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Deputy Provost Teri Shearer has decided to retire at the end of 2024 after more than 27 years at Queen’s. Nine of those years have been spent in the Provost’s Office, where she has been instrumental in navigating complex challenges facing the university and advancing numerous priority initiatives, including Queen’s commitment to I-EDIAA. 

“Over the past year and a half, I have been grateful to work alongside Teri,” says Matthew Evans, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “She carries with her deep knowledge of Queen’s and is a steady and astute leader who addresses even the most difficult situations with confidence and composure. She will be greatly missed.”

Dr. Shearer became Deputy Provost in 2016, and also served as Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) for a year prior to Provost Evans stepping into the position in 2023. In both roles, she has worked to improve many aspects of the Queen’s academic experience and community. 

Dr. Shearer’s collaborative leadership style has served her well in every area, but perhaps most clearly when addressing I-EDIAA on campus. She prioritized meeting and engaging with students, staff, and faculty to discuss matters of inclusivity on campus, listening to the experiences of Queen’s community members from diverse backgrounds. 

Within I-EDIAA, Dr. Shearer led several key initiatives, including spearheading the establishment of the Yellow House as a centre for QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) students and equity-promoting student clubs; launching the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE); as well as championing the roll-out of employment equity hiring practices for all staff hiring. Over the years, Dr. Shearer worked to strengthen and support many units in her portfolio, including Agnes Etherington Art Centre, the Human Rights and Equity Office, and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. 

Working closely with the senior leadership team, Dr. Shearer has also managed and advanced the academic, operational, and budgetary goals of the university. She has overseen academic appointments, directed the Office of Planning and Budgeting, and chaired several senior university committees. She played a central role in responding to the 2019 provincial tuition cuts and has been key to managing the current budget challenges. In 2019, Dr. Shearer stepped in to serve as Interim Dean of the Smith School of Business to support the school during a leadership transition. 

Dr. Shearer joined Queen’s in 1996 after completing her PhD at the University of Iowa, where her research interests focused on the social and behavioural consequences of accounting practices. Prior to her role as Deputy Provost, she was Associate Dean of Faculty and an Associate Professor at Smith School of Business. 

“I would like to thank Teri for her dedication to Queen’s and her innumerable achievements over nearly three decades,” says Provost Evans. “I wish her well during her retirement.” 

More information about a new senior leadership position in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) will be forthcoming.