Ramona Lumpkin, Principal of Huron University College, will be leaving Sept. 30 to assume the appointment of President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.
Since July of 2001, Lumpkin has served as principal of Huron, an undergraduate liberal arts institution affiliated with The University of Western Ontario, where she is the first woman leader in the college’s 147-year history.
Ramona Lumpkin
“The Huron community is profoundly grateful for the strong leadership provided by Dr. Ramona Lumpkin,” says John Leitch, chair of Huron’s Executive Board. “She has served the College well and with great dedication. I wish her equal success in her new role at Mount Saint Vincent University.”
The college had already begun a search process to replace Lumpkin for July 1, when her second term at Huron expires.
Huron has benefitted tremendously under Lumpkin’s vision and excellent stewardship.
Since her appointment, student enrolment has increased by 40 per cent and now stands at almost 1,300 students.
Unlike other universities, who in recent years have experienced staff layoffs and cutbacks, Huron has been able to maintain its full staff complement and has achieved a balanced budget for the past 8 years.
In the 2009 February Maclean’s magazine, Huron placed first in Canada in two categories – supportive campus environment and overall educational experience – well above the North American NSSE benchmark.
Huron’s “Touch the Future” Capital Campaign, is on track for completion in 2011, already having raised over $10 million of its $12.5 million goal.
Lumpkin has made Huron’s commitment to internationalization and community service a priority and has continued to strengthen Huron’s role in these areas. She has been a strong advocate for the value of small liberal arts colleges and their benefits to students. Lumpkin is known for her heart-felt concern for students and is always available for a student in need.
During the past nine years, Lumpkin has overseen significant expansion projects with the construction of a new residence, the addition of a library wing, development of new classroom space and a renovated Registrar and Academic Services Centre.
“It’s been a great privilege for me to serve Huron University College over the past nine years,” says Lumpkin. “This is a wonderful academic community, and I will miss it deeply. I know Huron will continue to thrive under its future leadership.”
Lumpkin is an active community leader and has served as the President of the Board for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of London and Area since 2009, was a member of “Imagine Huron” Strategic Planning Task Force for the Anglican Diocese of Huron, September 2004-March 2006 and a member of the Diocese of Huron Task Force for the Review of the Episcopacy, September 2008-November 2009. She was awarded the Order of Huron from the Anglican Diocese of Huron in 2007 for her service to the Diocese.
Prior to her role at Huron, Lumpkin served as the Vice-President Academic and Provost of Royal Roads University.