The Yukon College board of governors has elected longtime Whitehorse resident Tom Ullyett as its chair.

The election, which took place at the board’s Sept. 27 meeting, was publicly announced Tuesday. Ullyett has two years remaining in his first three-year term as a board member.

Ullyett will help lead the institution through the transition to become Yukon University and the appointment and installation of a new president.

“Tom possesses board and executive leadership experience and has provided a thoughtful perspective to the board this past year,” said Dr. Karen Barnes, the college’s president and vice-chancellor.

“We appreciate his willingness to place his experience in service of Yukon students.”

Ullyett worked for the Yukon government for more than 30 years.

He is a senior member of the Law Society of Yukon, a former deputy minister for the Department of Justice and a former Public Service Commissioner.

He is a past president of the Yukon branch of the Canadian Bar Association and is currently a board member with the Yukon Law Foundation.

Ullyett taught administrative law at the college from 1998 to 2010 and was a member of its Northern Institute of Social Justice Governing Council from 2013 to 2018.

Since joining the college board last January, he has chaired the human resources committee and is a member of the finance, audit, risk committee and presidential search committee. (Barnes plans to retire next spring.)

Chris Milner served as chair for one year, and continues to remain a board member.

Paul Flaherty served as chair from 2012 to 2018, when he retired from the board.

The board of governors is appointed by the Commissioner in Executive Council for terms not exceeding three years, although appointments can be renewed.

The College Act provides for three First Nations members, three community campus members, three members-at-large, one staff representative, one student representative, and the college president (non-voting).

Board members must reside in the Yukon for at least one year prior to their appointments.