With only a couple of months until current University of the Fraser Valley president Dr. Joanne MacLean retires, the next face of the school has now been revealed. 

The UFV recently announced Dr. James Mandigo as the incoming president and vice-chancellor, promoting him from his current position as the school's provost and academic vice president.

Mandigo is familiar with the president role, having served as the acting president of the school in 2023, which helps make him the ideal choice to take over as the permanent president following MacLean's retirement, explained UFV board chair John Pankratz.

"Building on the steady foundation that Dr. MacLean has created, we believe Dr. Mandigo will provide strong, strategic direction as the university continues to realize its vast potential," Pankratz said. 

Mandigo joined UFV in 2019, but prior to that, he served in senior positions at Brock University, where he was the recipient of a Distinguished Teaching Award and Teaching Excellence Award.

He has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Physical and Health Education Canada, and was lauded by the Government of El Salvador for his research projects.

It's this very research that has helped Mandigo publish 45 peer-reviewed articles and host workshops all around the world.

As the incoming president and vice-chancellor, Mandigo said that he plans to further support the school and its students to be agents of positive change within the community.

"I鈥檝e always been impressed by how student-centred UFV is, how our faculty support our students in a thoughtful way that encourages academic and research excellence, and I鈥檓 truly struck by how well the university fosters collaborative relationships within the communities that we serve," Mandigo said.

He will continue to work closely with MacLean as she prepares to retire in June, with Mandigo getting her official stamp of approval as the new UFV president and vice-chancellor.

"James is personable and warm, with a knack for connecting with people and making them feel heard," MacLean said.

"This is an essential skill for a leader, particularly at UFV, where collaborative work is so important. James also has a keen mind for strategic thinking, and I know he has great ideas in mind for the university鈥檚 future. Most importantly, James has forged deep ties within the Fraser Valley and understands the special relationship UFV has with its communities. All of this tells me that James is well-prepared for this new role, and I am very happy to know that the university will be in such capable hands."

MacLean is retiring after seven years of serving as UFV's president and vice-chancellor. Before that, she had been the dean of health sciences for six years, and had previously held academic positions at the University of Windsor and Brock University.