This October, the University of Waterloo will be recovering from more than just Frosh madness and a heavy beginning-of-the-year workload. The school will be saying farewell to university president David Johnston, who was recently appointed to the post of governor general of Canada.

Johnston's new position begins October 1, 2010, at which point the university will be taken over by an interim president. The University's board of governors has named Feridun Hamdullahpur to the interim position, according to an August 10 news release. Hamdullahpur currently serves as provost and vice-president academic. He was also vice president of research at Carleton University until July 31, 2009.

The chair of the board of governors, Bob Harding, said in a July 8 news release the university was very lucky to have Johnston as president for the past 11 years. 

Students at Waterloo seem to be just as excited as university officials. Brent Nawrocki, a second-year sciences student, said he was shocked, but in a good way. Already an avid school supporter, he said he's now “that much more proud to be a Waterloo student.”

Nawrocki also said the idea of an interim president doesn't bother him, because “it's only for a short duration, and once we find a new president, our school can continue to grow.”

“It was just kind of unexpected, but a nice surprise," said Waterloo student Evan MacKinnon.