Leadership Change Announcement

A message from Dr. David Malloy, King's President:

Since July of 2020, Dr. Gillian Balfour has furthered King’s development of a culture rich in academic excellence as Vice-President and Academic Dean. Dr. Balfour has been instrumental in meeting the numerous challenges for course delivery and research that the pandemic placed on King’s faculty, students and employees. So, it is with mixed emotions that I share with you that Dr. Balfour will be leaving King’s. Dr. Balfour has accepted the position of Provost at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) effective July 1, 2022.

While we are thrilled for her success at achieving this significant career goal, we are sad to see her departure. She shared with me this message of gratitude to the King’s community: “I am grateful for the opportunity to be at King’s. Alongside my senior administration colleagues, faculty and staff, we have accomplished a great deal together for our students.  This is a time for transformation for all of us as we move out of the pandemic and into the possibilities of the future.”

I am pleased to advise you that Dr. Robert Ventresca has been appointed the interim Academic Dean effective May 1, 2022 for a two-year term. Dr. Ventresca started his post-secondary career right here at King’s as an undergraduate student in 1989. Since then he has achieved teaching and research excellence with numerous publications. As well, Dr. Ventresca is a Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists at the Royal Society of Canada. His gracious acceptance of this interim role will help fill the gap in leadership until the selection process for the next VP Academic is completed. The Search Committee for the Vice-President Academic will be struck at the next College Council meeting in April to begin this important process.

Dr. Ventresca says he is honoured and excited to serve King’s in this capacity as Academic Dean. “I've been a member of the King's community most of my adult life, and so I have a good sense of its history and development.  I'm also deeply invested in its future.  I look forward to working collegially to advance our academic mission as a public, Catholic university in the liberal arts tradition.”

Please join me in thanking Dr. Balfour for her service to King’s and in welcoming Dr. Ventresca to his new position.