Board Members
The UPEI Board of Governors consists of 26 members, which includes the UPEI Chancellor; UPEI President; President of Holland College; nine members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, six members elected by the UPEI Board of Governors; two members elected by and from the UPEI Alumni Association; two members elected by and from the Senate of the University; two members elected by and from the Faculty of the University; and, two members elected by and from the student body of the University.
Shannon MacDonald is a partner with Ernst and Young Canada’s national healthcare practice and has held senior leadership roles with Accenture Canada and Deloitte in health system policy and transformation. She joined the UPEI Board of Governors in 2017, has served as chair of the governance and appeals committee since 2018, and chaired the presidential search committee (2023–2024). The Blooming Point, PEI native graduated from UPEI in 1990 and was named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network four times. She is also a two-time Atlantic Canadian Top 50 CEO in both 2011 and 2012.
The Honourable Diane Griffin, of Stratford, PEI, is UPEI’s tenth Chancellor. She is also the chair of Health PEI. She represented PEI in the Senate of Canada from 2016 until 2022, and has served on and chaired many local, regional and national boards and committees over an extended career. She has worked at all three levels of government, serving as a town councillor for the Town of Stratford and as deputy minister for the provincial department of Fisheries and Environment. Diane is a recipient of the Governor General’s Conservation Award and the Order of PEI. She is a graduate of UPEI (BEd 1973), Saint Dunstan’s University (BSc 1969), and received an honorary Doctor of Laws from UPEI in 2013.
Dr. Wendy Rodgers began her appointment as the University of Prince Edward Island’s seventh President and Vice-Chancellor on June 1, 2024. She earned her BA from York University, MA from Western University and PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Rodgers is a high-achieving researcher with an extensive publication and funding record. She has a long history of administrative and governance roles. Dr. Rodgers most recently served as Vice-President Academic and Provost at the University of Northern British Columbia. Prior to that appointment, she served in several roles at the University of Alberta, including seven years as Deputy Provost. A respected leader in post-secondary education, Dr. Rodgers has a deep commitment to EDI and Indigenization in the post-secondary sector.
Steve Bellamy is a graduate of UPEI (BMus), McGill University (MMus), and the School of Business at Queen’s University (Advanced Executive Management). He has worked across Canada as an entrepreneur, educator, administrator, and producer. Currently CEO at Confederation Centre of the Arts, he was previously founding president of Addo Records and Dean for the Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto. He served on the Board of Governors at Humber College during a period of substantial growth and renewal. He has held faculty positions at McGill University, the University of Hartford, and The Banff Centre for the Arts.
Alex MacBeath, of Murray Harbour, PEI, holds a BSc from UPEI, an MBA from Dalhousie University, and the ICD.D designation through the Rotman School of Management. He has completed executive programs at Harvard Business School, University of Oxford, and Kellogg School of Management. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CPA Canada) and a member of the Ontario and PEI bodies. Alex was an executive partner and CEO of Grant Thornton LLP and subsequently the company’s Global Leader, Markets and Regional Leader, Asia Pacific. He is Founder and Managing Partner of Island Capital Partners and CEO of Athol Barra Inc. He is past chair of the Wallace McCain Institute and Health PEI.
Donald K. MacKenzie, KC, of Stratford, PEI, has a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from UPEI and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School. He spent 15 years in private practice, focusing primarily on litigation matters. For the past 17 years, he has worked for the PEI Mi’kmaq First Nations, including roles as Executive Director and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and now as Legal Counsel for L’nuey (the PEI Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative). He has served on several boards, including the Canadian Bar Association, Charlottetown Harbour Authority Inc., UPEI Sports Hall of Fame, and Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He has undertaken extensive volunteer work, both inside and outside of the legal profession.
Pam Montgomery of Stanley Bridge, Queens County, PEI, holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from UPEI and currently works as the Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity. She has numerous years of experience in strategic planning and execution, financial and administrative management, and fundraising and serves on a number of boards including the Charlottetown Airport Authority.
Carolyn Simpson, of Charlottetown, PEI, has a Master of Education in Leadership and Learning from UPEI and over 40 years of experience working within the provincial government department of Education and Early Years and at Holland College. She has extensive experience in federal, provincial, and territorial relations. She has also served on several boards, including Queens County Residential Services, Early Childhood Development Association of PEI, PEI Association of Licensed Practical Nurses and more. Carolyn is a very proud Mom, Mom-in-Law, and Mammie.
Brian Thompson holds a BBA from UPEI and MBA from Western University. Brian held senior roles in the public and private sectors, capping his career as an executive with Vector Aerospace/StandardAero as the president of the largest division, and then as Senior Vice President, Commercial, of the parent company. Brian’s responsibilities in both roles were global. He has served on the UPEI President’s External Advisory Committee and on the McDougall Faculty of Business Advisory Council. Brian has served on the boards of several important organizations on PEI, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Innovation PEI, and Maritime Electric Limited.
