From what may be its largest pool of candidates ever, University Council has announced the 10 new members who will join its ranks, starting Sept. 1, 2020. The group, elected by fellow Queen鈥檚 alumni from a pool of over 70 candidates, will join 30 individuals already on the council 鈥 a governance body responsible for the appointment of the chancellor; advising the administration on matters of interest to the university; and serving as a team of leading ambassadors and advisors for the school.
鈥淚t was exciting to see the enthusiastic interest across our alumni base for University Council: a record number of candidates and the highest turnout ever for this year鈥檚 election,鈥 says Chancellor Jim Leech, MBA鈥73. 鈥淚 look forward to working with our 10 new council members who bring a broad range of experiences and diverse perspectives to enrich our future deliberations.鈥
New University Council members include:
- Richard Baugh, MBA鈥14
- Samantha Cheung, Sc鈥92
- Nosa O. Egiebor, PhD鈥85
- Abdul-Aziz Garuba, MBA鈥12
- Bittu George, Arts鈥95, Law鈥98
- Alison Holt, ArtSci鈥87
- Kasmet Niyongabo, Sc鈥11, MBA鈥20
- Precious Nyarko-Antwi, MIB鈥18
- Sari Ohsada, ArtSci鈥19
- Opiyo Oloya, ArtSci鈥83, Ed鈥86
- Kofi Adow, MBA鈥17 鈥 appointed for two-year term
Re-elected members:
- Alison Holt, ArtSci鈥87
With more than 3,900 ballots cast, Queen鈥檚 alumni moved to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion at the upper levels of the university as well. Seven of eight candidates championed by the Queen鈥檚 Black Alumni Chapter (QBAC) made successful bids; many highlighting the importance of widening the range of perspectives provided to the university鈥檚 leadership in strengthening the university.
鈥淎s a diversity and inclusion advocate, I want to use my role on the council to continue to promote diversity and inclusion within the university with a particular focus on attracting more Black students to all programs at Queen鈥檚 as well as increasing the number of Black faculty and administration staff,鈥 stated newly-elected council member, Abdul-Aziz Garuba, while campaigning. 鈥淚 believe that such diverse perspectives will contribute to the academic prowess of the university and enhance the learning environment greatly.鈥
New members typically serve four-year terms on the council, performing traditional council functions and a range of other duties, such as providing subject matter expertise for university executives and deans, representing and promoting the university, encouraging and engaging in philanthropy, and mentoring students. Select University Council members are appointed to serve on important Board of Trustees鈥 committees and six serve as full trustees for three-year terms.
Increased representation within council membership comes on the heels of the May appointment of the body鈥檚 first-ever Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisor 鈥 a role created to promote awareness of EDI opportunities and issues, and to enhance and embed EDI within council policies, procedures, practices. Adjunct Assistant Professor Anita Jack-Davies, PhD'11, has started her two-year term in the new position. She will be responsible for reviewing University Council activity through an equity lens, and for providing EDI advice to the Council鈥檚 Executive Committee and the Chairs of Council鈥檚 Nominating and Program Committees. Dr. Jack-Davies led council鈥檚 inaugural EDII discussion on June 23.
鈥淢y goal in this role is to create opportunities for open dialogue between council members, Queen鈥檚 administrators, alumni, faculty, staff, and students to engage in difficult, but necessary conversations about the significant role that EDII plays at Queen's,鈥 says Dr. Jack-Davies, who also serves as Senior Research Advisor (Research Initiatives, Diversity, and Inclusion) within the Queen鈥檚 Faculty of Education. 鈥淓specially at this critical moment in history where issues of race are being examined and re-examined at all levels of the university and across the globe. I hope to focus my leadership efforts on culture change and on creating opportunities to work with councillors on what inclusive change looks like and the role that they will play, as an advisory body, in facilitating change.鈥
Learn more about the University Council on the .
The story originally appeared in the Queen鈥檚 Gazette.
