Dec 10, 2008
Media contact: Kim Lawrence
Cell: 604-302-6257
Office: 604-864-4611
kim.lawrence@ufv.ca
New UFV president excited by opportunity
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Dr. Mark Evered |
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Dr. Mark Evered will be the new president and vice-chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley.
The long-awaited announcement was made today to an audience of UFV faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends in a packed gymnasium at the university’s Abbotsford campus. Dr. Evered will replace current UFV president and vice-chancellor Dr. H. A. ‘Skip’ Bassford in July 2009.
Evered is currently provost and vice-president academic at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. He holds a B.Sc. in biology from McMaster University and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Western Ontario. Over the course of his 30-year career, he has held research and academic appointments at Cambridge University, the University of Western Ontario, the Howard Florey Research Institute in Melbourne, and the University of Saskatchewan.
He has taught undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of science and health disciplines, supervised students’ M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis projects, and received a number of teaching awards, including the University of Saskatchewan Master Teacher award. He has also held a variety of academic administrative appointments and served on many university committees and governance bodies, frequently as chair.
Throughout his career, Evered has also maintained an active research program, presenting his work nationally and internationally, and publishing broadly. Prior to his move to TRU (then University College of the Cariboo) in 2004, he held the position of associate vice-president academic at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was also appointed that university’s first vice-provost.
As provost, Evered has been deeply involved in TRU’s transition to university status, experience that will be valuable at UFV. TRU shares many characteristics with UFV, including multiple campuses, comprehensive programming (including trades and technical training), history as a community college and then university-college, and a strong commitment to teaching at the undergraduate level.
“I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students of UFV, building on the outstanding legacy they have shaped under the leadership of President Bassford,” he says. “We are creating a new model of university, one that is tailored to the needs of today’s students, our communities, and today’s economic realities. We have an opportunity to build a uniquely comprehensive university, creating strong linkages between the theoretical and the applied; bridging and integrating vocational, technical, and academic teaching and research; and reaching within and across disciplines in innovative ways. It is our opportunity to provide students with the very best in career preparation and to build a strong learning community that is envied internationally.”
“I am thrilled, proud, and grateful to be joining UFV,” he continues. “This university is poised to become one of the most exciting places to study and work in Canada. I look forward to celebrating our successes.”
Evered believes that the key to good leadership at a university is recognizing that the job is one of leading leaders. “Developing and supporting strong collegial leadership teams, at all levels of this university, will be a high priority for me,” he notes. “I am pleased to see evidence of this leadership culture already at UFV.”
“Mark is coming to UFV at the perfect point in our evolution,” says Rod Thomson, chair of the UFV Board of Governors. “Not only does he thoroughly understand the legacy of this university, but also what we need to do to improve on our already impressive results. His personable and consultative style, impressive academic background, extensive administrative experience, and deep commitment to student success will serve UFV well.”
“When we began this process last year, we knew that there were at least a dozen similar searches underway across Canada,” adds Rob Nicklom, who chaired the presidential search committee. “Having Mark join us is a huge coup for UFV. Aside from his stellar credentials and highly relevant experience, he has demonstrated true excitement about coming to the Fraser Valley. We knew we were looking for an elusive combination of personal commitment, compatible style, creative thinking, an understanding of what makes this place special, and a dedication to serving students of all kinds. We are incredibly fortunate to have found all of this in Mark.” Nicklom also noted the many hours put in by the search committee and thanked them for their commitment to the process.
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” says Skip Bassford, current president and vice-chancellor of UFV. “I think Mark has exactly what it takes to shepherd UFV through its next phase of growth and development.”
Throughout the interview process, Evered spoke often of his commitment to faculty and staff development, nurturing connections with the Fraser Valley communities, building strong relationships with UFV alumni, and serving the specific needs of the First Nations communities of the region. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on student support and engagement and building a vibrant campus.
Evered and his wife Maureen have three daughters and four grandchildren. “Maureen and I look forward to building strong ties within the Fraser Valley region and working side-by-side with new friends and neighbours in whatever way we can be of help,” he said.
Read backgrounder on Dr. Evered.
Read backgrounder on the search process.
View the video of the announcement.
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