Professor Ian Orchard, former vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, has been appointed VP academic and provost of the University of Waterloo.
During his eight-year tenure as principal at UTM, Orchard was a major patron of UTM’s expansion. Major projects he oversaw include the construction of buildings such as the Instructional Centre, the RAWC, and the Hazel McCallion Learning Centre. He did this while nearly doubling enrolment at UTM. Before stepping down from the principal’s chair in 2010, Orchard concluded the Canadian Perspective Lecture Series with “The Little Campus that Grew: You Can’t Get There from Here”.
A distinguished professor of biology, Orchard’s devotion and expertise earned him praise and recognition, including the 2013 Research Excellence Award for his contributions to science: the discovery of Rhodnius prolixus and its link to Chagas disease.
He was previously the University of Toronto’s first vice-provost, students, and also held positions as vice-dean and associate dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science. The university established the Ian Orchard Student Initiatives Fund in 2010 with a goal of enhancing the student experience by funding student-led and student-driven projects.
Orchard will take up his post at the University of Waterloo for a five-year term, effective July 1.
