Dr. Charlotte Yates has notified the University of Guelph Board of Governors that she is retiring from her position as president and vice-chancellor, effective Nov. 7, 2024.
Yates joined U of G in 2015 as provost and vice-president (academic). She was named interim president and vice-chancellor in 2020 and appointed president and vice-chancellor in 2021.
"The decision to leave my role as president of the University of Guelph is a difficult one as I have loved my time here and been proud to serve as the first woman president of this great institution. Working with the faculty, staff, students, donors and alumni has been a particular highlight. After the tumultuous last five years of University affairs, however, it is time for me to step aside for someone else to take the helm," says Dr. Yates.
Yates effectively steered the University through a challenging time. She started her appointment as interim president and vice-chancellor in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic - a period of significant upheaval and subsequent transition for all institutions. In taking on the role, she inherited financial pressures caused by external factors that were several years in the making. While the University was facing unprecedented difficulties at the beginning of her tenure, her leadership enabled the institution to meet them head on.
Yates led the University in developing a new strategic plan for U of G, entitled Our Time. She has since spearheaded several initiatives designed to realize the strategic plan's objectives. To address the institution's financial challenges, she worked to modernize the University's operations, eliminate the structural budget deficit, invest in faculty and staff success and embrace digital solutions and continuous innovation. More recently, Dr. Yates expanded experiential education for students and led the President's Task Force on Student Mental Health, whose report includes 40 recommendations aimed at supporting U of G's goal of becoming a health-promoting university.
"On behalf of the Board of Governors, I extend our deepest gratitude to President Yates for her leadership and dedication to U of G," says Nancy Brown Andison, chair of the Board of Governors. "Under her guidance, we have achieved remarkable milestones and fostered a community of inclusivity and academic excellence."
During her time as president, Dr. Yates was instrumental in expanding the veterinary school, securing government funding for the OMAFRA partnership, improving the University's reputation in engineering and cybersecurity, and enabling the future expansion of the Lang School of Business and Economics, and the success of the Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise.
In addition, Yates' leadership saw U of G grow its global influence through innovative research including an historic first Canada Excellence Research Chair and several international partnerships with countries such as India and France, where the University is now positioned to make deeper contributions towards impactful research and benefit from academic exchange.
Yates had a strong focus on equity, diversity and inclusion during her time as president and vice-chancellor. She sought to support and grow U of G's Indigenous community and her tenure saw the launch of the University's Indigenous Initiatives Strategy, Bi-Naagwad: It Comes Into View. As the first woman to hold the position of president and vice-chancellor in U of G's history, she promoted gender equity and leadership. She also struck the President's Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism as part of efforts to build an even more inclusive and diverse campus community.
Under Yates' leadership, the University achieved considerable fundraising success, raising more than $150 million to strengthen the institution's future. Her commitment to building strong relationships with alumni, donors, government and the broader community has left a lasting legacy and helped ensure continued growth.
A reception to celebrate Dr. Yates' retirement will be held with more details to follow.
"As we celebrate Dr. Yates' retirement and honour her legacy, we also look to build on her profound impact at U of G and continue our forward momentum," said Brown Andison.
A formal presidential search in accordance with Board of Governors policies and procedures will begin in the coming weeks and we will continue to share updates on this process with the community. During this time, Dr. Rene Van Acker will serve as interim president and vice-chancellor, while Dr. Shayan Sharif will serve as interim vice-president, research and innovation.
