The University of Regina has a new President and Vice-Chancellor.
Dr. Jeff Keshen is the current Vice-President of Memorial University’s Grenfell campus, with previous experience at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
Dr. Keshen is a current colleague of former U of R President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons, who left Regina for Memorial University back in 2019.
Dr. Timmons wished Dr. Keshen well-wishes over Twitter on Monday.
Congratulations to Dr Jeff Keshen on your appointment as President @UofRegina It is a fabulous university with amazing people! You will also love #yqr as @CityofRegina is a wonderful city!! You will be missed @MemorialU @grenfellcampus Glad you are still with us until June!
— Vianne Timmons (@vianne_timmons) March 1, 2021
Dr. Keshen says operating a university in the middle of a pandemic is quite the challenge.
“It’s going to be what we’ve been dealing with for the last year out here in Newfoundland,” Dr. Keshen said. “I’m really confident also for the fact — from (Monday) morning’s meetings — that there’s such a great team that have thought very carefully about what has to happen for the spring and fall session.
“We’ll continue to follow health protocols, and we’ll adjust the situations as we’ve been doing for the last year.”
Dr. Keshen says one of the things he would like to address is using research to connect to profit, not-for-profit, and government agencies to raise the U of R’s reputation.
“As we advance research, we’re going to be able to bring in more funding to the university, more HQP’s — or Highly Qualified People,” Dr. Keshen said. “That attracts more students, that builds reputation.”
Dr. Keshen and his family will be moving to Regina in July after his tenure at Memorial University this year. He is the eighth President and Vice-Chancellor in the U of R’s history.
