OUR INSTRUCTORS
Meet Our Diverse and Experienced ITAS Faculty:
The ITAS program is proud to feature a distinguished team of instructors with diverse backgrounds and extensive industry experience. Our faculty members bring a unique blend of practical knowledge and academic expertise, offering students a comprehensive and dynamic education in the field of technology. From working on cutting-edge projects to leading industry initiatives, our instructors share their wealth of experience, ensuring students are well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving IT landscape. Explore the profiles below to learn more about the dedicated professionals guiding the next generation of IT talent.
Graham White
Graham is an alumnus of the ITAS program and has worked for many years as a Linux server administrator, data center designer/operator and network administrator. He is a certified instructor of the Cisco NetAcademy and an advisory council member of the North American RedHat Academy for Linux education. In his spare time he plays in various music groups as a keyboard player and vocalist and spends a lot of time camping and enjoying Vancouver Island.
Allan McDonald
ITAS Instructor and Department Chair
Allan studied Computer Science and Mathematics at Western University and has a Masters Degree from the University of Ottawa. As the president of his own company he contracted to a number of both private and public companies in the National Capital Region for more than 30 years. At the same time, he developed a passion for teaching and taught, developed and administered Computer Science Programs at Heritage College in Gatineau, Quebec and Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario. He moved to Vancouver Island in 2022 to continue to pursue his passion for teaching at VIU teaching programming to both first and second year ITAS students. Allan is also a hot air balloon pilot who loves nothing more than floating lighter-than-air in his balloon.
Brandon Britt
ITAS Instructor and Department Chair
Brandon is an alumnus of the ITAS program, boasting over 20 years of experience in the field of Information Technology. Throughout his career, he has excelled in various roles, including systems administration, solutions architecture and design, consulting, and IT management. Brandon’s expertise covers a wide range of domains, with a special emphasis on Microsoft and VMware operating systems, datacenter and end-user virtualization, cloud computing, and hardware infrastructure. In 2018, Brandon’s passion for teaching and mentoring led him back home to ITAS at VIU. When he’s not plunking on keyboards or keeping up with the latest in IT, Brandon enjoys exploring the great outdoors of Vancouver Island and BC, indulging in activities such as camping, hiking, and mountain biking.
Michelle Ashby
Michelle graduated from the ITAS program in 2015 and has worked for various mid-island companies. For the past three years they have been with Coastal Community Credit Union, starting as their System’s Administrator but leading Automation Development starting in 2023. They also have several Microsoft Certifications and enjoy anything database related. In their free time (what free time?), Michelle likes renovating, reading, spending time with family, vacationing in Mexico, amongst many other hobbies.
Brandon Brown
Brandon studied in the ITAS program at Vancouver Island University, graduating in 2011. He has worked for a handful of companies on Vancouver Island including Input Logic, Dyspatch, and currently Flashpoint where he manages the QA and DevX team for multiple products. He started instructing in the ITAS program in 2019 and also holds his Amateur Radio Operator license.
David Croft
David studied Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo. David has more than 20 years of engineering experience and has worked on projects across domains including virtual reality simulators for the Department of National Defence, ozone layer data analysis for NASA, and software for building modelling and energy simulation.
Bill Dou
Bill Dou, an alumni of ITAS, is a dedicated and passionate full-stack web developer who approaches coding with humility and a love for solving information challenges. Graduating from ITAS, he has developed a solid foundation in various programming languages, web development frameworks, and database management systems.
Chris Oaten
Chris is a graduate of the ITAS program and is currently the Director of Research & Development at ETHOS Career Management Group Ltd. and is responsible for managing both the IT and web development teams. His career has touched on a wide range of IT-related tasks, including small business server and network administration and web development using Laravel and WordPress. Today, his role is largely project management and strategic planning with some web development on the side. He lives in Nanaimo BC with his wife and daughter, and spends his evenings and weekends playing video games and working on D&D campaigns.
Darren Everleigh
Darren Everleigh is a highly accomplished technology professional with expertise in IT management, strategic planning, and Unix/Linux system administration. As the former Co-CIO and Director of Information Technology at Vancouver Island University, he provided visionary leadership, overseeing operations and setting the strategic direction. With a strong track record in rebuilding and optimizing IT infrastructures, Darren’s comprehensive understanding of system administration and technical proficiency in areas like ERP administration, and Enterprise Level IT Systems Management enable him to drive transformative projects. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science , Certified as a Red Hat Engineer and ITIL practitioner, he combines technical skills with a strategic approach to change management and IT leadership. Darren’s ability to deliver exceptional results through strategic planning and resource optimization has enabled organizations to thrive. Outside of work, he embraces an active lifestyle, enjoying running, cycling, swimming, and hiking, which further enhances his drive and solution-oriented mindset.