Appointment of the President and Vice-Chancellor

Message from the Chair, Board of Governors

A search for the next President in accordance with the university’s Procedures for the Search, Appointment or Reappointment of the President and Vice-Chancellor (Policy GV0300) has been initiated. 

University Community Input

The role of the appointment committee will be to recommend to the Board the appointment of our next President. When the committee begins to meet this month, its first task will be to acquaint itself with the requirements of the position and establish criteria for the next appointment. To assist the committee with this undertaking, the university community is invited to provide perspective on the opportunities, issues and challenges facing our university over the next five to ten years and the qualifications and experience we should seek in candidates for the presidency via an online survey. Responses will be considered by the committee as they shape the position description and candidate criteria and will inform the search process that unfolds with potential candidates. Response to the survey questions is requested by October 24, 2025. 

The search will be supported by Brent Cameron, an executive search consultant with Boyden Canada. There will be opportunities for members of the campus community to meet with Brent and others from Boyden to share their insights into the requirements for the next President and Vice-Chancellor. Please watch for more information about these opportunities in the coming weeks. 

Acting President

While the search for the next President is underway, an Acting President will be in place to provide leadership, continuity and stability during this period of transition. The Board is grateful to Qwul’sih’yah’maht  Dr. Robina Thomas for stepping into that role until March 31, 2026. 

Looking Forward

Through a robust and engaged process, the appointment committee will seek to identify and recommend the appointment of an outstanding leader who will work with members of the University of Victoria community to build on our strengths and successes and to further our contributions as one of the best universities in Canada and abroad.

Brian Cant
Chair, Board of Governors
Chair, Appointment Committee for the President and Vice-Chancellor