Seasoned fundraiser and community leader Anthony Johnson began his new role as Executive Director of the Dawson College Foundation on Sept. 8. Most recently, he served as Interim Executive Director of AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM). Passionate about animal welfare, Anthony spent many years with the Montreal SPCA, where he helped raise more than $40 million in support of the organization’s mission.

“The energy of Dawson is what attracted me to the role,” Anthony said. “Of all the beneficiaries I have fundraised for in the past, young people are uniquely able to change the direction of their whole lives based on the Foundation’s work. I want to be a part of making students’ lives richer.”

Anthony wants current students, faculty, staff, retirees, and alumni to know that he is here to support them.

“I’m here to help,” he said. “I want to be a resource for the Dawson community as it works to achieve its goals.”

Anthony recognizes Dawson’s important role in Montreal and Quebec: “Dawson is uniquely placed to offer English-language education to a diverse group of students in a magnificent urban campus setting. The College is at the heart of the city, and you can see its impact every day in the more than 100,000 alumni who help make Montreal more vibrant and dynamic. This is the work that Dawson continues to do year after year.”

One of Anthony’s immediate priorities is building relationships with donors and learning what inspires their philanthropy.

“I also need to get to know the Dawson community really well and understand its needs, successes, and challenges. This will help the Foundation plan better,” he said.

Anthony and the Foundation’s Board of Directors are working toward a vision of making the Foundation “the best-performing, most renowned and sustainable philanthropic organization advancing higher education in the college network.”

As Executive Director, Anthony is responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s programs and initiatives, cultivating relationships with donors and partners, and supporting the long-term growth of the Foundation’s assets. His goal is to help the Foundation grow sustainably so that it can support more students, strengthen connections with alumni, donors, partners, and the broader community, and continue building on Dawson’s legacy.

Toby Harper-Merrett, Director General of Dawson College, is enthusiastic about welcoming Anthony and sees an exciting future for the Foundation: “I see the Foundation as both a builder of Dawson’s future and a champion of its institutional identity. As well as fundraising and delivering programs, a strong Foundation helps cultivate lifelong connections with alumni, fosters pride within the College, and creates opportunities for the community to remain engaged with Dawson’s successes.

“The relationship between the College and the Foundation is a collaborative and coordinated partnership. The Foundation supports the College through philanthropy and community engagement, while the College delivers the mission and impact that inspires support. The Foundation enhances the student experience and advances strategic priorities while strengthening the pride and sense of community that make Dawson an enduring institution for generations of students and alumni.”