Dr. Vianne Timmons is resigning as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina.
The school’s Board of Governors announced Timmons’ departure to become the president and vice-chancellor of Newfoundland’s Memorial University on Thursday afternoon.
“The Board is supportive of Dr. Timmons’ decision, and we wish her the very best in her new role,” said Roger Brandvold, chair of the U of R’s board of governors, in a news release.
“In addition to growing enrolments, the University has made many investments during her time here to better support our students, grow our research enterprise, connect with our local and provincial communities, and enhance our physical campus while maintaining a balanced budget.”
Timmons, who grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador, has held her role at the U of R since 2008.
“The decision to leave the University of Regina is not one that I made lightly,” Timmons said in a news release. “The University of Regina, our city, and our province welcomed me and my family so warmly when we arrived in 2008, and my love for and commitment to this province have only grown since that time. However, at this point in my life and career I could not pass up the opportunity to return to my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador to take on new challenges at Memorial University of Newfoundland.”
Timmons begins her new position on April 1.
Dr. Thomas Chase, the U of R’s provost and vice-president, will step in as interim president until the position is filled.
For more than four decades, Chase has been involved in the university as a student, professor and administrator. He has overseen the academic operations and budgets of the school, guiding academic policy and overseeing activity related to teaching and mentorship since 2011.
Starting next year, the board plans to embark on a “comprehensive search” for school’s eighth president.