Rhonda McEwen has been named the next president and vice chancellor of the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. According to its website, the university enrolls more than 22,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. McEwen is expected to begin her five-year presidential term on October 14.
“UVic is known for partnerships. I look forward to representing a university that already has such a strong reputation in the academic community for tackling complex problems in new and creative ways,” said Dr. McEwen. “I passionately believe in higher education, and I want to make sure we put forward the best experience for students while providing value to our local communities and the world.”
Dr. McEwen comes to her new appointment following four years as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Earlier, she served in several leadership roles at the University of Toronto Mississauga, including vice principal and dean and director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology. She also taught as a professor of emerging media and communication. Before her career in higher education, Dr. McEwen spent more than 15 years working in the private sector in digital communication and management consulting.
As a scholar, Dr. McEwen conducts interdisciplinary research in technology, equity, governance, and public impact, particularly in artificial intelligence and society. She is the Canada Research Chair in Tactile Interfaces, Communication, and Cognition, studying human-machine interactions and the social and cognitive effects of technologies.
Dr. McEwen graduated first in her class at the University of the West Indies, where she double-majored in sociology and management. She holds an MBA in information technology management from the City University of London, a master’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Ph.D. in information from the University of Toronto.