On Jan. 3, William Lindsay became the first senior director of Indigenous directions at Concordia University. He has over 20 years of experience as an Indigenous educator and senior administrator, most recently as director of the Office for Aboriginal Peoples and special advisor on Aboriginal Affairs at Simon Fraser University. Mr. Lindsay previously worked in similar roles at the University of British Columbia. He is completing doctoral work at SFU, researching the Indigenization of universities through Indigenous leadership.
At Concordia University, Heather Igloliorte became special adviser to the provost on advancing Indigenous knowledges, on Oct. 1. Dr. Igloliorte will continue to serve as co-director of the Initiative for Indigenous Futures research cluster in the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology. She is co-chair of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Indigenous Advisory Circle and sits on Indigenous advisory committees of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the National Film Board of Canada.
Anita Nielsen has joined the University of the Fraser Valley as executive director, advancement and alumni relations. She was most recently the senior search and philanthropy consultant at KCI Ketchum Canada. Prior to that, Ms. Nielsen was associate vice-president, annual and planned giving, at the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. She was previously director of development for the National Ballet of Canada and manager of corporate giving for the SickKids Foundation.
Cate Dewey was appointed the University of Guelph’s new associate vice-president, academic, in December. She has served in the position in an acting capacity since January 2018. Previously, Dr. Dewey chaired the department of population medicine for 11 years and has been a U of Guelph professor since 1995. She is a two-time recipient of the President’s Distinguished Faculty Award and received the Pfizer Faculty Award for research excellence.
Carleton University has named alumna Yaprak Baltacioğlu as the university’s next chancellor. Ms. Baltacioğlu has had a long career in the federal civil service, holding leadership roles in various departments and serving as an adviser to four prime ministers. She has been honoured by the Public Policy Forum and has twice been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She began her new duties in December.
Bishop’s University appointed Trygve Ugland its new secretary general and vice-principal, government relations and planning, as of Oct. 1, 2018. For the past year, Dr. Ugland served as interim vice-principal, government relations and planning. Prior to that, he spent 13 years as a professor, serving two terns as chair of the department of politics and international studies at Bishop’s.
Gary Saunders is the new dean of science at the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus for a five-year term as of Jan. 1. Dr. Saunders has been acting dean since July 2017. He is a professor of biology and chaired the biology department for eight years. Dr. Saunders joined UNB in 1995 as an assistant professor and has held various roles over the years, including two research chairs.
Michael Conlon is the new executive director of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, as of Jan. 1. Dr. Conlon comes to OCUFA following four years as executive director of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia. He brings with him decades of experience and expertise working in the university sector, including in labour and government relations.
Donna Ellis, a longstanding member of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and director of the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence, was announced as the president-elect of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education at their annual conference in November. Her three-year term begins in March.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council appointed Digvir Jayas its interim president, on a part-time basis, for the period Nov. 8, 2018 to Nov. 7, 2019 – or until a new president is appointed, whichever occurs first. Dr. Jayas is vice-president, research and international, at the University of Manitoba. He has been a member of the NSERC council for more than four years and has served on a number of its committees.
Celebrated writer, volunteer, philanthropist and alumna Anne Mahon has been named the next chancellor of the University of Manitoba. Ms. Mahon, who holds a Bachelor of Human Ecology from U of M, has written two books of oral history and has volunteered her time for numerous causes, including the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, UNICEF Canada and the United Way of Winnipeg. Her three-year term begins on June 1.