President and Vice-Chancellor

Established in 1964, the University of Guelph is a research-intensive, comprehensive university, with nearly 27,000 undergraduate and over 3,000 graduate students. The University’s main campus resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. The University plays an integral role in the educational, business, and cultural life of the province of Ontario, through the impact of its teaching, research, and community service, and through its special mandate to serve the province in support of the agri-food sector and veterinary medicine.  Guelph’s seven colleges conduct leading edge teaching and research in the physical and life sciences, arts, business, social sciences, and agricultural and veterinary sciences.

The University of Guelph is recognized for its academic reputation, for being student-centered, and for its strong sense of community.  At the core of its identity is a focus on sustainability and improving life, a commitment that has found deep resonance with all stakeholders.

The University’s 9th President will lead Guelph forward in uncharted waters, as both post-secondary institutions and society as a whole emerge from the pandemic. While there will be many challenges to address, there is also an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum that the University of Guelph is experiencing, and to take it to new levels of excellence in both reputation and profile.

The President of the University of Guelph must be an agile and inspiring leader, encouraging faculty, staff, students, and alumni to see the world in new ways, to pursue the University’s mission to improve life in all that they do, and to recognize the role they all play in changing the world for the better.  They will bring vision and energy to the role, combined with empathy, compassion and outstanding interpersonal skills, as they guide the University into a new era.

The successful candidate for President of the University of Guelph will be a globally-minded leader, with impressive scholarly credentials in their field, a deep commitment to the student experience, and a strong and distinguished administrative track record earned in a complex post-secondary environment. They must respect and thrive in a collegial culture, have a deep and abiding commitment to equity and inclusion, and have a natural tendency toward inclusivity, consultation, and transparency. 

Above all, the new President must embrace this University and its people and bring a deeply felt commitment to the success of the institution.

The University of Guelph is strongly committed to employment equity and especially welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, including members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, members of diverse sexuality and gender identities, and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Consideration of candidates will begin in late June 2021, with the expectation that the new President will take office in the summer 2022. Nominations and/or applications should be submitted, in confidence, to Colleen Keenan at guelphpresident@odgersberndtson.com.