Stuart Cullum resigns as President of Olds College

Stuart Cullum has announced he will be leaving his position as President of Olds College at the end of July 2022 to take the role as President of Red Deer Polytechnic. 

Stuart joined Olds College in 2016 and was later appointed the College’s 13th President in July 2017.  During his five-year tenure as President, Stuart led Olds College through unprecedented growth and development by strengthening the College’s engagement with internal and external stakeholders and elevating Olds College’s profile as a national postsecondary and applied research leader in agriculture and technology.

“My time with Olds College has been exciting, challenging and rewarding,” says Cullum.  “Together, our College community has grown our programming, enrollment, applied research, land base, partnerships, donations, investments, and without question, our impact. We have set the bar for what it means to be a focused, industry relevant post-secondary institution and have established an ecosystem for Alberta’s agriculture industry to advance and lead – like no other in Canada in my opinion.”

Some of the achievements during Stuart’s tenure with Olds College are as follows:

• Launched the Olds College Strategic Plan: Growing 2025.

• 12% increase in enrolment including a doubling of international enrolment.

• Implementation of the College’s first Indigenous Relationship Building Strategy and Action Plan.  

• Creation of the Olds College Smart Farm that included doubling of the College’s land base to 3,600 acres.

• Established the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology and the creation of the College’s inaugural ag-tech credentials.

• Facilitated hundreds of partnerships and donor relationships that resulted in over $95 million in new revenue and investments with industry, government and the giving public. 

• Generated $30+ million in applied research funding and increased annual applied research funding by over 300%.

• Implemented the Campus Master Plan and initiated over $35 million in new facility construction including the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, Animal Health Education Centre, Ag Tech Learning Hub, and Smart Farm Operations Centre (farm shop). 

• Championed and supported the creation of the Olds College Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Leona Staples, Chair of the Olds College Board of Governors, recognizes the immense impact and contribution of President Cullum during the past six years.  

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Stuart for his leadership over the past six years,” says Staples.  “Under his Presidency, Olds College has grown and solidified its identity and place within the post-secondary system and the broader agriculture sector,” explains Staples.  “Producers, businesses, and most importantly, our students, have benefited from his innovative and tireless leadership…please join me in congratulating Stuart as he accepts this exciting next step on his leadership journey.”

Staples continues, “the recruitment and onboarding of the President is the most important task that falls under the purview of the Board, and I look forward to providing additional information in the coming weeks as we launch the search for the 14th President of Olds College.”