March 26 2026
Dr. Nora Houlahan appointed Aurora College interim president
FORT SMITH, NT – The Aurora College Board of Governors is appointing Dr. Nora Houlahan to the role of Interim President as of May 4, 2026. She will continue in the position until a new president is installed. Dr. Heather McCagg-Nystrom will continue as Acting President until Dr. Houlahan is in place.
Dr. Nora Houlahan brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education and leadership and has a passion for creating educational opportunities that are engaging and transformative for students. She is dedicated to supporting the growth of applied learning opportunities. Currently the Principal and Vice President Academic at British Columbia for Yorkville University, she previously held different roles at Aurora College, including Vice President, Education & Training; Assistant Vice President, Education & Training; and Director, Centre for Learning and Teaching Innovation.
Dr. Houlahan has an extensive background in post-secondary education, including at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), where she led a comprehensive change initiative to redesign, implement, and evaluate a competency-based approach to municipal police training in the province. She has also held various positions at University of British Columbia (UBC), and has worked as a Sessional Instructor at UBC, the Institute of Indigenous Government, and University of the Fraser Valley.
She feels a deep personal connection to Aurora College as her mother worked at the Adult Education Centre, which was one of the precursors to Arctic College, in Iqaluit.
She holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from The University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from the University of Guelph.
Quotes:
“We are pleased that Dr. Nora Houlahan has accepted the role as Interim President of Aurora College. She brings with her a wealth of institutional knowledge, experience with post-secondary education, and an understanding of and commitment to Northern education.”
– Kenny Ruptash, Chair, Aurora College Board of Governors
“It is an honour to step in to this role as Interim President. As co-chair for the creation of the College’s current strategic plan, I heard first-hand of the importance of the College in the lives of people across the territory and am deeply committed to the vision of a university in the North and for the North. I am inspired by the dedication and passion of the College’s employees in bringing high-quality education and research opportunities grounded in Northern ways of knowing, being, and doing. This is an exciting time for the NWT and I look forward to providing stability during this transition period in the interim role.“
– Dr. Nora Houlahan, incoming Interim President, Aurora College