Michaelle Jean named as the University of Ottawa’s new chancellor
The former governor general will take on another important post in the nation's capital.
Michaelle Jean will assume yet another prestigious post in our nation's capital, as the former governor general has been named the University of Ottawa's new chancellor. 'I'm very excited about this' She says.
A chancellor, appointed by the board of governors and approved by the senate, serves as the titular head of the university. The post lasts four years, but is eligible for re-election.
Jean, who is also a UNESCO special envoy for Haiti, will replace outgoing chancellor Huguette Labelle.
"I'm very excited about this appointment… for the trust they have placed in me," said Jean, referring to the board and senate. As the Ottawa Citizen reports, she also reached out to university staff and faculty, saying she was "thrilled to be to reflect their goals and achievements."
Robert Giroux, president of the board of governors, said the 54-year-old's progressive values were a good fit for the university's forward-thinking direction.
"The unifying values championed by Ms. Jean fully match our university's desire for a healthy academic environment, open to the world and looking towards the future," he said.
The position marks another notable achievement in the former journalist's life.
Born in Haiti, Jean's family fled to Canada as political refugees from President Francois Duvalier's violent regime.
Her family settled in Quebec, where the young Jean excelled as a student. She studied comparative literature at the Universite de Montreal, eventually teaching in the school's department of modern languages and literature.
In addition to her academic work, Jean helped establish a network of shelters across Canada for female victims of domestic violence.
As a journalist, Jean reported and produced for Radio-Canada before joining CBC Newsworld as host of The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts. She made several films with husband, Jean-Daniel Lafonde, including the award-winning Haiti dans tous nos reves (Haiti in all our dreams).
Jean became the 27th Governor General of Canada in 2005 when she was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation then-Prime Minister Paul Martin. She held the position until 2010 and was succeeded by David Johnston.
She replaces Huguette Labelle, who held the position for 17 years, and oversaw the university's growth from 18,000 students in 1994 to more than 40,000 enrolled today.
Jean will begin her post on February 1, 2012.
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