After an extensive national search, McMaster is appointing an experienced leader in Canadian higher education governance as its new University Secretary. Christi Garneau joins McMaster following her recent service as Associate Secretary at Queen’s University in Kingston.

“This is an outstanding appointment for the University,” says President Patrick Deane. “Christi’s skills and abilities, as well as her deep experience as a leader in university governance, will serve McMaster well.”

At Queen’s, Garneau was senior advisor within the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel working closely with the Secretary of the University and Corporate Counsel. She led a team providing strategic governance, administrative, research and operational support to the Board of Trustees, the University Council and several standing and ad hoc committees.

At McMaster, she will succeed Helen Ayre, who is retiring after having served as University Secretary since 2013.

The University Secretary is a key leadership role in the governance of McMaster. The Secretary is the chief administrative officer of both the Board of Governors and Senate and is responsible for directing the operations of the University Secretariat.

“I’m honoured to be appointed McMaster’s University Secretary,” says Garneau. “I’ve long been aware of McMaster’s reputation among the world’s top universities, and I’m looking forward to joining the exceptional Secretariat team already in place on campus.”

In addition to her time at Queen’s, Garneau has also served with the British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer, where she coordinated the work of 68 provincial articulation committees by advising faculty chairs on governance and policy issues.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in History at the University of Guelph, and her master of arts in History at Simon Fraser University.

Garneau begins her new role July 24.