Dr. Ian Sutherland
Dr. Ian Sutherland became Mount Allison's 16th President and Vice-Chancellor on July 15, 2024.
Dr. Sutherland comes to academic leadership through a highly interdisciplinary background, rooted in the performing arts, social sciences, and liberal arts. He has held a variety of leadership and academic appointments in Canada, the U.K., Poland, Germany, and Slovenia. He brings extensive knowledge and expertise in strategic planning from his roles in higher education and as a consultant working with private sector and non-profit organizations.
Biography
Dr. Ian Sutherland (he/they) is °®¶ą´«Ă˝app’s 16th President and Vice-Chancellor. A respected academic leader, he has a deep belief in the transformative power of education and the role that Mount Allison can play in helping manage the change and challenges of today’s world.
Dr. Sutherland most recently served as a Vice-President of Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, with primary responsibility for leading the Grenfell Campus — an institution dedicated to the liberal arts and science tradition, in the tight-knit community of Corner Brook. Prior to that appointment, he served for five years as Dean of Memorial University’s School of Music, and six years as Associate Dean (Research) and Director of Doctoral Studies, at the IEDC-Bled School of Management in Slovenia. He has also held research and teaching appointments in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Germany, and provided consulting services in more than forty countries worldwide.
Born and raised in the small outport town of Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Dr. Sutherland understands the importance of community and connection. This has influenced his approach to leadership — a purpose-driven approach that puts people first. Through collaboration and creativity, he seeks to create opportunity, space, and mobilize resources for others to succeed. He strives for a culture that is community.
Identifying as queer, Dr. Sutherland believes that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) must be at the core of university leadership and life. He is deeply committed to enabling 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and community and all equity deserving groups, particularly in the sphere of leadership.
An intense interdisciplinarian, Dr. Sutherland academic background comes from the creative and liberal arts and includes work in leadership and leadership development, cultural sociology, creativity, music and musicology. Originally training as a professional pianist Dr. Sutherland holds B.Mus. (Hons) and M. Mus. Degrees from the School of Music of Memorial University (Canada) and completed his PhD in Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Exeter (UK). He is deeply devoted to intellectual exploration and the application of critical thinking to better our shared world.
Deeply committed to community engagement, Dr. Sutherland has many community engagement projects, and actively works with and serves with a number of community and sectoral organizations. Currently Dr. Sutherland is on the Board of Directors of Quadrangle NL 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Centre and the Board of Business and Arts of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was among the 2019 honourees of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40”, an annual program that recognizes Canadian influencers for their exceptional achievements.
About the position of President and Vice-Chancellor
The President serves as the chief executive officer of the University and is appointed by the Board of Regents. The President is also the University’s Vice-Chancellor and as such may perform any of the duties of the Chancellor in the Chancellor’s absence.
The President is responsible for capturing, developing, and articulating the vision of the University community, and for ensuring academic and administrative policies are in place and implemented to support this overarching vision.
The President is the academic and administrative leader and will manage, motivate, and support the faculty, administration, staff, and students of the University.
Find out more about: