Appointments
Principal Deane to serve a second term as Queen鈥檚 Principal and Vice-Chancellor
March 28, 2023
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Queen鈥檚 Board of Trustees has reappointed Patrick Deane to a second term as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the university. The board鈥檚 decision follows the joint Board-Senate Principalship Review Committee鈥檚 recommendation to renew his tenure for another five years, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.
鈥淧rincipal Deane guided the university through an incredibly difficult period during his first term, as the global pandemic posed significant safety and operational challenges,鈥 says Mary Wilson Trider, Chair of the Board of Trustees. 鈥淒espite this, he led the development of a new Queen鈥檚 Strategy that positions our university as an inclusive, research-intense institution conducting work with global impact. We look forward to his guidance of Queen鈥檚 towards the realization of these aspirations into his second term.鈥
The joint committee鈥檚 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鈥檚 consultation work ran from November 2022 to February 2023, and gathered feedback from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and many other stakeholders.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to express my gratitude to members of the Board-Senate committee who worked diligently to consult with our campus community,鈥 says Chancellor Murray Sinclair, who chaired the group. 鈥淭he insights gathered through this process informed the committee鈥檚 strong recommendation to our trustees that Principal Deane鈥檚 leadership continue for a second term. I鈥檓 pleased that our recommendation was met with their support.鈥
During his first term, Principal Deane successfully directed the university鈥檚 COVID-19 response, committed Queen鈥檚 to major equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization initiatives, and increased the institution鈥檚 international profile, including through personal engagements鈥攈aving taken on the role of President of the Governing Council with , and, most recently, becoming Vice-President for the Americas with the 鈥 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鈥 a strategy aimed at boosting research-intensity, student learning, and global impact.
鈥淚 am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as the principal of this important institution for a second term,鈥 says Principal Deane. 鈥淪ince assuming the role, I鈥檝e witnessed our campus community exhibit remarkable dedication, resilience, and excellence鈥攖hrough good times and hard times鈥攁nd I look forward to our next chapter together.鈥
Principal Deane became Queen鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 University鈥檚 Vice-Principal (Academic) from 2005-2010.
Read more about Principal Deane鈥檚 reappointment on the University Secretariat鈥檚 website.