Barry L. Craig has been appointed the 17th Principal of Huron University College, effective July 1, the Huron Executive Board announced today. Craig, currently Vice-President (Academic and Research) at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B., follows Stephen McClatchie, who has served as Principal since 2011.
“I am honoured and excited,” Craig said. “Huron is truly one of Canada’s historic universities. It possesses dynamic and committed faculty and staff, an impressive list of accomplished and loyal alumni, and it attracts outstanding students from across Canada and beyond. I believe that there are tremendous opportunities in the next few years for Huron to become a national example of how a small university with a commitment to academic excellence can be a leader in postsecondary education.”
Craig holds a PhD from the University of Wales, an MA from Dalhousie University and a BA from the University of Kings College. He received a special merit award for research from St. Thomas University and twice received the excellence in teaching award from the St. Thomas University Students’ Union, as well as the excellence in teaching award from St. Thomas University in 2002. He has extensive experience in curriculum, programme and policy development and has published several books as well as numerous journal articles, reviews and presentations.
First as Dean of Faculty and then as Vice-President (Academic and Research), Craig has been an academic administrator for more than seven years. He is an Associate Professor in Philosophy and has been awarded St. Thomas University’s highest awards for teaching and research.
During his time at St Thomas University, Craig led the development of an accessibility services office that resulted in record enrollment of students with disabilities. He negotiated a new university access agreement with New Brunswick’s largest Aboriginal First Nation, establishing a pilot program which offered liberal arts courses in the Aboriginal community. Craig was responsible for supervising the development of pre-law and pre-health sciences concentrations at St. Thomas, as well as negotiating collaboration agreements with Harvard Business School to offer HBX Core programs to St. Thomas students. He wrote St. Thomas University’s Student Code of Conduct and developed an initiative to deliver liberal arts lectures on ethics and social responsibility, via live video link, to executives of India’s largest independent oil company.
“Dr. Craig brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge,” said Karen Wilkinson, Chair of the Huron Executive Board. “We are very confident in the leadership and contributions he will bring to our community here at Huron.”
This appointment comes after deliberation by the Huron University College Selection Committee composed of Huron faculty, board, staff and students.
“I would like to thank all members of the Huron community who provided input to the selection committee toward selecting the 17th Principal of Huron University College,” said Ian Jeffreys, Chair of the Selection Committee and Vice-Chair of the Huron Executive Board. “It is through their contributions that we were able to choose the best possible candidate for this important position.”