Dr. Vianne Timmons, OC, took office as the 13th president and vice-chancellor of Memorial in April 2020, coming from the University of Regina where she had served as president since 2008. During her tenure there, the university attained its highest-ever enrolment and diversity, greater recognition for faculty work, and increased levels of external research funding.

Dr. Timmons grew up in Labrador City as one of six children and moved to Nova Scotia during high school. She holds a BA (Mt. Allison), B.Ed. (Acadia), M.Ed. (Gonzaga), and PhD (Calgary).

A teacher by training, she maintains a wide-ranging research program emphasizing family literacy and inclusive education. Her credits include nine books, more than a dozen book chapters, approximately 40 peer-reviewed articles, 30+ funded research projects (as principal or co-investigator), and more than 200 invited lectures.

Her many awards include Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN), a National Inclusive Education Award, a Humanitarian Award (Red Cross), a Community Literacy Award (Canada Post), and the first Gender and Leadership in Higher Education Award (EMULIES). In 2019 she received the Indspire Award for Education. In 2017 she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for her lifetime contributions to inclusive education, family literacy, Indigenous post-secondary education, and women’s leadership.

An active volunteer, Dr. Timmons has served various post-secondary and other organizations, including as: president, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; chair, Universities Canada's Standing Committee on International Relations; and member, Canada Foundation for Innovation.

• Dr. Timmon's employment contract