Universities Canada welcomes Mike Mahon as board chair
OTTAWA – Mike Mahon, president of the University of Lethbridge, was elected Chair of Universities Canada’s board of directors today during the association’s fall membership meeting in Ottawa.
“Mike Mahon is an outstanding academic leader with a particular passion for improving the student experience, advancing reconciliation and pursuing research excellence,” said Paul Davidson, Universities Canada president.
“I am honoured to have this new opportunity to work with my colleagues across Canada to advance the role of universities in building a better Canada,” said Dr. Mahon. “Now is Canada’s moment, and I look forward to working with university leaders to build Canada’s reputation as a global leader in research and innovation, prepare our next generation and strengthen Canadian communities.”
Dr. Mahon succeeds outgoing board chair Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, president of the University of Calgary, who held the position since 2015. “We have been very fortunate to have Dr. Cannon lead the university community. She launched our commitments to Canadians, advocated successfully for new research investments and helped position Canada’s universities internationally in this period of global change,” Davidson said.
Dr. Mahon was named the sixth president and vice-chancellor of the University of Lethbridge in 2010 and was reappointed for a second term beginning July 1, 2015. Dr. Mahon’s past roles with Universities Canada include board member and chair of the governance committee.
APPENDIX A
Universities Canada’s 2017-2018 board of directors:
Universities Canada also welcomed three new board members today: Meric Gertler, president of the University of Toronto; Alan Shepard, president of Concordia University; and Annette Trimbee, president of the University of Winnipeg.
Dr. Gertler is one of the world’s foremost urban theorists and policy practitioners whose research focuses on the geography of innovative activity and the economies of city-regions. Dr. Shepard has an extensive track record of leadership roles at several prestigious universities, including Ryerson University, the University of Guelph and institutions in both Texas and Virginia. Dr. Trimbee, an aquatic ecologist, comes from a background of public policy where she was a former deputy minister of multiple departments in the Alberta government, including Finance and Treasury Board, Service Alberta and Advanced Education and Technology.
*Signifies new appointments
Michael J. (Mike) Mahon, University of Lethbridge, chair
Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary, past chair
Richard Florizone, Dalhousie University
Suzanne Fortier, McGill University
Meric Gertler, University of Toronto*
Denis Harrisson, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Andrew Petter, Simon Fraser University
Dawn Russell, St. Thomas University
Alan Shepard, Concordia University*
Annette Trimbee, University of Winnipeg*
David Turpin, University of Alberta
Franco Vaccarino, University of Guelph
Paul Davidson, president, Universities Canada
Universities Canada’s 2017-2018 committee chairs:
Universities Canada also welcomed Daniel McMahon, rector of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, as chair of the Finance Committee; and David Sylvester, president of King’s University College, as chair of the Governance Committee.
*Signifies new appointments
Executive Committee
Mike Mahon, University of Lethbridge
Finance Committee
Daniel McMahon, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières*
Nominating Committee
Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary
International Committee
Vianne Timmons, University of Regina
Education Committee
Peter Stoicheff, University of Saskatchewan
Governance Committee
David Sylvester, King’s University College*
Research Committee
Jamie Cassels, University of Victoria
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About Universities Canada
Universities Canada is the voice of Canada’s universities at home and abroad, advancing higher education, research and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians.
Media contact:
Lisa Wallace
Assistant Director, Communications
Universities Canada
communications@archives.univcan.ca
