Qalipu chief, profs among those added to MUN's board of regents

An Indigenous leader, a famed Newfoundland musicianand two faculty union membersare among seven new appointments to Memorial University's board of regents.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government made the announcementThursday. Those added to the boardincludesQalipu Mi'kmaq Chief Brendan Mitchell, Great Big Sea founding member Bob Hallett,KMK CapitalCEO Justin Ladha, Abacus Data managing director Tim PowersandStonebridge Capital CFOLynn Zurel.

Former head of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Associationand business professor AshHossainand French lecturer Nathalie Pender of theGrenfell campus mark the first two staff members to sit on the board.

Following a contentious faculty strike thiswinter, both the university and the faculty associationrequested a legislative change to the Memorial University act toallowteaching staff on the board.

The provincial government made amendments to the Memorial University act in May, allowing that to happen.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, board chair Glenn Barnes welcomed the new members.

"I would like to personally thank this group for agreeing to serve in this leadership role for Newfoundland and Labrador's university as we work together to support students, and the entire university community, while impacting the social, cultural and economic success of the province," Barnes's statement said.

The board of regents "oversees the management, administration and control of property, revenue, business and affairs of the university."

The board came under fire in the springfor how it handled the matterof ousted president and vice-chancellor Vianne Timmons, who was removed in April following a CBC News investigation into previous comments she made on her Indigenous heritage.

Students and MUN's faculty association said removing Timmons without conducting an Indigenous-ledinvestigation into her hiring did not absolve the board's role in the matter.

MUNFA called on the board to hire an expert on Indigenous identity to conduct an independent investigation.

"The administration and the board of regents have yet to apologize for what has happened here," said a MUNFA press release.

The board was also criticizedfor its decision not to singthe Ode to Newfoundlandat itsconvocation ceremonies.

Nominations opened last month forsix alumni positionson the board.

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