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Okanagan College Appoints Publisher in Residence
[Okanagan College Media Release, February 13 2009]
 An experienced publisher with a national profile has been named as Okanagan College's first publisher-in-residence.
Robert MacDonald has already started work with faculty members and various departments in the College as a function of his appointment. He's bringing extensive national experience as publisher, marketer and educator to bear on initiatives with the Okanagan College Foundation and the Kalamalka Institute of Working Writers.
"Okanagan College has long recognized the critical importance of the creative industries - especially the literary and communications arts - to the College and to the communities it serves," notes Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. "By creating this position, we are signaling our intention to expand our commitment, and grow our programs and services, addressing an increasingly important sector, the creative economy."
MacDonald is well known in the Okanagan for the active role he has taken in promoting the arts and the creative sector. As publisher, editor and designer of Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home magazines, as a founder and director of the Okanagan Institute, and as an advisor and mentor to a number of individuals, organizations and businesses, he has demonstrated a solid commitment to the creative community throughout the Okanagan.
"In addition, his 30-plus years as a creative and business powerhouse in the media and technology sectors in Canada and the United States promise to help us elevate our engagement and ensure our continuing relevance going forward," says Hamilton.
His experience as a publisher and marketer, and his 15 years as director of the Publishing Workshops at the University of Toronto and the Banff Centre, will bolster existing and emerging College initiatives.
"We look forward to taking full advantage of the many talents that Robert can contribute to our programs and services, and welcome him to the Okanagan College fraternity."
"I am honoured to be considered for this opportunity by the College," says MacDonald. "The creative industries are moving from the margins to the mainstream of our society. The digital age has fostered huge opportunities for creative business. It has reduced costs, given birth to new tools, enabled new business models, facilitated new forms of creative collaboration and generated a new co-creation dynamic between creator and consumer.
"There is also a renewed focus in the education system on how to encourage creative thinking, and on providing opportunities for students and faculty alike to stretch their creative muscles. This is no better expressed than in the dynamic multi-campus, multi-discipline environment of the College, one of the Okanagan's most progressive and valuable institutions.
"I hope to make a meaningful contribution, and look forward to the challenge."
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