June 22, 2018
Waterloo thanks Jenkins for his three years as chancellor
Tom Jenkins moves on from his role as chancellor following spring convocation.
Tom Jenkins (LLD ’13), the University’s 10th chancellor, has come to the end of his term.
Having filled the role since 2015, Jenkins has awarded thousands of honours to University of Waterloo students. The position of chancellor, regarded as the ceremonial head of the University, presides over convocation ceremonies and has the power to confer degrees upon graduation.
President and Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur (left) with Tom Jenkins (right) during Spring Convocation 2018.
When asked what advice he’d give to graduates, Jenkins said: “I’d tell a new grad to go big or go home. Do it before you have a mortgage and a family, just go for it. Whatever your passion is, do it.”
Jenkins, chair of the board at OpenText Corporation, was an early supporter in establishing the Stratford campus. He and wife Toby Jenkins (BES ’82) have also supported the University of Waterloo with contributions of more than $23 million, including gifting a building in the David Johnston Research and Technology Park to the University in 2012. They have additionally directed their support to the David Johnston International Experience Awards and the Games Institute.
“Waterloo means everything to me,” said Jenkins. “When I moved here, I felt like I had come home… it allowed me to blossom in my career and be who I wanted to be.”
“It has been a distinct privilege to have worked with Tom,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor. “Tom has made immeasurable contributions to the University of Waterloo community and for this, I extend my sincerest gratitude to him.”
Following the end of Jenkins’ term on June 30, Dominic Barton, managing director of McKinsey & Company, will assume the role of chancellor.
