February 18, 2013

Leaders' Oustings Upset Canadian Scholars

An Uptick in Board Conflicts May Be Driving President Turnover in Canada 1

Michael Holly

Indira Samarasekera is in her second term as leader of the U. of Alberta. Canadian higher education is seeing "enormous change," she says.

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close An Uptick in Board Conflicts May Be Driving President Turnover in Canada 1

Michael Holly

Indira Samarasekera is in her second term as leader of the U. of Alberta. Canadian higher education is seeing "enormous change," she says.

By Karen Birchard and Jennifer Lewington

Two years ago, David H. Turpin, president of the University of Victoria, noticed a troubling trend in the ranks of his fellow Canadian university leaders: An increasing number of them seemed to be leaving their jobs prematurely, whether by choice or involuntarily.

Intrigued, the busy president of the fast-growing university on Canada's west coast began his own research into presidential departures. He found that 12 Canadian university presidents left office after serving three years