The following announcement has been issued by Kevan Sumner, Chair of the Brandon University Board of Governors, and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee:
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the Presidential Search Committee, I am honoured to announce the appointment of Dr. Christine Cnossen as the next President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University.
Dr. Christine Cnossen
Dr. Cnossen is an accomplished academic and senior university executive with more than 25 years of experience in higher education leadership across Canada and the United Kingdom. Her appointment follows a thorough and inclusive search process led by the Presidential Search Committee, which I am pleased to share was completed slightly ahead of our original timeline. My thanks to the members of the search committee for their hard work, as well as to our search consultant KBRS. The Board of Governors enthusiastically approved the search committee's unanimous recommendation of Dr. Cnossen at a special meeting earlier this week.
Many of you had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Cnossen when she visited campus in April. Campus feedback following her visit and presentation was very positive, reinforcing the search committee's own impressions and guiding them in their final deliberations. Both the community and the search committee were impressed by Dr. Cnossen's knowledge and understanding of the university, her pragmatic and action-oriented approach to challenges, her sincerity, and her commitment to transparency and community.
This community feedback will continue to guide the Board and university administration in preparing Dr. Cnossen ahead of her arrival and for her first days on campus. We will ensure that she is informed on the issues that survey respondents identified as the highest priorities of the university community: relational leadership, an understanding of the university's values, building a collaborative vision, and the importance of stability and continuity in our university leadership. We heard that the university community desires a president who will stay, listen, and lead, and we trust that Dr. Cnossen is the right choice to meet that need.
Dr. Cnossen will officially begin her term on Sept. 1, 2025, several months earlier than the originally anticipated Jan. 1, 2026, start. Current President Dr. David Docherty has agreed to step away from the position slightly earlier than planned, and he will be taking his administrative leave starting in September. The Board thanks Dr. Docherty for his dedicated service to Brandon University and wishes him well in his ongoing recovery. Dr. Cnossen's accelerated appointment reflects both her strong readiness to lead and her eagerness to engage with the BU community as soon as possible.
Most recently, Dr. Cnossen served as Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, UK. In that role, she was responsible for all academic operations, strategic planning, and resource allocation, overseeing more than 400 staff and a budget of £22 million. She also served as Acting Vice-Chancellor at UEA during a key transition period, leading major institutional initiatives including a university-wide strategic planning process and the implementation of a new Vision 2030 strategy.
Prior to returning to the UK, Dr. Cnossen held several senior leadership roles at Canadian institutions, including Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, B.C. (where she also served as Interim President) and Vice-President Academic at OCAD University in Toronto. She has built a strong reputation as a visionary and collaborative leader, particularly skilled in institutional planning, fiscal sustainability, and fostering inclusive academic communities.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cnossen has demonstrated a deep and enduring commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Indigenization and decolonization, and community engagement. At TRU, she co-authored the university's response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, led EDI initiatives, championed inclusive hiring practices, and has worked closely with Indigenous communities to co-develop meaningful academic and cultural initiatives.
Originally from Canada and a dual citizen of Canada and the Netherlands, Dr. Cnossen holds degrees from McMaster University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Hull, where she completed her PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology. She is a Professor of Sociology, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and a Life Fellow of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society. Her academic work and leadership have consistently bridged scholarship and service, with a clear focus on improving the student experience and empowering communities through education.
Brandon University is fortunate to be welcoming a leader of Dr. Cnossen's calibre and vision. Her track record of compassionate, strategic, and community-centered leadership makes her exceptionally well suited to guide BU into the future. I know that students, faculty, staff, and community members alike will find in her a thoughtful and inspiring President.
It is my pleasure to also to share a message from Dr. Cnossen directly:
"I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the privilege and responsibility to lead Brandon University through this next stage of our journey and to our next level of success.
"Brandon University is an anchor institution for Westman, and an important part of Manitoba's and Canada's post-secondary ecosystem. I will continue our work with all BU community and partner groups, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, as we build on the shared foundations of our first 125 years.
"My family and I are very much looking forward to moving to Brandon and becoming a part of the Brandon - and Bobcat - community."
Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Christine Cnossen to Brandon University.
