North Island College (NIC) is set to welcome Kelly Shopland as its first Indigenous vice-president on June 22, 2026. Shopland, a member of the K’ómoks First Nation, currently serves as Executive Director of Indigenous Education at the college and will step into the role of Vice-President, Students and Community Engagement.
Shopland grew up in the unceded traditional territory of the K’omoks and Pentlatch peoples and has been part of NIC for nearly two decades. She began her career in 2008 as an Indigenous Education Navigator, working directly with students, before moving into senior leadership roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Victoria, a Post-Baccalaureate Education degree from Vancouver Island University, and a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of British Columbia.
As vice-president, Shopland will oversee student life, registration, recruitment, marketing, alumni, events, and communications at the college, which serves communities across Vancouver Island, including Port Alberni. She takes over from Kathleen Kuhnert, who is retiring after more than 30 years at NIC. “With over 18 years in the B.C. post-secondary system and more than a decade in senior leadership at NIC, Kelly brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong commitment to reconciliation and a genuine student-centred philosophy to this role,” said Acting NIC President Tony Bellavia in a statement on the college’s website.
The appointment marks a milestone for Indigenous representation in post-secondary leadership on Vancouver Island. NIC has long worked to strengthen ties with local First Nations, establishing its Indigenous Education Council in 2005 to provide guidance from 35 First Nations communities across the region. President Lisa Domae has emphasized that education and training can “facilitate lasting reconciliation with Indigenous people and create a more equitable world.”
For students at the Port Alberni campus and beyond, Shopland’s promotion signals a continued focus on making college life and learning more inclusive. Her background in Indigenous education and student support is expected to shape services ranging from recruitment to alumni engagement.
