Dr. Rene Van Acker named president of University of Guelph

Dr. Rene Van Acker, appointed vice-president, research and innovation, just a year ago, is now starting a five-year term as the University of Guelph’s 10th president and vice-chancellor. His term starts July 2, 2025. 

Van Acker says he is assuming the role at a time when the university is on a “pathway to becoming a top-tier university, not just in Canada but around the world.”

With nearly 30 years in academia — _including in senior leadership roles as chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) and vice-president (research and innovation) — Van Acker is widely known for fostering trust and building high-performing teams across the institution.

As he steps into the presidency, Van Acker is focused on encouraging the University community to “think big.” He highlights U of G’s competitive rankings: ninth for reputation among Canadian universities, first in Canada for veterinary science and among the top universities for total research funding, with more than 20 Canada Research chairs held at the university.

“Despite our achievements, we often perceive ourselves as ‘smaller’ than we actually are. It is time to recognize our scale and impact and to not limit ourselves,” he says. “Our mission to improve life and our ability to solve real-world challenges are clearly needed in this world. Applying our expertise to make a global impact has always been part of U of G’s culture and is what draws people to the institution,” he adds.