David Dodge has announced that he will not seek a third term as chancellor of Queen’s University when his current term ends on June 30, 2014.

“David Dodge has been a truly outstanding ambassador for Queen’s,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. “He has provided wise guidance to the Board of Trustees and University Council during a period of rapid and significant change at the university. I have valued enormously his advice and guidance since becoming principal of Queen’s.”

David Dodge

Chancellor Dodge was installed in 2008 and is an active participant in Board of Trustees meetings and on key committees. During his tenure, he participated in the Board’s restructuring process and was a strong proponent of redefining the role and composition of University Council to fit the needs of the university in the 21st century.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve my alma mater as its chancellor,” says Dr. Dodge. “It continues to be a pleasure to work with people who care deeply about our university. I have particularly enjoyed speaking with our remarkable students and sending them off, as graduates, at our convocations.”

Chancellor Dodge was instrumental in revising convocation to create multiple small ceremonies in Grant Hall, improving the experience for graduands and their families. He dedicated a great deal of time to attending as many convocation ceremonies as possible.

He also plays a vital external role for the university, drawing on the relationships he built during his career to promote Queen’s to government and the private sector. Most recently, he helped launch the Initiative Campaign by attending special events to share the Queen’s story with alumni and friends.

Chancellor Dodge’s involvement with Queen’s stretches back to his undergraduate days, when he earned a bachelor’s degree (honours) in economics in 1965. After completing his PhD at Princeton in 1972, he returned to Queen’s as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics.

He subsequently joined the federal public service, where he rose to the position of deputy minister of finance. He was later appointed deputy minister of health before taking over as governor of the Bank of Canada in 2001, a position he held for seven years. Queen’s conferred an honorary degree on Chancellor Dodge in 2002. He was installed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007.

Principal Woolf has been authorized by the Executive Committee of University Council to assemble an advisory committee to assist him in the search for a candidate to become Queen’s 14th chancellor. The committee’s membership consists of: Principal Daniel Woolf (Chair), Nick Francis (Rector), Barbara Palk (Chair of the Board of Trustees), Alison Holt (University Council Executive Committee member), David Bakhurst (Professor, Department of Philosophy), Irene LaFleche (staff member), Heather Black (University Council), and Bruce Mitchell (benefactor). Irène Bujara, Director, Equity Office and Human Rights Office, will serve as a non-voting advisor to the committee and University Secretary Lon Knox will serve as its secretary.

University Council is expected to vote on a recommendation at its fall 2013 meeting.