MRU announces Chad London as new provost and VP academic
London, 51, previously spent 20 years at Mount Royal University but has spent the last six at the University of Saskatchewan
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Chad London is returning to Mount Royal University after being named the school’s new provost and vice-president academic.
London, 51, previously spent 20 years at the Calgary institution but has spent the last six in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan.
“After an extensive search process and a very thorough search to be invited back as a successful candidate to take on the provost role, it’s truly an honour,” he said in an interview on Thursday. “It’s one of those situations where I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Mount Royal deeply, but in the last five and a half years or so, got to experience a different type of university as well.”
London said it was important for him to gain a new perspective and expand his horizons when it comes to post-secondary education. While at the U of S, he served as the dean of the College of Kinesiology.
He was originally hired as a faculty member at MRU in 1996 and was later appointed chairman of physical education and recreation studies. In 2003, London spent eight years as an associate dean in the former faculty of health and community studies prior to serving as dean of the faculty of health, community and education from 2011 to 2016.
London was born and raised in Lethbridge and earned his BA at the University of Lethbridge. He earned a master’s in human kinetics in sports management at the University of Windsor and his doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Calgary.
Calgary, however, is home and where his children were born and raised. His two oldest still live here while his youngest, who is 19, will be returning with him and his wife to the city.
He replaces Lesley Brown, who was provost until June 2020 and is now the president of Yukon University. Elizabeth Evans has filled the role in an interim capacity since then. London will start the new role on Jan. 3, due to prior commitments at the U of S.
When the new provost does come to Calgary, he will not be out to reinvent the wheel. Instead, he aims to build off of the existing foundation and the strategic plan already in place. His vision is to determine how the academic enterprise at MRU can best fulfil its goals of providing an exceptional undergraduate education for students.
“What really gets me excited about the role is the opportunities to be adventurous and take ambitions that keep pace with the times and also hold true to the enduring values of Mount Royal,” said London.
Being able to adapt, innovate and pivot in future crises were critical lessons during the last three years that will be applied in their school’s approach to future challenges.
“Dr. London understands Mount Royal’s past and the direction we are headed,” said Timothy Rahilly, president and vice-chancellor at MRU in a news release. “He appreciates the dynamic culture we have here at MRU and wants to strengthen and grow the academic programs we are so proud to feature; I look forward to supporting him in these pursuits and I know I’m not alone.”
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03
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