Deborah Saucier
Deborah Saucier | |
|---|---|
| President of Vancouver Island University | |
| In office 2019 – April 4, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph Nilson |
| Succeeded by | Emily Huner (acting) |
| President of MacEwan University | |
| In office July 1, 2017 – July 3, 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Citizenship | Otipemisiwak Métis Government Canada |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Victoria University of Western Ontario |
Deborah Saucier is a Métis Canadian neuroscientist and academic administrator who served as president of Vancouver Island University from 2019 to 2025 and MacEwan University from 2017 to 2019.
Life
[edit]Saucier was born in Saskatoon and is a member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.[1][2] She graduated from Pearson College UWC in 1985.[1] Saucier completed a bachelor's degree in 1988 and master's degree in 1990, both in psychology at University of Victoria.[1] She earned a Ph.D. in psychology from University of Western Ontario.[3]
Saucier is a neuroscientist. She was an academic, provost, and vice-president at Ontario Tech University. On July 1, 2017, Saucier became president of MacEwan University. She served in the role until July 3, 2019 when she resigned to become the president and vice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University (VIU) on July 4.[3][1] She succeeded Ralph Nilson.[1] Following pressure from students and faculty, Saucier resigned from VIU on April 4, 2025. She was its first female and Métis identifying person to serve as president of VIU. She was succeeded by acting president Emily Huner.[4]
Saucier is married to Chai Duncan, a curator and contemporary artist. They have a daughter.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bell, Jeff (2019-03-02). "Educator with Metis heritage returns to Island to lead VIU". Times Colonist. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ "Deborah Saucier". Fondation Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- 1 2 "MacEwan University president resigns after two years in top job". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 1, 2019. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ "Vancouver Island University president resigns under pressure from students and faculty". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 28, 2025. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
- Living people
- People from Saskatoon
- Métis academics
- 21st-century Canadian women scientists
- Canadian neuroscientists
- Scientists from Saskatchewan
- Canadian Métis women
- Métis Nation of Alberta people
- Canadian women neuroscientists
- Women heads of universities and colleges
- University of Victoria alumni
- University of Western Ontario alumni
- Academic staff of Ontario Tech University
- Academic staff of MacEwan University
- Academic staff of Vancouver Island University
- Canadian university and college chief executives
- 21st-century indigenous women of the Americas
- Indigenous scientists of the Americas
- Indigenous Canadian women academics