Announcements – 2025

The University of Ottawa has selected Marie-Eve Sylvestre as its 31st president and vice-chancellor. A distinguished interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Sylvestre joined the University of Ottawa as a professor in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s in law from the Université de Montréal and a master’s and SJD from Harvard University, where she was a Frank Knox Memorial Foundation Fellow. She has been the dean of the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, since 2019. Her research focuses on criminal law and practices that have a discriminatory impact on marginalized populations. Marie-Eve Sylvestre will be the first woman to lead the University of Ottawa since its inception in 1848. She will take over from President Frémont on July 1, 2025, for a five-year term.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has appointed Bruce Choy as its next president and vice-chancellor, effective Sept. 2. Dr. Choy is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto and chair of the board of governors at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology. A specialist in governance and risk management, Dr. Choy is an independent board director and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director designation. In addition to his experience at George Brown College, he serves as a director of Shinhan Bank Canada and as a board governor of The Long Run Institute, a corporate and public policy think tank.

The University of Regina announced that Cadmus Delorme, B.Admin, M.P.A, ICD.D. will serve as its tenth chancellor. Mr. Delorme has been affiliated with the University of Regina for more than 15 years in various capacities—an undergraduate student through First Nations University of Canada, master’s student, and most recently as chair of the board of governors. In addition to his academic and professional accomplishments, Mr. Delorme is the former Chief of the Cowessess First Nation and founder of OneHoop Advisory Services where he contributes significantly to community development, economic growth, and reconciliation initiatives. His three-year term begins on July 1, 2025.

Malcolm Butler has been appointed president and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HECQO). Dr. Butler is a highly respected leader in postsecondary education, bringing over three decades of experience in research, academic administration, quality assurance, strategic planning and institutional innovation. Most recently, he served as vice-president, academic and research at Saint Mary’s University, where he spearheaded initiatives that strengthened student success, advanced research excellence and deepened community partnerships. Previously, he served as dean of science at Carleton University and in key roles with the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (OUCQA) and the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. Dr. Butler will begin his role on Aug. 1.

John R. Sylliboy of Millbrook Mi’kmaw Community has been appointed the inaugural vice-provost of Indigenous relations at Dalhousie University. Mr. Sylliboy brings lived experience, academic insight, and decades of community-rooted leadership and advocacy to Dalhousie. In 2007, Mr. Sylliboy took up a role with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat, an Indigenous advocacy group that collaborated with Dal to build capacity for Indigenous people working in health care. Later roles include becoming co-founder and executive director of the Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance — an Indigenous collective that celebrates 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities — and as a health research partner at the IWK Children’s Hospital. Mr. Sylliboy began his position on May 20.

Carleton University has appointed Ronald Miller as interim dean of the faculty of engineering and design. Dr. Miller is a Chancellor’s Professor in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering where he served as chair from 2016 to 2024. During that time, Dr. Miller led the department through two successful Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board accreditations and played a key role in developing Carleton’s collaborative climate change specialization. Effective Aug. 1, Dr. Miller will assume the role of dean on an interim basis until June 30, 2026.

Scott Johnstone has been appointed vice-president, administration and services, at Brock University. Mr. Johnstone has served as associate vice-president, infrastructure and operations, since 2019 and has deep experience in postsecondary education administration, complex infrastructure projects and university operations. He began his term on May 2, 2025.

Melanie Woodin, an internationally recognized neuroscientist, has been named president of the University of Toronto. Dr. Woodin is a professor in the department of cell and systems biology and has served as dean of the university’s faculty of arts and science since 2019. She first joined U of T in 2004 as an assistant professor following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the president of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience and serves on the board of directors at the Vector Institute. Dr. Woodin’s five-year appointment will begin on July 1.

Memorial University has appointed Janet Morrison as its next president and vice-chancellor. Since 2018, Dr. Morrison has served as president and vice-chancellor of Ontario’s Sheridan College, where she previously served as vice-president (academic) and provost. Prior to 2016, she held various executive positions at York University, including vice-provost (students). Dr. Morrison is a recognized leader and applied researcher in student experience, well-being, mental health, gender-based violence and community safety. She will begin her six-year term on Aug. 11, 2025.

Mohamed Khimji has been named the next dean of the faculty of law at Western University. Mr. Khimji, who will begin his five-year appointment on July 1, joins Western from Queen’s University where he currently holds the David Allgood professorship in business law. During his time at Queen’s, he’s held key leadership roles, including interim associate dean of graduate studies, associate dean of academic policy and director of the business law program. Mr. Khimji is a former Western law professor and Stephen Dattels Chair in corporate finance law.

York University has appointed Uzo Anucha to the role of associate vice-president, faculty affairs. Dr. Anucha is a professor in the school of social work and the York research chair in youth and contexts of inequity. Her education spans two continents and includes a PhD in social work from the University of Toronto; a master of social work and bachelor of social work from York University; and a BSc and MSc from the University of Nigeria. Dr. Anucha joined York in 2006 as an assistant professor in the school of social work.

