I would like to acknowledge that UBC’s Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Musqueam people, and that UBC Okanagan is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. I would also like to acknowledge that many Board members and UBC community members may be joining us remotely today from many places, near and far, and acknowledge the traditional owners and caretakers of those lands.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome returning students – I hope that the second term of your Winter Session is off to a strong start. The decision to extend online delivery of most programs until February 7th likely means that the term is not beginning as had been expected for many students and faculty. While I believe the President will discuss this more in his remarks, I wanted to make it clear that the Board stands behind the Administration in having taken this decision.
In 2022, the Board’s meeting cycle is following a new format. Under this format there will be a full cycle of Committee and Board meetings in March, June, September and then again over November and December. Today’s meeting is a shorter meeting, and is intended for the Board to be able transact any pressing business that arises between December and March.
One of those pressing matters is to mark our appreciation for the work of our Provost and Vice-President Academic of the Okanagan campus, Ananya Mukherjee Reed, as she departs at the end of this month to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University near New Delhi in India.
Since joining the Okanagan campus in November 2018, the impact of Ananya’s leadership and commitment to excellence has been evident to all of us here on the Board of Governors. I am certain that the impact of her work as co-lead of the anti-racism taskforce will be felt long after her departure, as will the impact she has had on the Okanagan campus. Ananya, thank you and congratulations. We are sad to see you go, and we wish you all the best in your new role.
At our last meeting in December, I also noted my appreciation for Governor Sandra Cawley, for whom this will be the last Board meeting as she has reached the end of her term in early February. Sandra, as noted previously, we thank you so much for all of your work and support of the University, the Board and particularly for all of your service as Chair of the Property Committee.
I am very pleased to be able to announce at this meeting, that Governor Anthonia Ogundele will be stepping into the role of Chair of the Property Committee following your departure. Anthonia’s passion for community, experience as former Chair of the Coal Harbour Residents’ Association, and Masters Degree in Environmental Studies, Urban Planning will be an asset to the Property Committee as the Vancouver Campus embarks upon its Campus Vision 2050 initiative. Thank you so much Anthonia!
