Jack Lightstone

Jack Lightstone, who has helped usher Brock University through an era of dramatic growth and partnership with its surrounding community, has been reappointed to a second five-year term as the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

The unanimous decision was made today by the University’s Board of Trustees at its annual meeting, and comes at a time when Lightstone still has more than a year left on his current five-year term. The new appointment takes effect July 1, 2011.

Rudi Kroeker, chair of the Board of Trustees, called the decision an important step for Brock and Niagara.

“I am thrilled that the Board has reappointed Dr. Lightstone, and that he has accepted it,” said Kroeker. “He has demonstrated good reason for us to have great expectations of him, and I have every confidence that he will exceed them in ways that take my breath away. He’s integrated the University into the community and leads our elevation in academe.”

David Howes, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Committee on the Presidency, said the decision to re-appoint was not a difficult one.

“He’s doing a great job,” said Howes. “This is about what is best for the University. Since he became President and Vice-Chancellor four years ago, Jack has shown that the board appointed the right person for the right time. And he continues to be the right person to lead the University in the direction that it needs to go in.”

Over the past four years, Lightstone has overseen the completion or confirmation of numerous major projects to improve the student learning environment. These include the Niagara Health and Bioscience Research Complex, the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts for downtown St. Catharines, the International Centre and the extension to Welch Hall. Some have been done with community partners, and are designed to benefit not just the University but also the economic growth of the surrounding community.

“The University has come to recognize a dual mission: contribute to the advancement of the international world of academe through teaching and research, and at the same time ever deepen its partnerships with the communities around us,” said Lightstone.

“Increasing the level of partnership in the community has meant mobilizing the University’s intellectual capital on many fronts, to help drive the development of our extended region economically, culturally and socially. I have great enthusiasm for the mission that Brock is pursuing. It is an honour to continue to serve this great institution and its current developmental trajectory.”

Before taking office as President and Vice-Chancellor on July 1, 2006, Lightstone had been at Montreal’s Concordia University for more than 30 years, where he held numerous academic and senior administrative posts including Provost and Vice-President.

For more biographical information on Jack Lightstone, go to brocku.ca/about/senior-administration/lightstone