Message from the Principal
I step down as Principal this summer after 17 happy years. I will very much miss working with my colleagues on staff, faculty and the Board. And I expect that life without regular interaction with our very passionate and talented students will be less interesting. Many of you have befriended me and my wife and we look forward to these relationships enduring.
Students, staff, faculty, volunteer Board and alumni constitute a cross-generational community dedicated to life-long learning - in our case, learning that establishes in students a foundation for taking responsible action toward the expansion of justice, equality and charity. Such communities are a rare privilege to work in and an honour to lead.
My colleagues and I have strived these 17 years to create a sustainable academic identity for St. Paul's that is integrated with its day-to-day common life. In 2016, we are known on campus for three valued initiatives: the International Development programs (undergraduate and graduate), Aboriginal services and education programs, and the St. Paul's GreenHouse program, where students tackle real-world problems and build innovative social ventures to solve them.
This identity is the St. Paul's version of the Waterloo way; Theory and practice each serving the other to form the knowledgeable, responsible citizens our society needs.
Thank you for your interest in the evolution of St. Paul's and thank you for your support.
Finally, I hope you will give a warm welcome to my successor, Rick Myers. The College leadership is in excellent hands with him.
Farewell and best wishes.
Welcoming New Principal, Dr. Richard Myers
We are pleased to announce that political scientist Richard Myers has been appointed Principal for a five-year term as of July 2016.
Dr. Myers has most recently been president of Algoma University, where he substantially improved relations with the local community and with Aboriginal partners in the area, and grew enrolment and revenues. He also oversaw the completion of a new science building and the expansion of Algoma's athletics centre.
Prior to that, Dr. Myers was Vice-President Academic at St. Thomas University in Fredericton and taught there for close to 20 years in both French and English. He received his BA, MA, and PhD in political science from the University of Toronto and is the co-author of a popular Canadian introductory textbook called The Canadian Regime. He was born in Chatham, Ontario.
"The St. Paul's Board of Governors believe that Dr. Myers has the perfect qualifications and background to carry forward the excellent work St. Paul's has done in areas such as Aboriginal education, international development, and social entrepreneurship," said Rod Barr, chair of the St. Paul's Board. "We are delighted to welcome him to the St. Paul's community."