University of Waterloo names new president
Posted Nov 18, 2020 12:30:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dr. Vivek Goel will become the University of Waterloo's seventh president and vice-chancellor next summer.
The announcement was made on Tuesday evening.
Described as a distinguished scholar, Goel is recognized in Canada and across the globe as a leading public-health researcher, health-services evaluation expert and champion for the use of research evidence in health policy making.
Most recently he has held several senior roles at the University of Toronto, including Vice-President of Research and Innovation.
Goel, a public health physician, also currently serves as a member of the federal government's COVID-19 Immunity Task Force and Scientific Advisor for the CanCOVID Research Network.
He said the current global situation reminds the university of its responsibility to prepare students and citizens to confront the many challenges ahead, “A research-intensive institution like Waterloo is ideally poised to create the change and solutions for a better future – whether it is tackling public-health challenges, addressing systemic racism, dealing with the climate crisis, or spurring economic recovery and growth.”
Goel earned his medical degree from McGill University, then a master's in health administration from the University of Toronto and a master's degree in biostatistics from Harvard University's School of Public Health.
He begins his five-year term on July 1, 2021, replacing Feridun Hamdullahpur.
