Harrison Applin was named the new dean of the newly established School of Health and Community Services at Medicine Hat College. -- SUBMITTED PHOTO
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
Harrison Applin is ready to start a new chapter in Medicine Hat.
Applin was recently named dean of the newly established School of Health and Community Services at Medicine Hat College. He will be moving to the Hat for the beginning of the school year – something he is excited for.
“I think this is a really exciting place to be,” said Applin. “With everything that is going on in the world, I think this role is really interesting and important.
“Health is always changing and it’s ongoing, and right now especially, I think people are looking at what they can do within the health field.”
Applin says he was ecstatic to hear he got the job.
“I applied because of the strong leadership at Medicine Hat College,” he said. “With good leadership, you can do just about anything.”
Applin is from rural Newfoundland and has worked in a wide variety of health and education positions around the county.
He holds a PhD in nursing, a Master of Education in educational policy and a bachelor of science from University of Alberta. He is now pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School.
Being from a rural community, Applin says he will be a good fit for the job.
“I have a good grasp on the rural culture and rural experience,” he said. “I don’t think enough people have the understanding that post-secondary is for them.
“From what I understand, Medicine Hat College wants education to be accessible and feasible, and they want people to know that education can work for them.
“Education puts people in a great spot to succeed in life and it is something people can fall back on when they need to.”
As an Indigenous scholar, Applin says he will reach out to Indigenous communities in the area as well.
Although he has not moved here yet, Applin says he has heard good things the city, the weather and the history of the area.
“I’m excited to move to Medicine Hat,” he said. “I’m excited for the move and to get to know people, and to get to work.”
