President Rhonda N. McEwen Accepts New Role
Victoria University congratulates President Rhonda N. McEwen on her appointment as the next president of the University of Victoria in British Columbia. The announcement was made on June 2, 2026, by the University of Victoria.
Victoria University Board of Regents Chair Keith Thomas expressed his gratitude and well wishes for President McEwen. “In her tenure at Victoria University, a federated university within U of T, President McEwen’s leadership has been transformative. From the moment she arrived on campus, her galvanizing energy, her depth as a scholar and her strategic acuity as a leader have resulted in impactful and durable change. The outstanding student experience for which Victoria University is known has been strengthened under her leadership. Like any formidable leader, she leaves the organization stronger than when she arrived. On behalf of the entire Vic U community, we offer our heartfelt congratulations on her new appointment and our gratitude for her service.”
“President McEwen has made a deep and lasting impact at Victoria University,” says U of T President Melanie Woodin. “She’s worked tirelessly to advance its renown for academic excellence while creating an environment that welcomes the widest range of perspectives to expand the boundaries of knowledge. Rhonda is a widely respected scholar, teacher, mentor, researcher, administrator, and friend. She has dedicated 20 years of outstanding service to our two institutions. I look forward to hearing about the many ways that her new learning community will thrive under her visionary leadership.”
“Serving the Victoria University community has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” said President McEwen. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside exceptional students, faculty, staff, librarians and alumni. While this next chapter at the University of Victoria is an exciting opportunity, my confidence in Victoria University’s strength and momentum is unwavering. Vic U is a remarkable institution, and I know it will continue to thrive in the years ahead. It has been an honour to be part of Vic U’s inspiring story.”
During her presidency, McEwen guided Victoria University through a successful post-pandemic recovery, restoring in-person campus life with a focus on clear communication, safety and community well-being. She strengthened the University’s financial position through disciplined stewardship, multi-year planning and the renegotiation of key agreements, positioning Vic U for long-term sustainability.
She advanced equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility from consultation to action, embedding training, strengthening data capacity, supporting Truth and Reconciliation initiatives and leading the University’s endorsement of the Scarborough Charter. She also modernized governance and accountability through a comprehensive policy review, enhanced Board reporting and the introduction of data-informed decision-making tools.
Her leadership laid the groundwork for long-term infrastructure and sustainability planning and strengthened Victoria University’s role within the University of Toronto through renewed partnerships and shared academic initiatives. By expanding institutional analytics and planning capacity, she has positioned Vic U for its next chapter, including the development of its Strategic Plan 2026–2031.
Before her appointment at Victoria University, McEwen held several roles in her 21 years at the University of Toronto, including as Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She led the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology, where she expanded enrolment and improved student retention. She is a Canada Research Chair in Tactile Interfaces, Communication and Cognition and has contributed widely to research on emerging technologies in education.
President McEwen will depart for British Columbia this summer. The Board of Regents has begun the search for Victoria University’s next President and Vice-Chancellor.