Mount Royal University has named Tim Rahilly the institution’s president and first vice-chancellor, beginning May 1. Dr. Rahilly is vice-provost and associate vice-president, students and international, at Simon Fraser University, a position he has held since 2010. He also currently serves as president of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services. Dr. Rahilly holds a PhD in educational and counselling psychology from McGill University, an MA from McGill University and a BA from Concordia University.
Mark Husbands has been named Trinity Western University’s next president, effective July 1. Dr. Husbands will join TWU from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where he serves as vice-president of academic affairs. He was previously holder of the Leonard and Marjorie Maas Chair of Reformed Theology and director of the Emmaus Scholars Program at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. His experience also includes six years as an assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Chicago and two years at Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto.
Robert Haché has been named Laurentian University’s next president and vice-chancellor. He will assume the position on July 1 for a five-year renewable term. Currently vice-president, research and innovation, at York University, Dr. Haché previously served as associate vice-president, research, at the University of Calgary and vice-dean of research for the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa. Of Acadian background, Dr. Haché is fluently bilingual and holds a BSc from McGill University and a PhD from Queen’s University.
Deborah Saucier has been named Vancouver Island University’s next president and vice-chancellor, beginning on July 4. Dr. Saucier joins VIU from MacEwan University, where she has served as president since 2017. Originally from Saskatoon with Métis heritage, Dr. Saucier made reconciliation efforts a priority at MacEwan. She has also served as professor of psychology at the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, as chair of the department of neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, and as provost and vice-president, academic, at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
The University of New Brunswick has named Paul Mazerolle its next president and vice-chancellor, beginning in July. Dr. Mazerolle has, since 2009, served as pro vice-chancellor of arts, education and law, and is also currently director of the violence research and prevention program, at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. Dr. Mazerolle obtained his BA in sociology from UNB in 1989. He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice at Northeastern University in Boston in 1990 and his PhD in criminology at the University of Maryland in 1995.
Charles Weaselhead has been appointed chancellor at the University of Lethbridge, marking the first time that an Indigenous person holds the position. Mr. Weaselhead is the former chief of the Blood Tribe and Treaty 7 grand chief. As a survivor of residential schooling, he has devoted his life to promoting health, education and economic development issues for Indigenous people. Recently retired, he has worked on numerous boards and organizations, including the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Community Violence Prevention on the Blood Reserve, the First Nations Governance Centre and the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs’ Committee on Health.
Santee Smith, an artist, dancer and choreographer from Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, will become chancellor of McMaster University at its fall convocation in November. She completed six years of training at Canada’s National Ballet School and earned degrees in physical education and psychology from McMaster, along with an MA in dance from York University. In 2005, she founded the Kaha:wi Dance Theatre in Toronto.
Michel Rod has been named dean of business at the University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus, beginning July 1. Dr. Rod will join UNB from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, where he has been for the past nine years – the last three as associate dean, research and international, and PhD program director. He holds a PhD in commerce from the University of Birmingham in the U.K., a master’s degree from the University of Calgary and a bachelor’s degree from Western University.
Michael Phair has been reappointed chair of the board of governors at the University of Alberta. He serves as an adjunct professor with the U of A’s faculty of education, and was the U of A’s director of community relations from 2007 to 2011. From 1992 to 2007, Mr. Phair was an elected member of Edmonton City Council.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, a partnership between Lakehead University and Laurentian University, has appointed Sarita Verma dean and CEO, effective July 1. Dr. Verma is currently vice-president, education, at the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada. She was previously at the University of Toronto as associate vice-provost, relations with health care institutions and special adviser to the dean of medicine. She is a family physician who originally trained as a lawyer.
Demetres Tryphonopoulos has been appointed dean of the University of Alberta’s Augustana campus, beginning July 1. He comes to U of A from Brandon University, where he has served as dean of arts and a professor of English and creative writing since 2015.
Dianne Gereluk has been appointed dean of the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, effective July 1. Dr. Gereluk joined U of C in 2010 as a visiting scholar and then became an associate professor and chair of the educational leadership, policy and governance specialization in the Werklund school in 2011. From 2013 to 2018, she served as associate dean of undergraduate programs in education and previously worked as an elementary school teacher for the Edmonton Public School Board.
Carleton University has appointed Dana Brown dean of the Sprott School of Business, beginning July 1. Dr. Brown is currently the pro vice-chancellor (enterprise) and dean of De Montfort University’s Leicester Castle Business School in the U.K. She was previously director of the MBA at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.