New Provost and Vice-President Academic joins TRU

An accomplished teacher, scholar and experienced academic administrator joins Thompson Rivers University’s executive team this fall. Dr. Christine Lisa Bovis-Cnossen has been appointed Provost and Vice-President Academic of TRU for a five-year term starting Sept. 1.

Dr. Bovis-Cnossen comes to TRU from the Ontario College of Art and Design University, where she has served as Vice-President Academic since 2012. Her role focused on recruiting and supporting students and faculty; promoting excellence and innovation in research, scholarship and teaching; and developing and implementing OCAD U’s academic plan. She led the development of the university’s strategic enrolment management action plan, established strategies for internationalization and e-learning, and negotiated and delivered OCAD U’s first major international partnership agreement with India. She recently developed an innovative agreement with Six Nations Polytechnic in support of Aboriginal students wishing to enroll in OCAD U’s BFA degree in Indigenous Visual Culture. She also served as Vice-Chair of Senate, Co-Chair of the Budget Allocation Committee and liaised with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

“Dr. Bovis-Cnossen’s academic accomplishments along with her proven administrative leadership and vision make her the ideal fit in the Provost and Vice-President’s role to champion excellence in teaching and research at TRU,” said TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shaver. “We are extremely pleased to welcome her to TRU.”

Prior to joining OCAD University, Dr. Bovis-Cnossen served as Dean of Arts, Social Sciences and Management at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland from 2003 to 2012. She has also held teaching positions at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Dr. Bovis-Cnossen has a BA (Hon) in Political Science from McMaster University, an MA in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed her PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology at the University of Hull in the UK. A full professor, her research has focused on the role of women in the military and she is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Dr. Tom Dickinson will continue to serve as interim Provost and Vice-President Academic until TRU welcomes Dr. Bovis-Cnossen to campus and to Kamloops in September.

Contact:

Alan Shaver
President and Vice-Chancellor
Thompson Rivers University
[email protected]