Stuart Cullum
Biography
Stuart Cullum became the 12th President of Red Deer Polytechnic on August 2, 2022.
An experienced post-secondary leader, Stuart’s career journey spans the private, public and not-profit sectors. He has spent time in teaching, farming, investing, business analysis and development and over the past fifteen years, in academic leadership within Alberta’s college and polytechnic sectors.
Having begun his career as a high school teacher, Stuart has carried with him a passion for teaching and learning and a deep commitment to a student experience that is practical and connected to the needs of industry.
Stuart and his teams have established programs, centres and infrastructure for research, teaching and learning, company development and entrepreneurship – enhanced with significant community and industry partnerships and investment.
Stuart came to RDP from Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, where he had served as President since 2016. During his time, the College launched a new strategic plan - Growing 2025 and grew its enrollment, applied research activity, and partnerships - while attracting more than $75 million in external investment. The College launched the new Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, as well as the Olds College Smart Farm - an innovation ecosystem for advancing technology and practice through education, training, applied research and industry engagement. During his tenure, the College also launched two new teaching and learning centres for Animal Health and Agriculture Technology.
Prior to Olds College, Stuart served as Vice President Academic and Chief Operating Officer at Lethbridge College, Vice President Agriculture at Northlands, and Executive Director at novaNAIT, NAITs applied research and company development division. He also served in leadership roles with AVAC and Westlink Innovation Network. In addition to teaching early in his career, Stuart also operated a commercial cattle and poultry farm for ten years.
Stuart has extensive board and committee experience. He recently served on Alberta’s Skills for Jobs Taskforce and the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) – Advisory Committee. He is currently appointed to the boards of Covenant Health, the Post-Secondary International Network (PIN), the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Employer Association (ACIEA), the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), and Agriculture for Life.
Stuart is an Accredited Professional Director (ICD.D) and has completed the Executive Program with Singularity University and the Institute for Educational Management Program at Harvard.
Education
- B.A. (History), University of Lethbridge
- B.Ed., University of Lethbridge
- M.B.A. (Technology Transfer Specialization), University of Alberta
- ICD.D, Accredited Professional Director