A Message from our President

Welcome to another issue of the King’s Herald. I am always excited to receive each issue and proud to read the accomplishments and stories of King’s alumni throughout these pages.

I am pleased to let you know that my own story at King’s will continue. On July 1, 2024, I will begin my second term as President of King’s.

My first term was certainly eventful, but I feel that many things have been accomplished since I arrived in 2019:

  • The Elizabeth Russell Achievement Centre opened, thanks to a $1 million donation from the estate of Elizabeth Russell, one of the largest individual gifts in King’s history.
  • A research office and the $1 million King’s Research Excellence fund was established.
  • The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) was established after the formation of the King’s/Brescia Joint Presidents’ Anti-Racism Working Group with Brescia University College; an Ingenious Initiatives Advisor was appointed, and the Progress Pride flag was flown, showing that King’s is a place for everyone.
  • The President’s Accessibility Advisory Committee was established to facilitate a barrier-free campus.

While many achievements may have happened under my watch, the true credit should be extended to the stellar team of faculty, students and administrative people, all of whom take great pride and care in the stewardship of King’s University College. I am grateful for their support, not simply for the tasks they complete but for their energy, dedication, and belief that constantly inspire me as we continue to make King’s a place to be and a place to become.

That support, and yours, will be needed as King’s moves towards establishing a new strategic framework focusing on thoughtful, sustainable campus infrastructure and programming in service to our overall mission, vision and values. There is much work to be done and many changes to come, but I know that the team assembled here at King’s is more than up to the task and will utilize their talents to craft a vibrant, fiscally sound, solid place to be during these times of ongoing change.

Speaking of change, we were saddened to hear that Brescia University College will be ending its 104-year history of Catholic education for women and the long tradition of a Catholic education partnership between King’s and Brescia. We are, however, encouraged by the merger with Western University, which will provide a new home of programs and pathways for domestic and international students who need cultural support and help with English-language proficiency before they start their degree program. Western will offer Brescia’s unique programs (i.e., Foods & Nutrition, Family Studies and Human Development) and integrate them into an appropriate faculty.

At this time, I want to reassure you that King’s will remain a strong affiliate of Western, committed to our purpose and our vision as a leading liberal arts, values-based university. No matter what changes may lay ahead, King’s will always be a place for you, our beloved alumni, to call home.

Respectfully,

David C. Malloy, PhD
President