Office of the President

The Office of the President & Vice-Chancellor provides executive leadership and institutional stewardship for Laurentian University. As the University’s chief executive officer, the President works in partnership with the senior leadership, the Board of Governors, Senate, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance Laurentian’s academic mission, public responsibilities, and long-term sustainability.

Message from the President

Laurentian President Lynn Wells standing by a railing looking towards the camera.

“I hold Laurentian University’s bilingual and tricultural mandate in the highest regard as a real differentiator for us among Ontario’s post-secondary institutions. With a degree in French literature, I am a long-time advocate of Francophone education. As a descendant of settlers, I have had the opportunity to learn from First Nations and Métis people through my work at First Nations University of Canada. Laurentian is well positioned to meet the needs of the people of the North and to share this knowledge with the rest of the province, the country, and the world. I am honoured to be part of Laurentian’s future.”

Dr. Lynn Wells

President and Vice-Chancellor

About the President

Dr. Lynn Wells is a Canadian scholar, teacher and university leader, with over 20 years of experience in senior academic leadership positions. In April 2024, Dr. Wells became the 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University.

Dr. Wells served as Provost and Vice-President, Academic at Brock University from 2020 to 2023, where she also held a concurrent appointment as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor for 15 months. Prior to 2020, she was the inaugural Associate Vice-President, Students and Teaching at MacEwan University in Edmonton and held senior positions at the University of Regina, including Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Associate Vice-President Academic.

For seven years, Dr. Wells worked directly with Indigenous people and communities through her service as Vice-President Academic and Special Advisor to the President at First Nations University of Canada. As a leader, Dr. Wells has demonstrated her commitment to key issues such as national reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Dr. Wells is a respected scholar in her field of Contemporary British Fiction, having published two books and numerous articles on writers such as Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, and A.S. Byatt. She is an internationally recognized expert on the British author Ian McEwan, and her research interests include representations of urban life, particularly in the city of London, as contemporary British culture and literary ethics. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Dr. Wells is a passionate teacher committed to student success and inclusivity.

She holds a Master’s in English and a B.A. Honours (summa cum laude) in English and French Studies from York University, along with a PhD in English from Western University.

Dr. Wells currently serves as a Co-Chair of the eCampus Ontario Board, and plays an active role in the university governance committees both provincially and nationally. She engages with the Greater Sudbury community through her membership on the Board for the United Way for North East Ontario.

About the role of the President

The President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University serves as the University’s chief executive officer and external ambassador. The President reports to the Board of Governors and works closely with Senate to uphold Laurentian’s academic integrity and public mission.

Governance

In the University’s bicameral governance system, the President reports to Laurentian University’s Board of Governors and acts as Chair of the Senate. The President is responsible for implementing decisions of the Board of Governors and Senate, and for ensuring sounds governance.

Lead visionary

Together with other University leaders, the President is responsible for the development and implementation of Laurentian University’s Strategic Plan. The Office works collaboratively with senior administration to align institutional planning, operations, and resources with Laurentian’s mission and strategic priorities.

External ambassador

Laurentian University is deeply connected to Northern Ontario and to the communities it serves.

The President engages regularly with:

First Nations, Indigenous communities, and partners;
Francophone groups;
Municipal, provincial, and federal governments;
Alumni, donors, and other friends of the University in the community;
Industry partners;
Local colleges and universities, as well as others across the province and the country; and
Education, health, and economic development partners.

These relationships support Laurentian’s role as a regional leader and public institution.

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