Trent University’s Board Appoints Dr. Steven E. Franklin Trent’s Next President and Vice Chancellor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the Board of Governors Meeting - Thursday, December 11, 2008

(Peterborough, Ontario) The chair of the Board of Governors of Trent University, Mr. David Morton, today announced on behalf of the Board of Governors the appointment of Dr. Steven E. Franklin as the University’s seventh president and vice-chancellor. Dr. Franklin will begin his duties on July 1, 2009.

The appointment was confirmed at a special meeting of the Board of Governors where Dr. Franklin’s nomination was unanimously endorsed by the Board.

“We are absolutely delighted with the appointment of Dr. Steven Franklin as Trent’s seventh president and vice-chancellor,” said Mr. Morton. “We believe Steven brings an outstanding set of skills and experiences to the University that can help lead Trent to its preferred future. He is an accomplished academic and administrator who is ideally suited for this leadership role at Trent University.”

Dr. Franklin is currently the vice president of research at the University of Saskatchewan.

He pursued his graduate work at the University of Waterloo where he completed his Master of Arts degree in Physical Geography and a Doctor of Philosophy in Remote Sensing. His academic appointments have included the University of Waterloo, Memorial University, the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan. Throughout his academic career, he has assumed progressively responsible leadership roles including professor, department chair, associate dean of research, special assistant to the provost, and vice president of research.

“This is an exceptional leadership opportunity and I am extremely grateful for the trust that is being placed in me by the Trent University community,” said Dr. Franklin. “It will be an honour and a privilege to serve the outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors who have done so much to make Trent what it is today. I remain passionately committed to building on the strong interdisciplinary traditions that have long been the hallmark of Trent’s academic programming and look forward to doing everything in my power to further build on this reputation of excellence.”

"I am extremely pleased that Dr. Franklin has accepted the Board's offer to be the next leader for Trent," said Professor Bonnie Patterson, Trent's current president. "He brings an intense commitment to interdisciplinary studies and an understanding of the needs of students today. His leadership experience at the University of Saskatchewan in the research portfolio, together with his academic interest in interdisciplinary environmental studies, makes him an excellent fit for Trent. I look forward to working with him during the transition period and know that Steven will cherish, as I have, the special opportunity to lead Trent University and to be a contributor to the community.”

The Presidential Search Committee was chaired by Board of Governor member Patricia Southern and was composed of 12 representatives of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty from the humanities, social sciences and sciences, staff and board members. An extensive internal and external consultation process informed the committee’s work. The range of the candidate search was broad in scope, attracting a solid field of high calibre applicants from across the nation for this exceptional leadership position.

A biography and photograph of Dr. Franklin are attached to this media release. More information can be obtained at: www.trentu.ca/presidentdesignate

One of Canada's top universities, Trent University is renowned for striking a unique balance between outstanding teaching and leading-edge research. The University is consistently recognized nationally for faculty who maintain a high level of innovative research activity and a deep commitment to the individual student. Distinguished by excellence in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and increasingly popular professional and graduate programs, Trent is dedicated to providing its students with an exceptional world view, producing graduates who are ready to succeed and make a difference in the world. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River. Together with its satellite campus in Oshawa, Trent draws excellent students from throughout the country and around the world.

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For more information contact:

Marilyn Burns, Director, Marketing and Communications, (705) 748-1011, ext. 6184