The search is on for the 11th director of the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus, in preparation for the end of Ken McEwan’s stint.
McEwan will be director until June 2020. He will then support new infrastructure initiatives on the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus for a transitionary year, with a focus on completing fundraising for the Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre. McEwan will then return to his role as a college research professor in July 2021.
“Ken has been a very dedicated and steady leader for the Ridgetown Campus through times of transition,” says Rene Van Acker, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) of the University of Guelph.
Read Also
Ontario Sheep Field Day returns with focus on welfare tech and productivity gains
Veterinary demos, including Solvet’s pain-reducing Lidoband castration, highlight innovation for commercial sheep producers at Ontario Sheep Field Day
“I am so pleased that after the end of his term as director he will be continuing to support the campus’ special infrastructure projects to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and partnerships.”
McEwan is well known for his ability to bring external groups, government, industry and the campus together on strategic initiatives.
Under his leadership the campus expanded its administrative capacity with the new Pestell Student Service Centre, opened a new swine education centre, re-launched the equine diploma program and supported strong enrollment trends. The campus has grown and evolved in the core areas of applied education, research and outreach.
“It has been a great privilege to be part of the University of Guelph as the director of the Ridgetown Campus and work within the agricultural sector in a transformational role with
The OAC dean’s office, to which Ridgetown Campus reports administratively, will launch an external search to fill the director role in the coming days.
The new director is expected to be in place by July 2020.
Ridgetown College is the only remaining college of the original four technical agriculture colleges in the province. It’s now part of the University of Guelph.
