Sébastien Lebel-Grenier named Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Bishop’s University

Sherbrooke, March 23, 2023 – Bishop’s University Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Sébastien Lebel-Grenier as its 19^th Principal and Vice- Chancellor for a five-year term starting on July 1, 2023.

He will succeed Michael Goldbloom, C.M. who has served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor since 2008.

Professor Lebel-Grenier is a professor at the law school of Université de Sherbrooke where he held many senior leadership positions, most notably as Dean.

“It is an immense privilege for me to have been selected to serve as Bishop’s University’s next Principal and Vice-Chancellor”, says Professor Lebel-Grenier. “Bishop’s is an exceptional institution built on a long history of excellence.  It epitomizes the enduring relevance of a strong liberal arts education in a nurturing, student-centric and community-focused environment. I am looking forward to collaborating with the extensive Bishop’s community to make a strong contribution to our University’s continued development and success.”

“I want to thank Michael Goldbloom for his outstanding leadership and dedication to Bishop’s University over the past 15 years”, said Robert Hall, Chair of Bishop’s Board of Governors. “The University was in a fragile state when Michael arrived and is in a position of strength today because of his wisdom and skill. I am confident that with Sébastien’s record of academic achievement, effective leadership and knowledge of Quebec’s society, he is ideally positioned to lead our institution forward.”

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Sonia Patenaude
Communications Manager – Bishop’s University
819-342-2587 | sonia.patenaude@ubishops.ca

The following message has been sent to the Bishop’s Community.

Dear Bishop’s Community,

I am very pleased to inform you that this morning, the Bishop’s University Board of Governors appointed Dr. Sébastien Lebel-Grenier as its 19^th Principal and Vice-Chancellor for a five-year renewable term to start on July 1^st 2023.

Professor Lebel-Grenier is from Manicouagan in northern Quebec and has lived in several regions of the province, in Ottawa and in France. He holds a License en Droit Civil (LL.L) and a Baccalaureate of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Ottawa, a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies (D.E.A.) from l’Université Aix-Marseilles III and a Doctorate of Civil Law (D.C.L.) from McGill University.

He began his career as a lawyer in private practice at the Montreal office of Stikeman Elliott. He subsequently became professor of public law at l’Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Law where he served as the Common Law and Transnational Law Program Director, Vice-Dean Research and Graduate Studies and as Dean.

At l’Université de Sherbrooke, Professor Lebel-Grenier was instrumental in stimulating innovation, developing philanthropy, and increasing the provincial and national reach and recognition of the Faculty of Law.

Professor Lebel-Grenier is a founding member and co-director of the Centre de recherche Société, Droit et Religions de l’Université de Sherbrooke, an important interdisciplinary research centre which explores the intersection of religion, culture, and law. He pursues research on law and religion as well as fundamental rights and freedoms.

Professor Lebel-Grenier is fluent in French and English. A longtime resident of Lennoxville, he has regularly participated in Bishop’s events. He has maintained strong involvement with the Sherbrooke community and is particularly aware of the importance of Bishop’s University to the Eastern Townships’ English-speaking community.

He has served on provincial and national committees and his opinion has frequently been sought by media, government, and non-government actors. His expertise in constitutional law and fundamental rights and freedoms makes him particularly well equipped to contribute to the advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

Professor Lebel-Grenier brings a strong record of academic and research excellence to Bishop’s as well as a collaborative and inclusive approach to management. His broad knowledge of the framework within which Quebec universities operate and his national and international perspective will be important assets to Bishop’s.

Professor Lebel-Grenier’s spouse Nadia Martel, who is a lawyer, graduated from Bishop’s in 1990 with a degree in Business Administration. She served with distinction on the Bishop’s Board of Governors for nine years and is currently a member of the Board of the Bishop’s University Foundation.

We are very grateful to Michael Goldbloom for his 15 years of outstanding leadership and dedication to Bishop’s University. The University was in a fragile state when Michael arrived and is in a position of strength today because of his wisdom and skill. I am confident that with Sébastien’s record of academic achievement, effective leadership and knowledge of Quebec’s society, he is ideally positioned to lead our institution forward.

Please join me in welcoming Sébastien to Bishop’s and wishing him well.

Robert Hall
Chair, Board of Governors
Bishop’s University

Bishop’s University
2600 College
Sherbrooke, Québec
Canada J1M 1Z7
www.ubishops.ca