The Rev. Canon Dr. John Gibaut has been appointed the next president, provost and vice-chancellor of Thorneloe University.
The appointment is effective June 1, 2019.
Thorneloe University is a founding member of the Laurentian University Federation on the campus of Laurentian University in Sudbury.
For the past 11 years, Gibaut has held senior executive leadership positions within two global church organizations, the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland and the Anglican Communion Office in London, England.
Prior to assuming these international appointments, Gibaut was an administrator and professor in the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University, a bilingual institution federated with the University of Ottawa. From 1994 to 2003, he served as the faculty's Director of Anglican Studies.
“We are delighted that Dr. John Gibaut will be returning to Canada to assume the leadership role at Thorneloe University,” said Nicole Charette, chair of Thorneloe's board of governors, in a press release.
“Dr. Gibaut has a wealth of experience as a university administrator and ecumenical leader in Canada and abroad.”
“I am excited to join Thorneloe University and live in the City of Greater Sudbury," said Gibaut, in the press release.
"Thorneloe University's innovative programs, including its School of Theology, reflect the best of the arts and humanities.
“I look forward to meeting students and working with the faculty, staff and Board of Governors. I also look forward to being part of a dynamic community with a vibrant post-secondary presence. There is tremendous opportunity for growth with a global reach."
A priest of the Diocese of Ottawa, Gibaut is well known in ecumenical circles, having served on national and international dialogues and commissions.
He has been a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada, the Faith and Witness Commission of the Canadian Council of Churches, the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue, and the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations.
Gibaut earned a doctorate in theology from Trinity College, University of Toronto, and has honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the Montreal Diocesan Theological College and Trinity College, Toronto. He has served as canon theologian of the Diocese of Ottawa.
He has lectured in the Faculty of Divinity at Trinity College as well as academic institutions in Australia and the United States. He has an impressive list of publications and presentations to his credit, reflecting his deep and diverse perspectives on theology. He is a highly regarded scholar in the areas of ecumenism, liturgy, church history, historical theology and Anglican studies.
Thorneloe University offers academic programming in Ancient Studies, Theatre and Motion Picture Arts, Religious Studies, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, as well the Thorneloe University School of Theology. Thorneloe University is also home to the Fielding Memorial Chapel of St. Mark, which has garnered provincial recognition alongside some of Canada’s most famous landmarks.
The university achieves its vision of inspiring transformation through education and its mission of fostering learning for life by nurturing critical thinkers and good citizens through the pursuit of the arts and humanities, with six core values - academic freedom, creativity, collaboration, diversity and inclusion, personal wellness, and the common good.
