President Turpin Announces He'll Step Down in June 2013

University of Victoria President David Turpin announced today that he will step down from his position at the end of June next year.

Turpin, who will at that point have completed 13 years as president, says the timing is right from an institutional perspective. The university renewed its multi-year strategic plan earlier this year and, by June 2013, will have finished its milestone 50th anniversary celebrations and completed a challenging planning process to accommodate changes in the provincial post-secondary education budget, leaving a new president with a solid foundation to take UVic into its next stage of development.

“Under David Turpin’s leadership, UVic has emerged as one of the country’s leading universities. It is respected internationally for its innovative research and creative activities, excellence in teaching across the disciplines, and commitment to community. The fact that during his tenure UVic has come to be ranked on the Times Higher Education’s list of the world’s top universities is no coincidence,” says Susan Mehinagic, chair of UVic’s Board of Governors. “Dr. Turpin will be leaving a legacy that will power UVic’s continuing rise for years to come. He’s a national leader in post-secondary education and we’ve been extremely fortunate to have him as our president during a crucial period in UVic’s history.”

“I have been extraordinarily fortunate to lead this great institution and I have been honoured to work with a great team of colleagues,” says Turpin. “Serving as president has been the highlight of my professional career. It is an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.”

Turpin was appointed president and vice-chancellor of UVic in 2000. He has overseen a major period of growth for the university, including a dramatic expansion of graduate education. Under his leadership, UVic established a major emphasis on Indigenous issues and study that has resulted in a significant increase in Aboriginal student enrolment.

Research funding to UVic has quadrupled during his tenure and UVic was successful in securing more than $180 million in funding for the VENUS and NEPTUNE ocean observatory projects. Turpin championed the establishment of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at the university, securing a $90-million endowment—the largest single contribution to a university endowment in Canadian history.

A biologist, he is one of the most highly cited scholars in Canada and was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 1998 for his contributions to science. In 2010, he was appointed to the Order of Canada for “his contributions to education in Canada as a scholar, scientist and administrator.”

High-resolution photo available upon request

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