[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/minniti_sam.jpg” caption=”Sam Minniti, the new executive director of the McMaster Association of Part-Time Students. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]Sam Minniti has been appointed the new executive director of the McMaster Association of Part-Time Students (MAPS).

In this role, Minniti will lead MAPS' advocacy work with campus partners, levels of government, and have a key role in stakeholder communications. His appointment, which takes effect Nov. 28, 2005, concludes an extensive search that attracted more than 50 candidates from across Canada and beyond.

“The selection process was challenging because of the high quality of the candidates,” said Carole Armstrong, MAPS president. “Sam emerged from the process as the ideal choice to provide strategic leadership as we enter an important new phase in MAPS' history.”

Minniti is well known at McMaster and has an impressive background in university and student governance, advocacy, post-secondary education policy, and program delivery.

Currently the co-ordinator of special programming responsible for the Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership and Peer Helper Program within the Centre for Student Development, he is a past president of the McMaster Students Union, a former member of the University Planning Committee, and a former assistant that provided post-secondary education policy advice to a federal cabinet minister.

“MAPS has always played an integral role on campus as a committed stakeholder in student governance,” said Minniti. “I am excited to do my part in enhancing the quality of life for parttime students on our campus via genuine representation and strong advocacy.”

Minniti holds two degrees from McMaster: a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences (2003) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (summa cum laude, 2004). He is also the recipient of several awards for leadership, including the President's Award of Excellence from the University, admission to the McMaster Honour Society from the McMaster Students Union, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal from the Government of Canada.

Established in 1979, MAPS represents more than 3,000 students in part-time degree studies and programs offered by the Centre for Continuing Education at McMaster University.