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Queen’s Board of Trustees has re-appointed Patrick Deane to a second term as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the university. The board’s decision follows the joint Board-Senate Principalship Review Committee’s recommendation to renew his tenure for another five years, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.

“Principal Deane guided the university through an incredibly difficult period during his first term, as the global pandemic posed significant safety and operational challenges,” says Mary Wilson Trider, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Despite this, he led the development of a new Queen’s Strategy that positions our university as an inclusive, research-intense institution conducting work with global impact. We look forward to his guidance of Queen’s towards the realization of these aspirations into his second term.”

The joint committee’s recommendation was informed by a consultation that sought input from campus community members, and external partners and stakeholders, regarding the present state and future development of the university and on the principalship. The committee’s consultation work ran from November 2022 to February 2023, and gathered feedback from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and many other stakeholders.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to members of the Board-Senate committee who worked diligently to consult with our campus community,” says Chancellor Murray Sinclair, who chaired the group. “The insights gathered through this process informed the committee’s strong recommendation to our Trustees that Principal Deane’s leadership continue for a second term. I’m pleased that our recommendation was met with their support.”

During his first term, Principal Deane successfully directed the university’s COVID-19 response, committed Queen’s to major equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization initiatives, and increased the institution’s international profile, including through personal engagements—having taken on the role of President of the Governing Council with , and, most recently, becoming Vice-President for the Americas with the ’ governance board.

Principal Deane also led the creation of an institutional-wide strategy detailing new goals and priorities for the university during his first term— a strategy aimed at boosting research-intensity, student learning, and global impact.

“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as the principal of this important institution for a second term,” says Principal Deane. “Since assuming the role, I’ve witnessed our campus community exhibit remarkable dedication, resilience, and excellence—through good times and hard times—and I look forward to our next chapter together.”

Principal Deane became Queen’s 21st Principal and Vice-Chancellor in July 2019, having previously served almost two terms as President of McMaster University.

Originally from South Africa, Dr. Deane earned his baccalaureate at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand, before immigrating to Canada where he completed a master’s degree and PhD in English at the University of Western Ontario.

He went on to serve as a faculty member at the University of Toronto, and then the University of Western Ontario, where he became Chair of the English department. In 2001, Dr. Deane moved to the University of Winnipeg where he was appointed Vice-President (Academic) and served as acting president from 2003 to 2004, after which he served as Queen’s University’s Vice-Principal (Academic) from 2005-2010.

Read more about Principal Deane’s reappointment on the University Secretariat’s website.

Note: This article originally appeared in the Queen's Gazette.