When students start a new year at the University in Guelph in in September, it will be the first time since 2002 that they do it without Alastair Summerlee as president.
Franco Vaccarino was announced Tuesday – at a ceremony to mark the school’s 50th anniversary – as the replacement for the retiring Summerlee.
He comes from the University of Toronto, where he is a school vice-president and principal of its Scarborough campus, and will begin his term Aug. 15.
“There’s a passion, a pride and a professionalism at this university that really is unparalleled,” Vaccarino told a gathering of students, faculty, and school officials.
“I know I have big shoes to fill.”
Summerlee says he’s sure Vaccarino was the right choice for the position.
“I have every confidence that he is going to step into the role and be very successful,” he says.
Vaccarino will be the eighth president of the school since its founding in 1964.
