Dr. Tracy Penny Light installed as 8th President of United College
Dr. Tracy Penny Light was officially installed as the 8th President of United College on Wednesday, October 28. The ceremony brought together members of the college community to mark this important milestone and celebrate Tracy’s vision for a future rooted in belonging, inclusive learning and social responsibility.
Dr. Susan Roy, associate professor at the University of Waterloo and member of the United College Board of Governors, presided over the ceremony. Other notable ceremony participants included Elder Dr. Wendy Phillips, Elder-in-Residence at United College’s FlintHub program, Tracy Primeau, incoming Chair of the Board of Governors and Tracy Mann, outgoing Chair of the Board of Governors.
During the ceremony, Tracy shared the power of ‘belonging’, and how United College’s ability to help students find a place where they belong unlocks even greater potential. Tracy shared, "imagine the possibilities when we open doors. When we bring people together. When we help one another discover who we are, what we can become, and what we can contribute. That, to me, is the promise of United College."
At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping how we learn, work and interact, Tracy sees United as a place where 'authentic intelligence' is abundant. She describes the authentic intelligence at United as “the deeply human intelligence that comes from listening to one another, learning from our differences, and working together toward a shared purpose. We can be a place that not only responds to a changing world but helps shape it."
Tracy also shared her vision to continue building on the strong foundation of United College’s history and values.
My hope is that United will become even more widely recognized as a place where the strength of our community, the quality of our learning, and the impact of our ideas come together to make a meaningful difference in the world.
As a proud University of Waterloo graduate, having completed her PhD in History, becoming President of United College feels like a full-circle moment.
Tracy is well-known for her focus on innovation, student-centred learning and strong commitment to building inclusive communities. Tracy’s personal alignment with United College’s mission, to inspire a lifelong love of learning and commitment to social responsibility, makes her well-suited to lead the College into its next chapter.
