Shelagh Rogers named Queen's next chancellor

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane has announced that award-winning broadcast journalist Shelagh Rogers (Artsci’77) will become the 16th chancellor of Queen’s University. Members of the University Council confirmed her selection at a meeting today following a process led by an advisory committee with broad representation from across campus.

Chancellor-designate Rogers will begin July 1, 2024. She will succeed outgoing Chancellor, the Honorable Murray Sinclair, who will become Chancellor Emeritus and Special Advisor to the Director on Reconciliation.

“I am very pleased to inform you that Shelagh Rogers will be joining us as the 16th president of our university,” says Principal Deane. “Shelagh’s notable career, her extensive experience and her roots at Queen’s make her an ideal representative of and values our institution.”

While a student at Queen’s, Chancellor-designate Rogers became involved with the campus radio station CFRC, sparking a deep new interest in broadcast journalism. She would eventually spend 40 years as a CBC radio host, working on notable shows such as Morningside, The Arts Tonight, This Morning and The Next Chapter. During those years she became a recognizable voice for countless Canadians and was eventually recognized with the John Drainie Award for her significant contribution to national broadcasting.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Chancellor-designate Rogers has been an active activist for mental health awareness and care, especially for youth, and has earned several accolades from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). ), as well as winning the inaugural Margaret Trudeau Award for Mental Health Advocacy.

In 2011, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for her contributions to Canadian culture, for her mental health advocacy, and for her work in the areas of adult literacy and support for truth and reconciliation.

That same year, she was also named an Honorary Witness to the testimonies of residential school survivors and their families, shared at the national meetings of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Since then, she has focused on amplifying Indigenous voices and narratives, and has served as co-editor of a book series published by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation called Speaking My Truth. She has been recognized with an Achievement Award from Native Counseling Services of Alberta for her dedication.

“Shelagh was one of the TRC’s Honorary Witnesses and dedicated much of her time and effort to communicating to the public what she had heard from Survivors,” says Chancellor Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. from Canada. “I am pleased that she has accepted the position of chancellor of Queen’s University, as her public reputation and communication skills will greatly help the university’s work and reputation.”

Chancellor-designate Rogers has been recognized with an honorary doctorate from Queen’s, as well as seven other universities, and served as Chancellor of the University of Victoria for two terms spanning 2015 to 2021.

“I have very fond memories of my time here as a student and look forward to rejoining the campus community ready to contribute to the bright future of our university.”

– Shelagh Rogers, Queen’s Chancellor-designate

“I am honored and excited to have been appointed to this important role at Queen’s,” says Chancellor-designate Rogers. “I have very fond memories of my time here as a student and look forward to rejoining the campus community ready to contribute to the bright future of our university.”

Select a chancellor

The role of Chancellor involves several duties, including service on both the University Council and the Board of Directors and related committees of each body. Chancellors also preside at convocation ceremonies, confer degrees, and serve on the Senate committee that deliberates on the granting of honorary degrees each year. The Chancellor also plays a central role in connecting with Queen’s alumni, hosting dignitaries and selecting the head of the institution.

The selection of chancellors is guided by an advisory committee chaired by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane and composed of voting and non-voting members from a broad set of groups across campus, including university governing bodies, student representatives, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. Non-voting members include a representative of the University Secretariat and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Culture, Equity and Inclusion).

The advisory committee evaluates each candidate and recommends the one who meets requirements, such as having a significant relationship with the university, representing the values of the institution and being a person with a national presence, among others. The committee then recommends a candidate to the director, who takes the recommendation to the University Council for a vote.