Appointment of the President and Vice-Chancellor
Message from the Acting Chair, Board of Governors
I am delighted to share that Dr. Rhonda McEwen is the next president and vice-chancellor of the University of Victoria.
Dr. McEwen is a respected academic leader and globally recognized researcher, known for turning ambition into action—advancing student experience, building partnerships that matter, and leading through collaboration. She is currently the president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto and Professor, Emerging Media & Communication at University of Toronto Mississauga. She was selected as UVic's president and vice-chancellor after a thorough international search.
Known as a collaborative and transparent leader, Dr. McEwen brings a strong track record in university governance, collegial relationship-building and data-informed decision-making. Her experience, both in the private and public sectors, positions her to lead UVic in a rapidly evolving post-secondary landscape.
UVic is a global leader in interdisciplinary research, and as an innovative researcher whose work spans technology, equity, governance and public impact, this was a significant draw for Dr. McEwen. She is a Canada Research Chair in Tactile Interfaces, Communication and Cognition, studying human-machine interactions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and society.
Importantly, Dr. McEwen is a dedicated educator who believes that students are the heart of any post-secondary institution. She takes her role in preparing students for leadership and citizenship in today’s changing world very seriously and is excited to support UVic’s commitment to experiential and hands-on learning.
Dr. McEwen will join UVic on Oct. 14. On behalf of the Board of Governors, I’d like to thank everyone who supported the search process, and in particular, the presidential selection committee.
I invite you to learn more about Dr. McEwen and this important milestone.
Erinn Pinkerton
Acting Chair, UVic Board of Governors