UOIT appoints Professor Deborah Saucier to its top academic position

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) has announced the appointment of Professor Deborah Saucier as its Provost and Vice-President, Academic.

“Professor Saucier enjoys a stellar track record as a researcher, teacher and senior academic administrator,” said Tim McTiernan, President and Vice-Chancellor. “In reviewing candidates for the position, our search committee was impressed by Professor Saucier’s academic accomplishments and strong leadership in both her current role and in her previous role as the university’s Dean of Science.”

Professor Saucier has served as interim Provost for the past academic year after assuming the role in April 2013.

“Deb Saucier has played a key role in implementing the priorities of UOIT’s Strategic Plan and in improving student support services – she will be an excellent provost,” said Glenna Raymond, Chair of the university’s Board of Governors. "The Board of Governors is also proud to have not only a recognized scholar but also, to our knowledge, the first female indigenous provost at a Canadian university.”

“I am honoured to be appointed to this position,” said Dr. Saucier. “I remain committed to ensuring that UOIT’s high quality programs continue to remain competitive. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure UOIT’s continued success in providing engaging programs that are in high demand.”

Professor Saucier joined UOIT in 2011 as Dean of the Faculty of Science. She came to UOIT from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, where she was chair of the Department of Neuroscience and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She received her PhD in Psychology from Western University in London, Ontario and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Western in 1995. Dr. Saucier spent three years as a faculty member in Psychology at the University of Regina, and in 1999 she accepted a position at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where she was an Associate Professor in Psychology.

Professor Saucier joined the University of Lethbridge in 2006 and progressed from Associate Professor to Professor and Department Chair in 2009. During that time, she was appointed Director of the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and also served as a member of the Canada Research Chair Secretariat’s Taskforce for Diversity and Equity.

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