Carleton University’s new president Wisdom Tettey addressed a crowd of faculty and staff at a welcome event on Jan. 23, highlighting his vision of overcoming challenges and fostering inclusion for the institution.
Tettey assumed his role on Jan. 1, becoming Carleton’s 17th president and vice-chancellor. He most recently served as vice-president and principal of the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus.
“It’s wonderful for me to call myself a Raven,” Tettey said. “It fills me with a lot of pride and honour that I have the privilege of being welcomed to this community.”
Tettey said he realizes the challenges Carleton is facing in 2025.
The university is pressed with financial obstacles as the school’s deficit continues to grow. Carleton is projecting a $38-million deficit for the 2024-2025 fiscal year if it does not take action to address financial challenges, according to presentation materials shared at a Dec. 4, 2024 Board of Governors meeting.
The university has pointed to the province’s tuition freeze policy and the federal government’s cap on new international students as reasons for the growing deficit.
“Our sector is going through a significant challenge,” Tettey said. “Our institution is facing some very strong headwinds in terms of our ability to deliver on our mission.”
Pauline Rankin, the university’s provost and vice-president, said Tettey is the right person to navigate the institution through these challenges.
“He seems completely unflappable,” Rankin said in a speech at the welcome event. “I think that’s a great quality in a university leader, particularly in this moment.”
Tettey said the obstacles the school faces are not insurmountable.
“We have seen this before and we have survived them,” he said.
In addition to his role as president, Tettey is stepping into a tenured position in the department of political science. His research interests include political communications, African politics and development studies.
Beth Creary, chair of the Board of Governors, said she trusts Tettey’s ability to lead.
“We are confident that with Dr. Tettey’s leadership, Carleton University will continue to thrive as a beacon of academic excellence,” Creary said in a speech.
Tettey succeeds Jerry Tomberlin, who served as interim president for more than a year after Benoit-Antoine Bacon stepped down in July 2023.
Bacon’s departure and Tomberlin’s appointment followed controversial university action during the CUPE 4600 strike in the winter 2023 semester. CUPE 4600 represents all teaching assistants, internally-funded research assistants and contract instructors at Carleton.
During the labour dispute, a number of students and union members publicly expressed concerns about a lack of communication from the university, wage clawbacks and a “climate of animosity” created by Tomberlin. Tomberlin also faced an unresolved complaint alleging he harassed a union member during the strike.
Tettey did not offer specific goals or plans for the university in his address.
Tettey said it is important for everyone to feel welcome at the university, and he expressed his willingness to accept feedback from the community.
“All of us have a role in leading the institution,” Tettey said. “I have a responsibility to hear, to listen and learn from you.”
Featured image by Michael McBean.
