In Nov. 2017, Principal Daniel Woolf told the Joint Board/Senate Committee he wouldn’t seek a third term as Queen’s University’s principal. 

He isn’t the only senior member of Queen’s administration to step away in recent months.  

Over the past year, the University has been tasked with replacing the vice-principal (advancement), the provost and vice-principal (academics) and vice-principal (research).

The announcement of Woolf’s decision came after he’d initially put his name forward for another term. His decision to step away from Queen’s top job closed the Committee to review the principalship, led by Chancellor Jim Leech. Woolf is set to leave the position on June 30, 2019.

Now, Queen’s has kicked off the search for a new principal. In March, the University announced it had employed an executive search firm, Parrett Laver, to seek out candidates for the position.

On May 14, Queen’s announced the search entered into the “active recruitment phase.” The job will now be posted to the search firm Parrett Laver’s website, along with national newspaper ads and popular digital sites. 

Meanwhile, last June, Vice-Principal (Advancement), Tom Harris, announced he’d be leaving his role effective June 30. Harris has held the position for eight years.

In April, Queen’s announced the appointment of Harris’s replacement. Karen Bertrand—who served in multiple senior positions at the University of Guelph—will enter the role on July 1. 

Additionally, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academics), Benoit-Antione Bacon, announced last week that he’d be stepping down to join Carleton University as the school’s 15th president and vice-chancellor. 

In the wake of Bacon’s departure, Harris accepted an appointment to remain at Queen’s as interim provost and vice-principal (academics). 

According to The Gazette, “[Harris’s] new appointment will see him stay on the university’s executive team until a new provost is recruited, following a search process that will include the university’s next principal.”

Another senior position the University will have to fill is vice-principal (research). Currently serving in the interim, Kimberly Woodhouse will be in the role for two years as a search for candidates is conducted.

Woodhouse will enter her interim role on July 1 as senior administration searches for its new personnel.