(Submitted photo/TRU).

By Aaron Schulze

TRU Provost

TRU hires new permanent provost

Mar 15, 2022 | 9:50 AM

KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University (TRU) will have a new provost and vice-president academic on July 1, 2022.

In a news release Monday (March 14), TRU announced that Dr. Gillian Balfour accepted the position. She currently serves as the vice-president and academic dean of King’s University College at Western University in London, Ont., a position she has held since Aug. 1, 2020.

Balfour completed a PhD in sociology at the University of Manitoba where she focused on critical socio-legal studies and feminist criminology. Her research interests include a critical analysis of restorative justice and sentencing law reforms intended to address over-incarceration of Indigenous women, victim impact statements in sexual assault cases and the effects of carceral feminism on the punishment of Indigenous women.

“The opportunity to share the academic and research vision of TRU is an honour and responsibility,” Balfour says. “I am excited to be joining the community and being on campus amidst the beauty of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the T’exelc within Secwépemc’ulucw territories. Thank you for your support, and trusting me to be a part of an important time of change and renewal for TRU.”

Prior to her time at King’s University College, she was associate dean of Trent University Online and full professor of sociology with a focus on socio-legal studies and criminology. While at Trent, she was a member of Canada’s Walls to Bridges collective that provides prison-based learning for incarcerated and non-incarcerated students.

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TRU President Brett Fairbairn says Balfour’s skills and experience align with the university’s vision and values. He says having a permanent provost is important as TRU competes its strategic planning. Donna Murnaghan served as interim provost prior of Balfour’s hire.