The Board of Governors of University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Gray as the institution's President and Vice-Chancellor, effective September 2025.
With an illustrious and distinguished career in higher education leadership and a proven track record of academic excellence, innovation, and student success, David will continue to charter UNF's bold vision as an innovative, digitally oriented institution.
David joined UNF as Provost and Vice-President, Academic in 2023 where he has been overseeing academic programming, new program development, and the student experience. His exceptional leadership has been instrumental in the successful operation and growth of the university since inception.
"I am honoured with this new appointment," said David. "UNF is uniquely positioned to prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, and I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, and the broader Niagara community to build on this momentum."
Under David's leadership, UNF aims to expand its academic offerings in areas such as sustainability, computer science, health and veterinary management and sciences, and clean and innovative renewable energy. David added "UNF's commitment to student-centric academic programs is at the core of our mission. We understand the imperative of ensuring that our graduates are not just academically strong but also digitally literate and proficient."
This appointment concludes Cyndi McLeod's tenure as the inaugural president of UNF. Originally intended as an interim role, she provided outstanding leadership in guiding the university through its formative years. Cyndi will continue to play an important part in the institution's growth as a member of the Board of Governors and in her capacity as Chief Executive Officer of GUS North America.
"We are very pleased to welcome David Gray as the President of UNF," said Cyndi. "His vision, leadership, and dedication to academic excellence and student success make him perfectly equipped to lead our university into the future. I look forward to supporting David and the entire UNF community throughout this transition and on an ongoing basis as we continue to build a strong and thriving institution together."
David, a native of Cornwall, England, came to UNF in the role of Provost and Vice-President, Academic from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. David holds a degree in Marine Biology from the University College of North Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Rhodes University in South Africa.
Throughout the last 20 years, David has served in several senior leadership roles at academic institutions in the United Kingdom and Canada, including Hartpury College, the University of the West of England, the University of Derby, and the University of the Highlands & Islands. Most recently, he spent a decade as the inaugural Dean and Campus Principal of the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University, where he played a pivotal role in the development of its Agricultural Campus. In these positions, David has been responsible for overseeing extensive budgets, managing large staff contingents, and developing innovative educational programs.
In 2022, David was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal for services to higher education in Canada.
