David Sylvester has been appointed president and vice-chancellor of the University of St. Michael’s College, or USMC, affiliated with the University of Toronto. His first five-year term takes effect Aug. 1. Dr. Sylvester will join USMC from King’s University College at Western University, where he has served as the principal since 2009. Dr. Sylvester also served for a decade as the founding president of Corpus Christi College and as the principal of St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia. Alongside his presidential appointment at USMC, Dr. Sylvester will be a full professor, teaching stream, in the medieval studies program that USMC sponsors for the faculty of arts and science at U of T. His research as a historian focuses on the nature of community in the Middle Ages.
Leo Groarke has been reappointed for a second five-year term, starting July 1, as president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. Since Dr. Groarke’s arrival in 2014, Trent has ushered in a new student centre and seen the revitalization of the Bata Library and the development of the Cleantech Commons. Dr. Groarke previously served as vice-president, academic, and provost at the University of Windsor, and as principal and vice-president of the Brantford campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.
Carleton University has named Benoit-Antoine Bacon its next president and vice-chancellor, beginning July 1. Dr. Bacon joins Carleton from Queen’s University, where he was provost and vice-principal, academic. Prior to that, he served as provost and vice-president of academic affairs at Concordia University in his hometown of Montreal. His first academic appointment was at Bishop’s University, where he served in several leadership positions, including dean of arts and science, and associate vice-principal, research. Dr. Bacon will also hold a tenured position as a professor in Carleton’s department of psychology. His research specialty is the neurophysiological and cognitive bases of visual perception.
Michael Goldbloom has been appointed to a third five-year term as principal and vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University, as of July 1. Prior to joining Bishop’s in 2008, Mr. Goldbloom served as vice-principal of public affairs at McGill University. A lawyer by training, Mr. Goldbloom is a former publisher of the Toronto Star and the Montreal Gazette. He was recently appointed chair of the board of directors of CBC/Radio-Canada. That appointment, described by Bishop’s in a statement as a volunteer position with a modest stipend, took effect in April and comes with a five-year renewable term.
Lynn Taylor is the recipient of the 2018 Christopher Knapper Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Dr. Taylor retired last year as the University of Calgary’s inaugural vice-provost, teaching and learning, a role she assumed in 2012. She also led the growth of teaching and learning centres at the University of Manitoba and Dalhousie University. She has served on STLHE’s board and co-founded the Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, as well as the Educational Developers Caucus, of which she was the first vice-chair of professional development.