Thompson Rivers University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Roger Barnsley has announced that he will be retiring from the university next summer. Now in his tenth year as the leader of Canada’s most comprehensive university, Dr. Barnsley has formally advised the Board of Governors that he will retire from his position as President and Vice-Chancellor effective August 31, 2008. “The opportunity to serve as the President of The University College of the Cariboo and Thompson Rivers University has been truly remarkable” said Barnsley, in a communiqué announcing his decision to the university community today.
“I hope and trust that I have served the university well and that I have lived up to the expectations that were set for me when I was appointed. I am confident that TRU will be successful in finding and recruiting a new President who can lead our university through the coming years.” The TRU Board of Governors will immediately begin an international search to find the next president of British Columbia’s fourth largest, and most innovative provincial university. Much of what the institution has achieved is the direct result of the vision and leadership of Dr. Barnsley, who has guided the university through many pivotal accomplishments and transitions over the past decade. Ron Olynyk, Chair of the Board of Governors expressed the Board’s appreciation for the service and leadership Dr. Barnsley has given to Thompson Rivers University.
Roger Barnsley grew up in Trail, B.C. and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Victoria and his graduate studies at McGill University. Upon completion of a PhD in Psychology, he embarked on an academic career spanning the country in both the secondary and post-secondary systems, before joining the University College of the Cariboo (UCC) as the institution’s fourth president in 1998. During his first five year term, Dr. Barnsley’s leadership was vital to the continued development of the ‘university college’ concept that created the laddering of programs across the full spectrum of programs, and fostered the early development of innovation, scholarship and research in the undergraduate environment.
By 2003, the success of UCC and the vision of President Barnsley and university and community leaders led to the drive for a comprehensive university that would be a catalyst for economic, social and cultural development in partnership with the external community. The result was the formation of the grassroots “UCC University Society” movement that, in March 2004, ultimately brought about the announcement of full university status for TRU.
While the formal Inaugural Convocation ceremonies marking the creation of Thompson Rivers University on March 31, 2005 may be the most memorable event, over the past decade there have been many other accomplishments across the university that are a tribute to the decade of leadership by President Barnsley.
These include the monumental task of assuming responsibility for courses and programs from the former B.C. Open University and their transition to becoming an integral part of TRU today, in the provincially mandated role as the B.C. Centre for Open Learning.
Other accomplishments include the building of the fully self-funded International Building; the partnership development of the new Residence & Conference Centre; and the growth of a ‘university city’ relationship with the City of Kamloops that has brought about the creation of the McGill Corridor Plan, locating the City of Kamloops’ Tournament Capital facilities on the TRU campus, and collaboration on many international economic and cultural initiatives through Venture Kamloops and other local organizations, including the Secwepemc Cultural Education Society and the Kamloops Indian Band.
The past decade has also seen the creation of many new undergraduate program options, including Canada’s first degree program for trades journeypersons, as well as the launch of the first three Masters degrees and other post-graduate specialties at TRU.
In his message to the university community, Dr. Barnsley shared the credit for the past decade in stating that “I want to express my thanks and gratitude to each of you for the support that you have extended me. The students, staff, faculty, administration and the Board of Governors of TRU have all fundamentally contributed to the many successes that have been collectively achieved at TRU.”
Dr. Barnsley was awarded the British Commonwealth’s Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003. In 2006 he received an honorary degree from Saint John’s University in Bangkok, Thailand in recognition of his outstanding knowledge, leadership and expertise in the field of education. In the upcoming months, the university and the local community will celebrate Dr. Barnsley’s accomplishments and the growth and evolution of TRU under his leadership.
For more information please contact:
Roger Barnsley at 828-5001
or
TRU Board of Governors through Maryanne Bower at 828-5318
