Office of the President
The President and Vice-Chancellor provides overall leadership to the university. It’s their responsibility to fulfill the university’s vision and mission. The president directs the operation of the university, including its academic work, business affairs and alumni relations. They also oversee government relations and engagement with the broader community.
Acting President Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas
Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Dr. Robina Thomas, is the acting president and vice-chancellor of the University of Victoria. Her three-month term runs Aug. 2 - Nov. 2, 2025.
Thomas is a member of Lyackson First Nation. She has Snuy’ney’muxw ancestry through her grandmother, Lavina Wyse, and Sto:lo ancestry through her grandfather, Charles Prest.
Thomas was the inaugural vice-president Indigenous at UVic, as well as the inaugural director and executive director of the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement (IACE) and special advisor to the president. She still holds a faculty position in the School of Social Work where she started her career at UVic as a visiting lecturer in 1998 and accepted a tenure-track position in 2001.
Her research has focused extensively on Indigenous women and children, residential schools, storytelling, Indigenous community engagement and anti-colonial/anti-racist practices as a way of life.
Associate VP Global Engagement
Dr. A.R. (Elango) Elangovan has been appointed associate vice-president global engagement (AVPGE), effective September 1, 2022, for a five-year term.
The AVPGE reports to the president and provides leadership for the Office of Global Engagement. They provide the strategic vision and executive leadership to enhance UVic’s global connectivity and international profile. The AVPGE is responsible for our institutional global strategy and the integration of global aspirations across all university plans.
About the office
Our role
The Office of the President supports the university’s collective vision and priorities by facilitating collaborative action and providing strategic direction.
We work in services of our on-campus community of students, staff and faculty; the campus Indigenous community; and the executive offices and governance bodies. We engage with the broader off-campus community including Indigenous Nations; local and regional communities and organizations; governments and funding organizations; alumni and donors.
Our priorities include:
- Supporting the president and executive to achieve institutional goals
- Being a catalyst for new ideas and opportunities
- Responding to critical institutional issues
- Coordinating and facilitating institutional plans and cross functional activities
- Providing direction and approvals on topics of institutional importance
- Fulfilling governance responsibilities (board, senate, policy)
- Positioning the president as a spokesperson for the university
- Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of students, staff, faculty and alumni
- Responding to queries, complaints and suggestions
As a team of committed professionals, we strive to be welcoming and inclusive, and are dedicated to being flexible, generous, collaborative and open to other perspectives.
Our team
Christina Harris
As Executive Director of the Office of the President, I lead the president's team, provide strategic advice to President Hall, and work with my colleagues across campus to implement UVic's institutional priorities, support priority initiatives, and respond to critical issues.
As Manager, Operations & Governance, I manage the president's team and office, support institutional leadership and presidential committees, and manage strategic projects, priorities and policies.
As Senior Project & Engagement Advisor, I provide project management, engagement strategy and planning, and communications and writing support for the president and major institutional initiatives.
As the Executive Coordinator to the president, I provide executive and administrative support to President Hall and coordinate his activities, including managing his calendar, arrangements and briefing materials.
The Administrative Coordinator provides calendaring and administrative support for the Executive Director and support through the preparation of presidential correspondence and materials, coordination of presidential committees, events, and meetings, and the provision of financial accounting support.
Accountability
DISTINCTLY UVIC | A Strategy for the University of Victoria
Effective September 2023, UVic's Strategic Plan urges us to be creative, innovative, collaborative and compassionate and brilliant—not on our own, but together. The plan articulates the strengths and priorities that make UVic distinct and guides us towards building a better tomorrow.
University plans
Our university plans guide our work with strategic operational targets and direction.
BC Government
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