Queen's University has named Daniel Woolf, a historian who is dean of arts at the University of Alberta as its next principal.
Mr. Woolf, a Queen's graduate who returned to campus as a graduate fellow, will replace Tom Williams who stepped in to fill the position after the abrupt departure of past principal Karen Hitchcock. He takes the job at a time when the Kingston, Ont. university is facing several challenges. It has lost a number of senior administrators in recent months, including its top fundraiser and head of finance. The school, like many other universities across the country, is looking at major budget cuts in response to reduced income from endowment funds and a decreasing government funding..
An ambitious construction project to build a new student centre in the heart of the campus also is being scaled back because of costs. As well, Queen's recently has cancelled its popular fall homecoming event in an effort to put an end to the rowdy street party that has grown up around it - a move that upset some of the university's loyal alumni.
The appointment was announced at noon today to senior faculty and in a letter to Queen's graduates from Bill Young, chair of the university's board of trustees. "The next several months will be filled with opportunities and challenges," Mr. Young said. The letter said the appointment received the unanimous approval of the board.
Mr. Woolf, who was born in England, was raised in Winnipeg and has held posts at several Canadian universities including Bishop's, Dalhousie and McMaster.
He will take his new post in September.