President & Vice Chancellor

Dr. Gillian Siddall became President and Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University in July 2023. Since returning to Lakehead, she has focused on strengthening a culture of collaboration, respect, and shared purpose across the university community while positioning the institution to serve communities across Northern Ontario and Simcoe County and ensuring the long-term sustainability of its campuses and regional initiatives.

Under her leadership, the university launched a new institutional strategic plan, Evolution: Lakehead University’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which sets a clear direction for the future with priorities focused on transformative student experiences, people and culture, financial sustainability, and strong community and industry partnerships. Her presidency has also seen the expansion of Lakehead’s regional presence, including the establishment of the Barrie STEM Hub, creating new opportunities for students and strengthening partnerships across Simcoe County.

A major milestone during her presidency has been advancing the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP), a landmark partnership between Lakehead University and the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Designed to train veterinarians for the North, in the North, the program represents the first expansion of veterinary education in Ontario in a generation and will welcome a cohort of 20 northern students each year.

Dr. Siddall previously served as President of Emily Carr University of Art + Design and earlier as Vice-President Academic and Provost at OCAD University. She first joined Lakehead in 1998 as a faculty member in English and later served as founding director of the Teaching and Learning Centre and as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

She holds an Honours BA and MA from the University of Guelph and a PhD from Western University. A scholar of Canadian literature, her research explores musical improvisation within and beyond literary contexts. Outside of her academic work, Dr. Siddall is an accomplished jazz vocalist and choral singer and a co-founder of the Guelph Jazz Festival.

 Office of the President

p: 807-343-8200
e: president@lakeheadu.ca
Thunder Bay Campus – UC 2009C

Executive Assistant to the President
Nikki Maronese
p: 807-343-8200
e: executiveassistant@lakeheadu.ca

Chief of Staff
Rosanna Scaffeo
p: 807-343-8010 Ext. 7276
e: rosanna.scaffeo@lakeheadu.ca