OTTERBURNE, MB – As things are shaping up at Providence for Fall 2021, and as we anticipate a return to in-person classes for many of our students, we’d like to give you a few updates.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Providence highly encourages all students and employees to receive full vaccination before September. It is our hope that physical distancing and mask requirements will be lifted as vaccine uptake increases.
Welcome Week
We’re planning a fun-packed week of on-campus activities, starting on September 5th as our returning residence students move-in. It will include a variety of activities such as campus tours, chapels, orientation, ProvCup games, ‘Meet Your Neighbor’ ice cream party, bonfires, and a free BBQ/concert featuring Winnipeg band ‘Bold as Lions.’ You can view a full schedule here.
New Faculty Placements
Our Providence community is greatly encouraged by the incoming faculty hires. Some of whom include Dr. Tim Perry (Theology), Dr. David Iremadze (Business) and Dr. Ibiyemi Arowolo (Psychology).
Provost Pro Tem, Dr. Nicholas Greco, has this to say about our three newest employees, “We are so excited to welcome a number of new faculty to Providence. These faculty bring new insights and new perspectives to Providence’s academic program, and I can’t wait to see how they make a positive impact on our students throughout the coming year.”
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Many alumni, staff and faculty will be familiar with REV. DR. TIM PERRY, OUR NEW SEMINARY DEAN. Previously, he served at Providence as the Associate Professor of Theology in both our University College (1998 to 2009) and Seminary (2010 to 2011). He received his Doctorate in Theology in 1996 from Durham University (UK). Since leaving Providence, Dr. Perry spent five years as Incumbent at The Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury, ON and served as Lead Pastor of New Hope Community Church, in Shawville QC. While in ministry, he taught sessionally for several institutions including Nashotah House, Laurentian University, Saint Paul University and Trinity School for Ministry. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor at SPU and TSM. Dr. Perry’s experience working in the Church as well as for other educational institutions will bring a well-rounded viewpoint and added wisdom to his new role as the Dean of Seminary at Providence.
Alumnus Tristan Sandulak (BA in Theological Studies 2006) recalls, “Dr. Perry was an engaging, rigorous, and charitable teacher with a dry wit, keen insight, and sometimes intimidating command of both the art and subject-matter of his vocation. It has been over a decade since I studied with him, yet I continue to observe his influence in my life today.”
Dr. Perry met his wife, Rachel, at Providence and they’ve been married for 22 years. Together, they have three children: Calvin (19), Sara (17) and Hugh (15).
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DR. DAVID (DAVIT) IREMADZE, OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF THE BULLER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, brings a passion for Christian faith-infused business education and enthusiasm to further develop the Buller School of Business programming. Over the last 16 years, he has taught a wide variety of courses in entrepreneurship, management, international business, strategy, marketing, and economics at postsecondary institutions in Canada, France, and (the country of) Georgia. Dr. Iremadze has more than six years of experience leading university business programs. He has also implemented a variety of entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial projects over the last 25 years.
Some past portfolio projects include: delivery of organizational training and management development workshops; development of international education partnerships; leading university program review, strategic planning, curriculum redesign and new program development efforts; providing third party university program accreditation consulting services; seasonal and specialty retail venture development; delivering consulting service for a shipyard manufacturing plant reactivation and turnaround planning; and other non-profit and for-profit entrepreneurial concept development and implementation.
Dr. Iremadze has served as a volunteer Church Parish Council member for Halifax, NS and Calgary, AB. As a lifelong member of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, an educator, and an entrepreneur-at-heart, he has engaged in extensive reflection on the role of Christian faith in business and business education, culminating in his PhD dissertation research at Sobey School of Business (SMU, Halifax, NS) entitled Towards a Better Understanding of Christian Social Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Iremadze has been married to Maia for 27 years whose post secondary background is in jurisprudence. She has been Dr. Iremadze’s business partner in various retail ventures and has also worked as a university administrative staff member. They have five children: Luke (25), Miriani (15), Maryam (7), Elene (5), and Gabriel (3).
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DR. IBIYEMI AROWOLO, OUR NEW ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, is a graduate of Psychology from Nottingham Trent University (UK). Her background includes more than 10 years of teaching, mentoring, hands-on and managerial experience in providing life skills and support services to youth, students as well as individuals that are psychologically vulnerable.
She has experience in organizing and leading caseloads and programs to ensure achievement of treatment objectives. Her current areas of research interest are: clinical psychology topics, acquired brain injury and mood disorders. She has provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities such as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Downs Syndrome, Angelman’s Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Before joining Providence, Dr. Arowolo was an instructor at the University of Winnipeg. She is a review editor at Frontiers in Psychiatry- Psychological Therapies.
Dr. Arowolo is married and mother to a beautiful daughter. She is an active member of her local church where she mentors youth, particularly those who may be experiencing identity/role confusion. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family exploring nature.
