On January 31, Professor Linda Johnston was formally appointed as the 12th Principal of the UTSC campus at the Sam Ibrahim Building. This followed the departure of the previous UTSC President, Wisdom Tettey, who stepped down in April.

Johnston, a renowned nursing researcher, was also recognized as U of T’s new vice-president. 

The Vice-President and Principal are responsible for administrative decisions including the budget, appointments, promotions, and managing the UTSC campus. 

Johnston has served as the acting vice-president and principal since January 1, 2024. On June 27, 2024, the Governing Council officially approved her appointment.

Before taking on this role, Johnston spent over nine years as the dean of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at UTSG. Prior to joining U of T, she led Queen’s University Belfast School of Nursing in the UK and held nursing practitioner roles in hospitals in the US, Australia, and the Middle East.

The ceremony

Many university officials, faculty, staff, students, and Toronto politicians attended the event.

The event began with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Naulaq LeDrew sharing a short prayer, followed by U of T’s Vice-President & Provost Trevor Young delivering a land acknowledgement.

U of T President Meric Gertler made remarks on Johnston’s ability to “[excel] in all aspects of her career,” and praised her “openness and authentic leadership style.”

Johnston was officially granted her role through U of T’s traditional “robing ceremony,” during which she received her new principal gown. 

Scarborough—Rouge Park MP Gary Anandasangaree and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow delivered speeches on how Johnston will play a critical role in advancing UTSC’s community partnerships and its impacts on the region.

Chow shared that “the city counts itself lucky that a researcher and leader known around the world for improving nursing education and patient care” stepped into the role “at a critical time.”

U of T’s Governing Council Chair Anna Kennedy, Vice-Principal Academic & Dean Karin Ruhlandt, and Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Arifuzzaman also spoke at the event.

Kennedy noted that “Professor Johnston is ideally suited to assume this important leadership role.”

“She is a distinguished scholar whose leadership is inspired by and built upon a career rich in experience from her work in teaching, research, and university administration, and she has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in higher education today,” she added.

The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union President, Hunain Sindhu, was also present at the ceremony and participated in the robing tradition. 

Hussain Syed is a fourth-year student studying human biology and psychology and a student representative for U of T’s Health and Wellness Centre, appointed by Johnston. Syed spoke at the event about how Johnston’s background as a healthcare professional would have “given her a deep appreciation for how fostering [a] culture of care is key to helping students reach their fullest potential.” 

Concluding remarks

The ceremony concluded with Johnston delivering her installation address. 

In her speech, she described the position as the highlight of her career, emphasizing that her main goal was to create a “culture of care” during her five-year term. 

In an interview with The Varsity after the ceremony, Johnston explained her vision for a campus community where people “feel valued, that they can speak up, and they’re heard, and that they feel like they’re included in decisions.”

Johnston also highlighted her commitment to advancing UTSC’s role in “optimizing the social, environmental and economic well-being of Scarborough and the eastern GTA.”

She mentioned that the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, scheduled to open in 2026, will play a crucial role in providing health services, research, and further educational opportunities for the region.

“I will do my best to justify [UTSC’s] trust by continuing to focus on our core values of intentional inclusion, students as partners, reciprocity and accountable stewardship,” she concluded.