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The Board of Governors of St. Thomas University has appointed Sandra Irving, CM, ONB as Chancellor.  

 

“Sandra Irving has long been a champion of higher education and a leading supporter of students in the region, so we are honoured that she has agreed to become Chancellor during this exciting time in our development,” said Vaughn Sturgeon, Chair of the St. Thomas University Board of Governors.

 

Irving received an honorary degree from St. Thomas in 2017 for her contributions to society and the ideals she has modeled throughout her life.

 

“I believe very strongly in the transformative value of education and supporting equitable learning opportunities for students. Under the leadership of Dr. Farooqi, the faculty, staff, and alumni of ���߲ݴ�ý are making that happen. They put students first and have a close-knit and successful learning environment—I am looking forward to being part of the ���߲ݴ�ý community,” said Irving.

 

The Chancellor is an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors and presides at Spring and Summer Convocations, as well as assists in the development of the university. Irving will succeed the Hon. Graydon Nicholas and will be installed at Spring Convocation on May 20, 2026.

 

Embodying the Values of Higher Education and Community Service

 

“What Sandra Irving and her late husband, Arthur, liked to do best was help students. She is an advocate for young people, embodying the values of higher education and community service. As Chancellor, she will reflect the aspirations of our students and alumni,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. M. Nauman Farooqi.

 

“We have ambitious and exciting goals in our Strategic Plan 2025-30, and Mrs. Irving will bring inspiration to our mission to prioritize teaching and learning so that each of our students is well prepared for personal and career fulfillment.”

 

“Irving, with her husband, has made an enduring and transformative contribution to higher education in New Brunswick and across Canada. Through sustained philanthropy, principled leadership, and a belief in the power of education, they helped expand access, elevate academic excellence, and support the long-term vitality of post-secondary institutions,” Farooqi added.

 

Sandra Irving is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick for her many contributions as a philanthropist and community volunteer who supports educational, social service, and youth organizations. She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club, and the Canadian Red Cross in New Brunswick Humanitarian Award.

 

As Chair of the President's Advisory Council of the Royal Society of Canada, she encouraged greater recognition of leading professors and researchers, and assisted the Royal Society in engaging youth and First Nations, extended its mandate to creative and performing arts, and mentoring young faculty. Sandra and Arthur also made a gift to establish RSC-Atlantic to foster connections between outstanding scholars and universities in our region.

 

Irving earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of New Brunswick Saint John and a Master of Arts from the University of Toronto.

 

Contributions of Graydon and Beth Nicholas

 

“I want to thank the Hon. Graydon Nicholas for his contributions as Chancellor over the past five years. He has inspired and supported our students, and his contributions to our efforts towards reconciliation will be felt for years to come. He and his wife Beth will continue to be part of the ���߲ݴ�ý family, and we will be honouring their distinctive contributions in the future,” said Dr. Farooqi.

 

About St. Thomas University

 

Founded in 1910, St. Thomas University is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts institution with a full-time enrolment of 1600 that offers Bachelors of Arts, Arts (Aviation), Applied Arts, Education, and Social Work degrees, a Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey Bachelor of Social Work, and a Master of Social Work. Faculty members are distinguished teachers, researchers and scholars, and the university holds two Canada Research Chairs and a New Brunswick Health Research Foundation Chair. ���߲ݴ�ý’s vision is to become the leading choice for students seeking a holistic university experience.