While there will continue to be public engagements, meetings and events filling the busy schedule of outgoing Portage College President and CEO Nancy Broadbent leading to her official retirement this November, a favourite event of her 35-year career at the northeastern Alberta college won’t be in her day-planner ever again.

The Portage College graduation ceremonies of 2025, held this past June, were the last that Broadbent will preside over. As the post-secondary school year cycles down through the summer months before launching again in August, Broadbent will be the senior Portage College executive member welcoming students for the 2025-2026 school year, but she won’t be the president seeing them graduate.

It’s a bitter-sweet feeling for Broadbent who sees every Portage College graduation as a chance to create a positive memory for each student.

“It's about warming your heart and giving you that moment that will be indelibly marked on your heart forever. It’s about celebrating those kinds of milestones because that is what life is about,” she said, explaining that the happiness from each grad class warms her heart too. “This is the best part about being President of this institution.”

Her role as president and CEO began in 2019 after a career that started at the College in 1990. Moving from positions in finance and the Registrar’s office to senior leadership roles including Executive Vice President Academic and Vice President Student and College Services, Broadbent says it has been a privilege to be part of such a dynamic learning environment where faculty and staff work tirelessly to create the best “student experience.”

“I am absolutely surrounded by what I believe are the most dedicated employees in the province of Alberta,” she said, listing departments across all seven campus locations that help to promote Portage to new students and markets, that support students as they learn, and help them achieve their full potential in a caring environment while they study. Broadbent also acknowledged the volunteer board members, as well as community and industry support that has continued to grow with increasing student populations. “Not that long ago, maybe five years ago, we were a college of 900 full load equivalent students, and this year we are going to be close to 1,700 or even a bit higher. That comes with a tremendous amount of work from everyone in this institution, and it also has to do with how special the student experience has been here. I want to thank everybody for helping us to grow.”

Leaving the College, her role, the staff, the students, and those graduation ceremonies, Broadbent looks at the quickly evolving world that graduates are facing, and knows they are well-prepared for the journey.

“This college is a community of people helping people. I want to thank everybody who has been along this journey, helping each other as colleagues and helping the students to succeed,” she said.

A hiring search for a new Portage College president is ongoing.