THUNDER BAY — Gillian Siddall will return to Lakehead University, taking the top job at a post-secondary institution that she first joined 25 years ago.
Siddall, who first joined Lakehead's faculty in 1998 before later leaving for administrative positions at other schools, was named on Friday as the university's ninth president.
She will take on the role on July 1.
Siddall will succeed Moira McPherson, who had announced her impending departure last February.
"I'm absolutely thrilled," she said. "I spent many years at Lakehead. I got my very first full-time position as a faculty member in the English department there in 1998, a long time ago, and spent 17 years there in various roles.
"I've now been gone for eight years and it's just so exciting to think about coming back and to give back to the university that has given me so much."
Siddall had served as president of Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver since 2018, and had also been the vice-president academic and provost at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art and Design University.
Her latest role has taught her that being a leader is truly a team effort.
"I've had a great team here at Emily Carr and I know there's a great team at Lakehead. So I really look forward to working with that team and working with the community of both campuses to continue to advance the priorities at Lakehead. It's an amazing university and I'm exicted to be rejoining it."
Siddall was first hired as a tenure-track appointment at Lakehead University in the department of English. She went on to become the founding director of Lakehead’s Teaching and Learning Centre before serving as dean of the university’s faculty of social Sciences and humanities for six years.
She said Lakehead is already a pillar of strength in many areas and notes that it's one of the top schools in Canada in its category in both research and as a place to study.
"It's already been recognized for excellence in research, for excellence in teaching and learning. I want to continue with that. It also has done amazing work around reconciliation. I was involved in that work when I was at Lakehead before and I look forward to continuing that work, and also equity, diversion, inclusion and social justice. Lakehead has made those things a priority and I will continue to support and advance that work," Siddall said, adding the school has so much potential, both in Thunder Bay and in Simcoe County, home of the school's Orillia campus.
Siddall said while she has no plans for new programs at the moment, it's something she plans to explore, along with looking at ways of expanding enrolment and working around budgetary constraints, a problem facing Canadian universities from coast to coast.
The chair of LU's board of governors said the hiring process was extensive and included a thorough review of the applicant and input from the university community.
“The result of everyone’s efforts is a candidate who understands our University — its people and achievements, our unique campuses and the communities and regions they serve, and Lakehead’s goals and potential," Maria Vasanelli said in a release.
McPherson was named as the university's president in 2018, after also serving in the role on an interim basis.
“[McPherson] has advanced Lakehead University's strategic and academic priorities, and strengthened collaboration with our communities near and far, leaving a legacy of a strong national and global profile and reputation," Vasanelli said.
With files from Leith Dunick
