Ready to tackle the big challenges
Vivek Goel, our new President and Vice-Chancellor, talks about his first impressions of Waterloo and how, together, we can build the post-pandemic university.
Vivek Goel, our new President and Vice-Chancellor, talks about his first impressions of Waterloo and how, together, we can build the post-pandemic university.
By Beth Bohnert Office of AdvancementWaterloo welcomed Vivek Goel as its seventh President and Vice-chancellor on July 1, 2021. A distinguished scholar, Vivek has made significant contributions in research, teaching and leadership across both public and private sectors.
Vivek has held a number of senior leadership roles at the University of Toronto, served as founding President and CEO of Public Health Ontario and is a Member of the Order of Canada. He brings great passion, vision and leadership as we seek to reimagine and rebuild in a post-pandemic era.
“I’m thrilled by how many people have reached out to me across the campus community,” Vivek says. “I’ve started to learn about Waterloo, its history and its ingenuity. People at Waterloo are bold and courageous and are ready to tackle the big challenges that the world faces."
DR. VIVEK GOEL, President and Vice-Chancellor
The current global situation reminds us of our responsibility to prepare students and citizens to confront the many challenges ahead. A research-intensive institution like Waterloo is ideally poised to create the biggest change and best solutions for our future.
"The founders of this institution set out to create a world-class university that was unconventional. And being unconventional has meant taking risks and trying new things. With the help of our supporters, I believe we can continue to do that at Waterloo and set the path for how a post-pandemic university can develop.”
The legacy of a beloved instructor supports Pharmacy students like Lisa Ros-Choi, who make a difference for individual patients and health care as a whole.
Deborah Wang (MArch ’15) and William Elsworthy’s (MArch ’15) gift recognizes their personal and professional relationship with Waterloo — and will help architecture students launch their careers.
When Sharon Lamont (BA ’80) retired after decades of service to Waterloo, she didn’t want a gift from her colleagues. Instead, she gave one to our students.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.