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Aurora College says it has appointed an interim president, until a new one is installed.
A news release from the N.W.T. college on Thursday says Nora Houlahan, who is a principal and vice president academic at Yorkville University in B.C., will take over the role starting May 4.
Yorkville University is a private, for-profit school.
Angela James, who began a five-year-term as president for Aurora College in 2024, retired abruptly earlier this month. The college did not give a reason for her early retirement.
The news release says Houlahan brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, and has held various positions at the University of British Columbia, the Institute of Indigenous Government, and University of the Fraser Valley.
Heather McCagg-Nystrom is set to continue as acting president until Houlahan begins her duties.
Houlahan called it an “honour” to be appointed president.
“This is an exciting time for the N.W.T. and I look forward to providing stability during this transition period in the interim role,” she said in the release.
Angela James was not the first person to step down as Aurora College president without public explanation. In 2018, Jayne Arychuk resigned after six years as president and also gave no reason for her departure.
Former chair of Aurora College, Joseph Handley, who stepped down in 2025 – a year before his term was set to end – has called out a poor working environment between the school and the N.W.T. government.
