New dean to oversee NAIT’s School of Trades

Malcolm Haines has been named dean of NAIT’s School of Trades, the largest provider of trades-related programming in Canada.

 
A former student who returned to become an instructor, associate chair, associate dean and, most recently, acting dean, Haines leads a team of more than 350 faculty and staff who will serve more than 15,000 students in 2014-15.
 
“We are pleased to have Malcolm leading the School of Trades,” said Dr. Neil Fassina, vice-president, Academic and Provost. “Malcolm has a long history with NAIT, and over that time has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, academic excellence and advancing applied research within the school. His talent, leadership skills and dedication will help NAIT achieve its long-term goal of becoming the most relevant and responsive post-secondary institution in the country.”
 
Haines first came to NAIT in 1991 to train as a sheet metal worker after graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Alberta. He returned to NAIT in 1997 as an instructor, and last year was named acting dean.
 
“I truly believe there is no better place to work than NAIT, one of Canada’s leading polytechnics, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished in the School of Trades,” said Haines. “We have a greater diversity of programming than any other post-secondary provider in Canada. We are and will continue to be closely aligned with the industries we serve, providing the skilled workers so essential to Alberta’s prosperity.”
 
Haines sees the school’s biggest future challenge to be in managing growth.
 
“We need to keep pace with the expectations of government and industry as far as supplying enough skilled workers, and along with that, attract and retain adequate number of faculty and staff to deliver that training.”