Yates wants to build on the university’s strengths to advance its ‘pursuit of greatness’
Dr. Charlotte Yates was installed as the University of Guelph’s ninth president and vice-chancellor in a small in-person ceremony on Saturday, making her the first woman to ever hold the title.
During her installation address, Yates vowed to use the University of Guelph’s “genius” to improve lives around the world.
“I am dreaming big for this university. I want to advance our pursuit of greatness by achieving global excellence and building on our strengths,” she said.
“Under my leadership we will be recognized nationally and globally for our unique commitment to mobilizing knowledge into action, and for our deep and distinctive interdisciplinarity … We will lay the foundations for future Nobel Prize winners right here at U of G.”
Yates emphasized the important role that universities play in fostering the next generation of leaders and introducing diverse perspectives and ideas into global conversations.
In light of this, she said the U of G will continue to recruit top students, faculty, and staff “with different experiences, different backgrounds, and different perspectives” so as to “elevate and advance those voices that are underrepresented today.”
Yates’ installation ceremony took place on campus but was live-streamed on the internet for viewers across the globe.
Among the in-person attendees were several First Nations and Métis leaders, former U of G chancellors and presidents, and prominent community supporters of the university, said a news release on the event.
The proceedings featured speeches from prominent U of G figures, including Shauneen Bruder, chair of the university’s Board of Governors; Roberta Bondar, alumna and former astronaut; and Lawrence Hill, professor and acclaimed author.
The speeches drew attention to Yates’ long list of accomplishments in the field of academia. Throughout her career, Yates has acted as a scholar, researcher, teacher, policy advisor, and leader in the academic world.
She first joined the U of G community in 2015 as provost and vice-president (academic). Prior to this, Yates served as the dean of the faculty of social sciences at McMaster University, where she also worked as a faculty member in the department of political science and the labour studies program.
As an expert on labour issues, Yates has authored three books and numerous publications on the topic. She has also supervised over 40 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers while acting as a mentor to countless others.
However, despite her success in the academic world, Yates stated during the ceremony that she never dreamed of becoming a university professor but is honoured to now hold the title.
“I have a deep pride and admiration for what this institution is and where it’s going. To say that I feel privileged to lead and advance us into a bolder knowledge-rich future is an understatement.”
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