The University of Manitoba has picked Stephen Runge as the new dean of the Desautels Faculty of Music and director of the school of art. Dr. Runge comes from Mount Allison University where he was head of the music of the department. He also has over 20 years of experience as a professor of piano. He will start his new position at UM on May 1.

McMaster University has appointed Gianni Parise as its vice-president, research. Dr. Parise has 20 years of research, academic and institutional leadership, having served as acting dean and associate dean of research in the university’s faculty of science and as acting deputy vice-president, research, among other titles. Dr. Parise will being his five-year appointment on July 1.

Memorial University has appointed Jennifer Lokash as provost president and vice-chancellor pro tempore. Dr. Lokash was named provost and vice-president (academic) in January 2025 after serving in the role on an interim basis since April 2023. Dr. Lokash holds a bachelor of arts and a doctorate in English literature from McGill University. After serving as a lecturer at McGill University, she came to Memorial in 2004 as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS).  

Catherine Laing has been appointed dean of the faculty of nursing at University of Calgary. She has served as interim dean of the faculty since July 1, 2024, and previously held the position of associate dean, undergraduate programs from 2018. Dr. Laing’s clinical background is in the field of paediatric oncology and she holds multiple UCalgary degrees.

Athabasca University has appointed Catherine Swindlehurst as provost and vice-president academic, effective April 14. Dr. Swindlehurst has served as chief growth officer at Athabasca since October 2023. She has over 18 years of senior academic leadership experience in Alberta across presidential, provost and research portfolios, university relations, sustainable growth and institutional strategy.

Sandra Gabriele will join OCAD University as vice-president, academic and provost, for a five-year term beginning Aug. 18. Dr. Gabriele has served in several leadership positions at Concordia University, first as chair of the communication studies department and then as vice-provost, innovation in teaching and learning, a position she has held since 2017. Dr. Gabriele also co-constructed Concordia’s first institution-wide teaching and learning strategy and launched a lab for innovative experimentation in teaching and learning.

Mount Saint Vincent University has named Theresa Meuse of the L’sitkuk First Nation as special advisor on Indigenous Affairs. Ms. Meuse spent two years as Chief of L’sitkuk First Nation and was previously an Indigenous educator and advisor. She has worked at several Mi’kmaq organizations including: the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, The Atlantic Policy Congress and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. Ms. Meuse began her new role on Feb.11.

The University of the Fraser Valley has picked Tracy Germaine as its new director of financial services. Ms. Germaine has spent over 20 years working in organizations such as the District of West Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and the Provincial Health Services Authority. She started the position on Nov. 25.

Brian Roy has been appointed associate vice-president, graduate studies and student research, at Thompson Rivers University. Dr. Roy joins TRU from Brock University, where he most recently served associate dean of the faculty of graduate studies and postdoctoral affairs and previously as department chair in kinesiology. Dr. Roy will begin his new position on July 1.

Lakehead University has appointed Aamir Taiyeb as vice-provost, international. An international education leader with 15 years of experience in marketing and recruitment, policy, and partnership development, Dr. Taiyeb most recently served as director, international analytics, experience and initiatives at Canadore College. Before that, he managed the EduCanada brand, Canada’s official brand for international education, with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. Dr. Yaiyeb began his new role on July 21.

The University of Winnipeg has named Tracy Whalen as dean of the faculty of arts, where she served as acting dean since May 2023. Prior to that, she was associate dean of the faculty of arts from July 2022 to April 2023. She worked for over 25 years in the department of rhetoric, writing, and communications, a department she also chaired. Dr. Whalen is a mentor and much-respected teacher at the university. She is a recipient of the faculty of arts Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and has been named by Maclean’s magazine as one of the university’s “Favourite Profs.”

Lakehead University named Gillian Balfour provost and vice-president, academic. Dr. Balfour joins Lakehead from Thompson Rivers University where she served as provost and vice-president academic and chief budget officer from 2022. Prior to her time at TRU, Dr. Balfour served as vice principal and academic dean at King’s University College where she developed academic governance processes, a salary equity study, and a dedicated investment strategy for Indigenization and decolonization of curriculum and hiring practices.

Rene Van Acker, a world-renowned scholar and leader deeply rooted in the University of Guelph community, has been appointed U of G’s 10th president and vice-chancellor. Dr. Van Acker grew up on a farm near Burford, Ont., before earning his bachelor of science and master’s degree in crop science and weed science from the U of G and a PhD from the University of Reading in the UK. With nearly 30 years in academia — including in senior leadership roles as chair of the department of plant agriculture, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College and vice-president (research and innovation) — Dr. Van Acker is widely known for fostering trust and building high-performing teams across the institution. He began his five-year appointment on July 2.