Dr. M. Nauman Farooqi Appointed Next President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Thomas University

On behalf of the Board of Governors, Chair Peter R. Forestell KC, has announced the appointment of award-winning scholar and academic leader Dr. M. Nauman Farooqi as St. Thomas University’s fourteenth President and Vice-Chancellor. The five-year appointment begins July 1, 2023. 

 

“For over a century, STU has played a distinctive and vital role in the post-secondary education sector in New Brunswick and Maritime Canada, and Dr. Farooqi has the leadership skills, experience, and ambition to build on this and lead St. Thomas in the next stage of its development,” said Forestell.  

 

“During a diverse career in academic, public, and private sectors, Dr. Farooqi has built a successful record of program development and management. These attributes, along with his thoughtful and creative approach to university leadership, will be key as we move forward. In addition, he has a strong understanding of how the knowledge and skills from the liberal arts prepare students for their careers and fosters the betterment of society — he will be a strong advocate for post-secondary education and the liberal arts.”  

 

Dr. Farooqi will provide leadership for strategic planning, academic and administrative programs, and advancement activities consistent with STU’s mission and board-approved policies. The appointment follows a national search, with the assistance of KBRS Executive Search, led by a committee that had faculty, student, board, staff, and alumni representatives. Community consultations during the search included focus groups, surveys, community forums, and feedback.  

 

Farooqi currently serves as Dean of Business and Social Sciences at Mount Allison University, where he is responsible for managing the academic departments of Commerce, Economics, Geography and Environmental Science, Political Science and International Relations, and Sociology. He served as the inaugural Director of the Frank McKenna School of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He also brings experience in academic program development, international programming, and pathway agreements. He has been active in his community, serving as a board member on various non-profits and an economic development cooperative.  

 

“I strongly believe that people are at the heart of any successful enterprise, especially a university. Working with and leading people takes solid strategy and planning, but the best strategies can’t be successful without empowering and motivating all members of the community to help reach our goals,” said Farooqi.  

 

“One of my key roles as president and vice-chancellor will be to help the university adopt a set of shared goals between students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders such as the Indigenous and local communities. STU has a great reputation for the quality of its education, alumni, and faculty, and I am very excited to begin my work.” 

 

Dr. Farooqi received his PhD in Business Administration and MBA from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at St. Louis University in the United States, and an MBA from Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan. His research interests are in the areas of Hawala (informal value transfer systems) and experiential learning. He has a successful record of publications in academic journals, peer-reviewed conference proceedings, and academic conference presentations. He has been invited as a keynote speaker at 90 national and international conferences, and has been a guest lecturer at national and international universities.  

 

“We were very impressed by Dr. Farooqi’s career path, his commitment to liberal arts, and strong financial acumen in the context of higher education,” said David Ferguson, Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.   

 

“He brings a skill set that complements existing leadership at the university and has demonstrated his experience in bringing people together to creatively build solutions—we are thrilled to welcome him to St. Thomas. We know that he is anxious to build collaborative working relations with our campus community and external partners.”