Patrick Deane (professor)

Born in 1956[1] and raised in South Africa, he studied English and law at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1978, he emigrated to Canada, studying English literature at the University of Western Ontario. There he would earn his M.A. in 1980 and a Ph.D in 1985. From 1984-85, Deane was also a Queen Elizabeth II Scholar.[2]

Deane's professional career began in 1986, working as a faculty member of the University of Toronto's Department of English. He would however return to Western in 1988, when the university's Department of English extended an invitation for him to teach there. Deane had eventually become the vice-chair of the department in 1993, and the chair of the department in 1997.

In 2001, Deane had accepted a position with the University of Winnipeg as their Vice-President (Academic). During his time at Winnipeg, he was also the chief officer of the Inter-Universities North.[2] Following the resignation of the university's president, Deane was made the acting-president of the university in 2003. During his tenure as acting-president, Deane oversaw the elimination of the university's large accumulated debt, without the cancellation of any programs or loss of jobs. Deane eventually handed over the presidency to Lloyd Axworthy, and was appointed as provost at the university. In 2005, Deane accepted a position at Queen's University as the Vice-Principal of Academics of the university, providing academic leadership to all seven faculties and schools, the Office of the Registrar, Institutional Planning and Analysis, and Student Affairs.[2]

On 15 October 2009, it was announced that Deane would succeed Peter George as the 7th President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University, following the approval of McMaster's Board of Governors.[3] On 1 July 2010, Deane assumed the role as McMaster's President and he was formally installed at the University's fall convocation ceremony on 19 November 2010.[4]

On 5 November 2018, Queen's University announced that Deane would succeed Daniel Woolf as Queen's 21st Principal and Vice-Chancellor.[5] Deane formally stepped down as McMaster's president on 30 June 2019, having served nearly two-full terms in that capacity.[6] He assumed the role as the Principal of Queen's University the following day, on 1 July 2019.

• Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University