AUCC names Paul Davidson as new president

Proven leader, successful advocate

Ottawa, January 14, 2009 – A strong leader with a track record for forging consensus has been named President and CEO of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

Paul Davidson will begin serving a five-year term as president of AUCC on May 11, 2009, succeeding Claire Morris who has led the organization since March 2004.

Mr. Davidson is currently executive director of World University Service of Canada, a leading international development organization linked to Canadian universities and colleges.

“Our Board believes that Mr. Davidson understands advocacy and has a remarkable talent to gain public and government attention to issues and causes. His passion, creative vision and motivation will serve higher education well,” said Tom Traves, chair of AUCC’s Board of Directors and president of Dalhousie University. Dr. Traves led the presidential search committee, which was made up of university presidents from across the country. “The search committee is unanimous in the belief that Paul Davidson is a strong leader and effective advocate, who will bring a remarkable ability to forge consensus.”

As president and CEO of AUCC, Mr. Davidson will join the AUCC’s 13-member board of directors and will manage the association which represents 94 Canadian universities and university degree-level colleges across the country.

“I am delighted to be taking on this new challenge. Canada’s universities are among the best in the world. They play an essential role in transforming Canada’s economy, improving Canadians’ quality of life and strengthening our democratic society,” Mr. Davidson said. “I look forward to meeting and working with Canada’s university leaders in my new role to identify and pursue public policy priorities that will help universities better meet the needs of students and communities across the country.”

During his tenure at WUSC, Mr. Davidson brought significant change – increasing student, faculty and administration participation in WUSC programs, doubling the number of international students studying at Canadian campuses through WUSC, doubling revenues, and doubling the size of the organization’s acclaimed Student Refugee Program. He also led the creation of Uniterra, a new international volunteer program delivered with the Montreal-based NGO Centre for International Studies and Co-operation (or CECI), which is attracting national and international attention for innovation and results.

Prior to joining WUSC in 2002, Mr. Davidson served in leadership roles for a number of organizations, including vice-president, publishing at Stoddart Publishing from 1999 to 2002, executive director of the Association of Canadian Publishers from 1995 to 1999, and vice-president of the lobby firm S. A. Murray Consulting Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. Previously, he was legislative advisor to the Leader of the Opposition and to the Treasurer and Deputy Premier of Ontario.

“To succeed our outgoing president, Claire Morris, it was clear that we would need to find an outstanding leader and articulate champion for higher education,” said Dr. Traves. “Paul Davidson will be able to build on Claire Morris’s achievements in making the case for higher education and research across the country.”

“Building on the accomplishments of my predecessors and with the support of AUCC’s outstanding staff, I am very excited about the contribution AUCC can make to our membership and to Canada,” Mr. Davidson said.

In addition to his organizational and management skills, Mr. Davidson brings to AUCC a strong commitment to community leadership. He served on the Board of the ALS Society of Canada for six years, leading its advocacy efforts, particularly in the area of legislating compassionate leave; was a member of the selection jury for Trudeau Foundation Scholarships; and in 2008 was the recipient of the Spirit of Trent Award, presented by the Trent University Alumni Association to recognize his contribution to international development, public service and administrative leadership.

Mr. Davidson holds a BA in politics and history from Trent University and a master of arts in history from Queen’s University. He is married to Elly Vandenberg and they have three sons aged 13, 11 and 9.

View Paul Davidson’s biography and photograph

AUCC is the national voice for Canada’s universities. It represents 94 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

- 30 -

For more information contact:

Leslie Cole
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada