Benoit-Antoine Bacon is a Canadian neuropsychologist who has been serving as the 17th president of the University of British Columbia since November 2023.[1] He previously served as the 15th president of Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario from 2018 to 2023.[2]

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
17th President and Vice-Chancellor,
University of British Columbia
Assumed office
November 1, 2023
ChancellorSteven Point
Preceded byDeborah Buszard (interim)
Santa Ono
15th President and Vice-Chancellor,
Carleton University
In office
July 1, 2018 – August 31, 2023
ChancellorYaprak Baltacioğlu
Preceded byAlastair Summerlee (interim)
Succeeded byJerry Tomberlin (interim)
Personal details
BornMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma materConcordia University (BA)
Université de Montréal (PhD)
OccupationAcademic administrator
Scientific career
Fieldsneuropsychology
Institutions
ThesisEtudes des substrats neurologiques de la stéréopsie chez le chat (1999)
Doctoral advisorsFranco Lepore
Jean-Paul Guillemot

Early life and education

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Born in Montreal, he graduated from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec with a B.A. (Honours) degree in psychology in 1995. He received his Ph.D. in neuropsychology from the Université de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec in 1999 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland.[3]

Career

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His first academic appointment was in the Department of Psychology at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec.[4] Following serious labour strife at Bishop’s, he was asked to serve as Chief Negotiator for the union and led the settlement of several collective agreements.[5] He later served as Chair of Psychology, Dean of Arts and Science, and Associate VP Research at the institution.[6]

In 2013 he was hired as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at his alma mater Concordia University.[7] In 2016, he moved to Ontario to serve as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Queen's University.[8]

On May 1, 2018 he was announced as the 15th President of Carleton University in Ottawa, succeeding interim President Alastair Summerlee.[9] He began his mandate on July 1, 2018, at the same time as Carleton Board Chair Nik Nanos.[10] Together they announced Yaprak Baltacioğlu as the 12th Chancellor of the institution in December 2018.[11]

On July 20, 2023, Dr. Bacon was announced as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, with his term to begin November 1, 2023.[12] Bacon's term as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University ended in August 31, 2023, and was succeeded by Jerry Tomberlin as interim President and Vice-Chancellor.[13]

Personal life

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To contribute to breaking down the stigma around mental health and substance use, Bacon has shared his difficult upbringing in a dysfunctional family[14] and subsequent challenges in early adulthood[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon named UBC president". 20 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Carleton University appoints new President and Vice-Chancellor". ctvnews.ca. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Carleton University names Benoit-Antoine Bacon as president". obj.ca. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "Announcements – May 2018". universityaffairs.ca. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "A Q&A with Benoit-Antoine Bacon". queensjournal.ca. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  6. ^ "Provost at Queen's U appointed new president of Carleton University". ottawacitizen.com. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "Benoit-Antoine Bacon appointed provost". concordia.ca. April 26, 2013. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Benoit-Antoine Bacon appointed provost". queensu.ca. January 8, 2016. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon Appointed as Carleton University's 15th President". carleton.ca. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nik Nanos Appointed New Chair of Carleton University's Board of Governors". carleton.ca. July 5, 2018. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. ^ "Yaprak Baltacioğlu Named Carleton University's New Chancellor". carleton.ca. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon named UBC president". ubc.ca. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon Leaving University to Take on UBC Presidency". Carleton Newsroom. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  14. ^ Dault, Meredith (2017). "Clarity of vision". queensu.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  15. ^ "Installation Address – November 10, 2018". carleton.ca. November 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  16. ^ Bacon, Benoit-Antoine (October 15, 2018). "On Mental Health". carleton.ca. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Alastair Summerlee
(interim)
15th President and Vice-Chancellor
of Carleton University

2018–2023
Succeeded by
Jerry Tomberlin
(interim)
Preceded by
Deborah Buszard
(interim)
17th President and Vice-Chancellor
of the University of British Columbia

2023–present
Incumbent