Newman names new president

Grande Prairie superintendent will head theology school

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Bryn Kulmatycki, the former superintendent of schools for Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools, will begin his five-year term as president Aug. 1. He replaces Basilian Father Jack Gallagher, who is leaving the post after two years.

Also appointed along with Kulmatycki is city lawyer Kevin Feehan as chancellor of Newman College. He replaces Madame Justice Cecilia Johnstone in the largely ceremonial post.

Extensive experience

"I'm really pleased to have been selected and I am certainly looking forward to all the challenges that Newman College presents," Kulmatycki said from Grande Prairie June 21.

Newman Theological College, which shares a red brick building with St. Joseph's Seminary on St. Albert Trail, prepares laity, religious, and ordained ministers for service and leadership to meet the needs of the Church in Western Canada.

Kulmatycki and his wife Shirley, a Catholic teacher, have been married for 32 years and have three adult children and two grandchildren.

The holder of a master of education degree from the University of Alberta, Kulmatycki is currently working on a doctorate in Catholic education at the University of Calgary. He also holds certificates of leadership in Catholic education from Newman College as well as other specialist certificates from the University of Oregon, Lincoln University in Nebraska and Waikato University in New Zealand.

"Catholic education interests me very much," said Kulmatycki, who decided to pursue the presidency of Newman because he wanted to move into post-secondary education. "I thought it would be a good fit for me."

A native of Vegreville who grew up in Lavoy, Kulmatycki began his education career in Wetaskiwin, where he served as teacher and principal for various Catholic and public schools for 20 years.

In 1995 he moved to Whitecourt to serve as superintendent of the Holy Trinity Catholic Regional Division. He served as superintendent of schools for Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools from 1997 until his appointment as Newman president.

"The first thing for me is to do somewhat of an orientation into the various aspects of the college," Kulmatycki said when asked about his plans for the college. "It is somewhat a complex network as if combines St. Joseph Seminary with the college."

He also plans to prepare the institution for its accreditation review with the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.

Leadership roles

Gallagher, the outgoing college president, was appointed for a year in 2003 but stayed for two. He said he enjoyed his time at the college even though "I don't like administration that much."

"I very much enjoyed the people here at Newman," he said. "They are wonderful people to work with. The staff, faculty and administration are terrific and very competent."

Gallagher has plans

Newman improved in a number of areas under Gallagher's watch. "While I was here they clarified the financial situation and they maybe gave a bit of a boost to fundraising," he said. "Since I came our accounting is better and we moved fundraising up to a higher level."

The college also "further developed human and spiritual formation for lay students" and hired a recruitment director who Gallagher thinks will increase Newman's enrollment. "He is looking for financial help for students so I think there will be more of that available (in the future)."

Gallagher plans to stay at the college for several months after Kulmatycki comes to help with the new inculturation program for priests and "give a little help with fundraising."

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