Presidential Recruitment Update – October 2026
The competition for the President & Vice-Chancellor closed on July 31, 2026. A total of 37 applications were received.
The Committee met in mid-August to screen and short-list candidates. As a result of the screening process 3 candidates, 2 external and 1 internal, were selected to go forward to the interview phase with interviews scheduled for October 2, 2026.
Candidates were given two weeks to prepare presentation for the Committee addressing the following areas:
- Who you are as a leader, why this role and this place, and your initial read of the University's opportunities and challenges.
- How you would support the University’s intention to develop a 50-year strategic plan and how you would make meaningful progress on a long-horizon vision within a single term, in a way that carries through leadership transitions.
- Your understanding of the roles of the Board, the Senate and administration, and how you would lead through them, including when decisions are contested.
- How you would engage the University's diverse stakeholders – Yukon First Nation governments and communities, students, faculty and staff, governments, communities, partners – and manage competing expectations.
- How you meet the core competencies expected of the position including:
- Reconciliation
- Understanding of the northern context
- Humility
- Relationships
- Student engagement and success
- Research and sustainability
- Strong administration – finances, people, management, governance, and decision-making
- Your early priorities and why you are the right fit at this point in the University's history.
Upon conclusion of the interviews and a fulsome debrief, the Committee is moving into the next phase which is honouring a commitment to circle back to First Nations Leaders with a process update and final feedback opportunity prior to making their recommendation to the Board to appoint their top candidate, Dr. Shelagh Rowles.
The search is underway for Yukon University’s next President and Vice-Chancellor.
Dr. Shelagh Rowles, Provost and Vice-President Academic, has stepped into the role of interim president and will continue in this capacity until a new president is appointed.
Yukon University has formally begun its search for the next President and Vice-Chancellor, supported by the Presidential Recruitment Committee.
Role of the President and Vice-Chancellor
The President and Vice Chancellor is the legislated Chief Executive Officer of the University and provides strategic leadership for the University, reporting to the Board of Governors.
The responsibilities are defined in section 34 of the Yukon University Act and the Yukon University President Responsibilities Policy – BOG 3.0.
Search Process
On January 19, 2026, the Board of Governors approved the establishment of a Presidential Recruitment Committee with the mandate to:
- Oversee the recruitment process for the next President and Vice-Chancellor
- Report to the Human Resources Committee of the Board
- Make a final recommendation on a candidate for President to the Board of Governors
The committee is comprised of members of the Board of Governors, faculty, staff, and a student representative, reflecting the breadth of the Yukon University community.
Meet Your Search Team
Presidential Recruitment Committee membership:
- Chris Mahar, Chair of the Board of Governors
- Kelly Steele, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Chair
- Brenda Butterworth-Carr, Governance Committee Chair
- Tom Ullyett, Human Resources Committee Chair
- Ryan Alaric, Indigenous Advisory Circle Chair
- Michelle Parsons, Indigenous Advisory Circle Vice-Chair
- Jennifer Walmsley, Student member of the Board of Governors
- Mark Wedge, Board member selected by the Board of Governors
- Jared Gonet, Applied Science & Management Faculty member
- Jeanelle Julien, Applied Arts Faculty member
- Derek Yap, Staff member
Timeline
The Presidential Recruitment Committee began its work in March 2026.
Estimated Search Timeline
While every search is dynamic and time frames are subject to change, the following outlines the anticipated timeline for this search:
- Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Shortlist Candidates: August 2026
- Shortlist Interviews: September/October
- Board Confirmation: December 2026
- Start Date: Early 2027
Position Profile
The Board of Governors has confirmed the Position Profile and Competencies for the role of President & Vice-Chancellor.