PEI Premier Wade MacLauchlan, McGill medical professor Dr. Donald Boudreau join celebration as guest speakers

SACKVILLE, NB — Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau was officially installed as Mount Allison University’s 15th President and Vice-Chancellor at a formal ceremony held on campus, today, October 19, 2018.

The ceremony featured guest speakers the Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and Boudreau’s brother, Dr. Donald Boudreau, a member of Mount Allison’s Class of 1976, respirologist and associate professor of medicine at McGill University. MacLauchlan and President Boudreau were colleagues at the University of Prince Edward Island where MacLauchlan served as President prior to entering politics.

University Chancellor Lynn Loewen and Board of Regents Chair Ron Outerbridge, along with representatives from universities across North America, took part in the official ceremony, as well as Mount Allison students, faculty, and staff members and community members.

In his installation address President Boudreau said he sees his new role as a tremendous responsibility but one that is very rewarding.

“[The role of a University president] is an opportunity to create a space where people can discover and develop their passions and talents — where they can begin to think about what impact they want to have on the world and start to acquire the skills and abilities to help them achieve those goals,” he said.

Boudreau also praised the Mount Allison leaders who came before him in his speech.

“When you step into a role like this it is often customary to say you have big shoes to fill. But Mount Allison has been around for almost 180 years, so in my case I feel I have 14 pairs of shoes to fill as I build on what the presidents who came before me have created,” he said.

The installation ceremony was followed by a community ‘kitchen party’ celebration in the Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts.

Boudreau, who began in the role of President and Vice-Chancellor on July 1, is a developmental scientist and a champion of innovation and entrepreneurial education. He holds a PhD in psychology from Tufts University in Boston and is a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. He comes to Mount Allison from Ryerson University.

This fall Boudreau embarked on a DiscoverMtA Listening Tour, holding in-person and virtual sessions with students, faculty, and staff to learn more about Mount Allison and the wider community. He plans to continue this process throughout the academic term and report back to the community.

Photo captions:

The Installation of Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau as Mount Allison University’s 15th President and Vice-Chancellor. From left to right: University Chancellor Lynn Loewen, Mount Allison Board of Regents Chair Ron Outerbridge, President Boudreau, past Mount Allison Chancellor Margaret McCain, and Secretary of the University Senate and Economics Professor Dr. Craig Brett.

Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau was invested as Mount Allison University’s 15th President and Vice-Chancellor on October 19, 2018. From left to right: Ron Outerbridge, Mount Allison University Board of Regents Chair, Boudreau, and Margaret McCain, past Chancellor of Mount Allison University