Confederation College media release
THUNDER BAY – Part-time employees at Confederation College play an important role in inspiring the minds of tomorrow, that being the minds of students. Part-time faculty, in particular, see that dedicating a few hours each week to teach can change the life of a student.
Kristina Baraskewich, one such faculty member, has been teaching part-time in the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts for four years and has found it to be an incredible experience. She has worked for 20 years in business and marketing, and is a graduate of both Confederation College and Lakehead University.
Baraskewich was able to continue working full-time in marketing while teaching classes a few hours each week. Her opportunity to share her knowledge with young people has proven extremely rewarding.
“One of the greatest things is giving students information that’s relevant to what they need to know once they hit the workforce,” she said. “I run into students years later and they tell me that something I taught them from our textbook, or something I said in class, helped them succeed at their job. Knowing that what you’re teaching students will impact them for years after graduation is very satisfying.”
Baraskewich also enjoys enlightening students with the understanding that Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario are rich with opportunity. “You don’t have to move away to get a great education or to get a great job in business, advertising or marketing,” she said. “Northwestern Ontario is very unique and even the way we do business and conduct marketing and media relations is different from how it’s done in other parts of the country.”
Jeannine Verdenik, Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development, is proud to see the impact that part-time employees have on the success of Confederation College and most importantly, the success of its students.
“We are grateful for the dedication of all of our employees and recognize the unique skillsets and experiences our part-timers bring to help create a more dynamic learning environment for our students,” she said. “Many of our part-time faculty maintain full-time employment in their field of expertise, which makes it easy to integrate current and relevant real-world examples for students.”
Verdenik also shared that Confederation College strives to provide a dynamic environment for employees just as it strives to provide one for students. “We are always working to ensure we have a diverse employee base that feels engaged in the mission, vision and strategic directions of the College. We offer competitive wages and access to multiple resources, as well as wellness and professional development opportunities.”
Baraskewich noted that she enjoys how professional development is prioritized for employees. “It’s invaluable. There are lots of ways to learn and get involved in College activities in my role,” said Baraskewich. “You get as much out as you put in, so I would encourage part-time employees to take advantage of everything they can.”
Verdenik encourages individuals of all kinds to consider employment at the College. “We look for a variety of differing backgrounds and education to support our part-time needs,” she said. “We hope people will look at our opportunities like we do – as a chance for meaningful career development, while giving back to the community and ultimately, inspiring the minds of tomorrow.”
There are several part-time positions currently posted at Confederation College. Many positions will remain open until filled, but will start to close on August 20. Individuals can learn more about part-time opportunities and apply by visiting www.confederationcollege.ca/jobapplication.
