Stephen Toope
| Stephen J. Toope | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 12th President of the University of British Columbia | |
| In office 2006–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Martha Piper |
| Succeeded by | Arvind Gupta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1958 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Spouse(s) | Paula Rosen |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Norman Mackenzie House, University Endowment Lands, Vancouver |
| Alma mater | Harvard University, McGill University, Cambridge University |
| Occupation | Administrator |
| Profession | Academic, Lawyer, Legal scholar, Pedagogue |
Stephen J. Toope, (born 1958) was the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. He assumed the presidential post on July 1, 2006 and held the position for eight years, until June 30, 2014. He was formerly the president of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
A scholar specializing in human rights, public international law and international relations, Toope was the 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, succeeding Martha Piper, after nine years of service. He also holds an academic position at the university as a tenured professor of law.
On April 3, 2013 it was announced that President Toope will leave the UBC presidency effective June 2014 to "pursue academic and professional interests in international law and international relations".[1] On January 22, the University of Toronto announced that Toope will assume the role of director of the university's Munk School of Global Affairs. [2]
Education
Toope graduated from Harvard University in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and European History. Then, he received two law degrees from McGill University in 1983, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the McGill Law Journal. Finally, in 1987, he finished his PhD at Cambridge University, subsequently joining McGill's faculty. [3]
Career
Toope served, until recently, as head of an independent, private, and non-partisan Canadian educational foundation, the Trudeau Foundation, named in honour of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The Foundation focuses on identifying outstanding talent in the social sciences and humanities, thereby building a network to promote public debate on issues of societal importance. The Foundation awards five fellowships and 15 doctoral candidate scholarships annually to recognize outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences that exemplify innovative public policy approaches and a commitment to public engagement. Established in 2002, the foundation manages an endowment of more than C$140 million.
Earlier, Toope served as dean of McGill University Faculty of Law from 1994 to 1999. He is the youngest person to have held the position. During his tenure as dean, he led the then-largest capital campaign in Canadian law faculty history to build a new Law library, and oversaw the renewal of the faculty’s curriculum.
Toope has consulted extensively to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and to the Canadian International Development Agency. He has won publishing awards from the American Society of International Law and the Canadian Tax Foundation.
He has conducted human rights seminars for government officials in Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and was a member of the UN observer delegation to the first post-apartheid South African elections. He has also served as Research Director, Office of the Special Representative concerning the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People in 1991.
His service to the community includes serving on the boards of non-governmental organizations that promote human rights and international development, including the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, the World University Service of Canada and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
As the President of UBC, Toope received salary and benefits of $582,860 in 2012/13.
University pledges
As UBC president, Toope says he hopes to work on prioritizing student learning. In particular, he wishes to create more opportunities for students to work with high-profile researchers. Issues affecting First Nations students on campus will also receive more attention, with a focus on student integration and transition into university life, as well as on trying to engage First Nations students with lower levels of education.
Toope has said he will not focus on the expansion of the university beyond UBC Okanagan.
Personal
Toope currently lives in Vancouver with his wife, Paula Rosen, and their three children. [4]
References
- ↑ UBC Public Affairs. "Stephen Toope to leave UBC Presidency in June 2014.". Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ↑ Globe and Mail. "U of T’s Munk School taps UBC president Stephen Toope.". Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ↑ "Tuum est, Mr. President". Ubyssey. 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
- ↑ "University of British Columbia names new President". UBC Public Affairs. 2006-03-22. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
External links
- Glavin, Terry (2006-04-27). "New president wants to root UBC in the city". Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
You have to be rooted where you are