Full Name
Deborah Saucier
Job Title
President & Vice-Chancellor
Company
Vancouver Island University
Speaker Bio
Dr. Deborah (Deb) Saucier became President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University in July 2019. An experienced administrator, accomplished neuroscientist and devoted educator, Deb is deeply committed to access and learner success, Indigenous education, and community engagement.
Originally from Saskatoon, Deb is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Deb started her journey in academia on Vancouver Island, completing an International Baccalaureate diploma at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in Metchosin, and then bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology at the University of Victoria, receiving her PhD in psychology from the University of Western Ontario in 1995.
Deb worked as a neuroscience/psychology professor for many years, and in recognition of her research she was awarded a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She has garnered a number of grants to support her research, including awards from Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. She has also held a number of administrative roles, most recently President of MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, and Provost and Vice President (Academic) at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa.
Aside from continuing VIU’s innovative work in Indigenous education, access and community engagement, Deb is a major proponent of a well-rounded university experience that includes training in both the sciences and the humanities.
Deb is married to curator and contemporary artist Chai Duncan, and they have a 12-year-old daughter whose passion is horses, to which Deb is conveniently allergic. Her dream is to help make VIU’s high-quality education even more accessible to all who wish to attend university. Her favourite sports team is the Toronto Raptors – #WeTheNorth – and if she could have a superpower, she would like to be able to teleport so she can attend meetings and still get home to be with her family.
Originally from Saskatoon, Deb is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Deb started her journey in academia on Vancouver Island, completing an International Baccalaureate diploma at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in Metchosin, and then bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology at the University of Victoria, receiving her PhD in psychology from the University of Western Ontario in 1995.
Deb worked as a neuroscience/psychology professor for many years, and in recognition of her research she was awarded a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She has garnered a number of grants to support her research, including awards from Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. She has also held a number of administrative roles, most recently President of MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, and Provost and Vice President (Academic) at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa.
Aside from continuing VIU’s innovative work in Indigenous education, access and community engagement, Deb is a major proponent of a well-rounded university experience that includes training in both the sciences and the humanities.
Deb is married to curator and contemporary artist Chai Duncan, and they have a 12-year-old daughter whose passion is horses, to which Deb is conveniently allergic. Her dream is to help make VIU’s high-quality education even more accessible to all who wish to attend university. Her favourite sports team is the Toronto Raptors – #WeTheNorth – and if she could have a superpower, she would like to be able to teleport so she can attend meetings and still get home to be with her family.
Speaking At
