At the Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, October 1 the Board passed a motion extending President Lachemi's term. The extension will permit the completion of a number of complex university processes and initiatives including the budget planning process for the academic and fiscal year, and the successful undertaking of several major capital projects including the medical school renovations, the construction of the Student Wellness Centre on Gould Street, and transformation of 277 Victoria into the future home of the Lincoln Alexander School of Law.
Originally appointed by the Board in April 2016 and scheduled to complete his second and final term in April 2026, under the Board motion President Lachemi has agreed to stay on up to the end of 2026.
"The vice-chair and I approached President Lachemi about this extension as we know how essential it is that TMU maintain its momentum on all priorities and to ensure that there is a continuation of leadership until the next president is selected and installed," said Board Chair Tony Staffieri. "The Board was, of course, delighted that President Lachemi agreed to be flexible with his end date, agreeing to stay until the end of 2026."
The Board of Governors extension comes at a time when a number of key initiatives are underway for the university and is designed to ensure the successful completion of these milestone projects while setting-up a successful transition for the next president.
"This is my 26th year at TMU and I could not hope for a better organization to work for. While I do not want to serve a third term, I told the Board that I am fully committed to serving as your president until the last minute of the last day of my term," said President Lachemi. "All of us at TMU have very important work ahead of us and it's important that we do not slow down. The goals and priorities we've set are still firmly in place and I expect us to continue delivering on our commitments with the same focus and energy as we always have."
A search process to find the next president of TMU, led by the Board chair, will be announced in 2025.
"We are so grateful to President Lachemi for his leadership and service - from launching the Lincoln Alexander School of Law to successfully bringing a school of medicine to TMU and the region of Peel; and from raising over $10 million to help students access education at TMU to expertly guiding the university through a challenging renaming process. We are confident that this extension will see the university complete so many key milestones while ensuring a seamless transition once a new President is selected," said vice-chair of the Board, Catherine Paisley.
