Longtime Oliver resident Janet Shaw will receive Honorary Fellow status at the College’s Summer Convocation ceremony on June 28 at 6 p.m. in Kelowna.

Shaw has deep roots in the South Okanagan as a post-secondary advocate, policy maker and devoted volunteer. She led Okanagan College’s Board of Governors in the role as Chair from 2006-09 and previously served Okanagan University College’s Board in the role of Vice Chair.

Shaw was first appointed to the OUC Board in 2001 and spent the next eight years enhancing Board processes. Upon retiring from the College Board in 2009 Shaw was highly respected among her colleagues both on the Board and within the College for her contribution to developing the College’s Board governance model.

The former registered nurse has spent many years advancing the needs of education in the province both in her roles at the College and through her volunteer work in the K-12 system. Her involvement in education comes from a deep personal philosophy in the value of education and training.

Shaw has been instrumental in shaping a sector at a time when advanced education in British Columbia has been undergoing significant changes. She helped coalesce the Boards of British Columbia’s colleges and refine their approach to sector advocacy and policy development.

Prior to her work in post-secondary and in board governance, Shaw served as mayor and as a councilor for the District of Logan Lake. She has been involved in a number of volunteer organizations and is the current president of Desert Valley Hospice Society.