguous” degree granting institution.
Pawelke acknowledged that the school environment will be a new one for him — he has served almost two decades as a pastor — but said he is confident in his ability, and the abilities of the team around him, to handle it.
“I’ll be on a great growth curve, but I have a great team,” he said.