Kateri Coade is the Executive Director of the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI and a proud member of the Abegweit First Nation, residing on the Rocky Point Reserve. Kateri previously held positions in both the provincial and federal governments. She sits on various local, regional, and national boards and committees, including the Board of Directors of the Confederation of the Arts. She is dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of the PEI First Nations, particularly in the areas of mental wellness, social work, child and family support, and justice. She holds a BA in Political Science from UPEI, has bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Dalhousie University, and is an alumna of the 2022 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.
Karen Creighan is the owner of Main Street Pharmasave, a retail pharmacy located in Souris, PEI. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa and a Certificate in Public Administration from UPEI, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA). She completed the Rotman School of Management’s Director Education Program and holds the ICD.D designation. She has served on several other boards including Maritime Electric Company, Ltd., Pharmasave Drugs (Atlantic) Ltd., (Chair), Pharmasave Drugs (National) Ltd., and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation. Currently, Karen sits on the Workers Compensation Board of PEI.
Lynn Ellsworth graduated from Queen’s University in 1970 with a BA in Modern Languages. She completed the Diploma in Public Administration program at UPEI while working full-time with the Government of Prince Edward Island. During her 34-year career, she worked as Staff Development and Training Officer with the Civil Service Commission; Team Leader, Director of Special Services and Assistant Deputy Minister in the Department of Health and Social Services; Policy Analyst for the Cabinet Committee on Social Development; Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council; and Clerk of the Executive Council. After she retired from the civil service, she served as Program Assistant at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI and as a member of the Education Governance Commission.
Dr. Gary Evans, who is of Wolastoqiyik heritage, is a professor in the McDougall Faculty of Business. He served as interim Dean of the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies from 2021–2023. He is a graduate of Sheridan College (Dip. CS), the University of Windsor (BA, BComm, MBA), and Liverpool John Moores University (PhD). Before embarking on an academic career, he held the positions of Senior Partner and CEO for KPMG Consulting for Central Eastern Europe and Partner in Charge of Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Energy for KPMG’s London, UK office. With his past experience in a professional firm, Dr. Evans spends substantial time advising corporate boards and the executive management of major international corporations.
George Jiang is a fourth-year History student who assumed his role as President and CEO of the UPEI Student Union on May1, 2024 for the 2024–2025 academic year. His goals are to improve students' experiences at UPEI in various aspects and to increase opportunities for student input to advance the mission of the University. George is a student assistant to Dr. Edward Chung, Director of Asian Studies and Professor of Religious Studies and has been an active member of UPEI, both in academia and school culture.
Dr. Geraldine Johnston, of Three Rivers, Kings County, PEI, is a UPEI BSc in Chemistry graduate (Class of 1981). A member of the Kings Health medical staff, Dr. Johnston has been in active practice as a family physician for more than 37 years. She has served in numerous roles at Kings County Memorial Hospital including President of the Medical Staff. She is a former Medical Director for Kings Health (2004–2009), Deputy Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons PEI (2009–2022), and board member of the Medical Council of Canada (2002–2020). She was an accreditor for the University of Calgary Medical School in 2015. She also sits on the Steering Committee for the UPEI Faculty of Medicine.
Kristi Kelly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UPEI and master's degrees in business administration and public administration from Dalhousie University. Kristi started her career in management consulting in 2009, focusing primarily on public sector strategy and transformation, including large-scale program development and delivery. Over the last decade, she held various leadership roles across government and public sector agencies and now leads the National Relationships Office at Deloitte Canada.
Dr. Christian Lacroix is a full professor at UPEI and currently Chair of the Department of Biology. Joining UPEI in 1990 as a faculty member, he has also served in several administrative roles: Advisor to the President on Academic Matters (2016–2018), Vice-President Academic (2012–2016), and Dean of Science (2006–2012). He is a graduate of McGill University (BSc 1984; MSc 1986) and University of Guelph (PhD 1990). He served as editor-in-chief of Botany, a Canadian Science Publishing journal from 2011–2023. Christian has served on and chaired several boards at the provincial (Island Nature Trust), regional (Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission; Science Atlantic), and national (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Canadian Botanical Association) levels.
Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald became the President and CEO of Holland College in January 2019. He previously served in the roles of Vice President of Academic and Applied Research at Holland College (2015–2018), Deputy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development (2010–2015), and Deputy Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning in 2015. Dr. MacDonald holds a PhD in Educational and Counseling Psychology from McGill University. He has contributed to the development of innovative educational policy and administrative excellence provincially, nationally, and internationally. He is also active in numerous organizations including the Holland College Board of Governors, Atlantic Colleges Atlantique, PEI BioAlliance, and Innovation PEI.
Camille Mady is a fourth-year business administration student specializing in marketing and is the student representative on the Board of Governors. Camille completed her term as President and CEO of the UPEI Student Union in May 2024. In this role, Camille represented UPEI as a delegate in the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations for Federal Advocacy. She has been a student employee in several departments at UPEI and has held executive roles in other student clubs and societies.
Kevin Magee is the Chief Security Officer for Microsoft Canada. He holds a B.A from Brock University, an M.A. from the University of Guelph and an ICD.D with the Institute of Corporate Directors. In addition to his role as a Governor at UPEI, Kevin serves as a Trustee at Brock University, an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University, Member of the University of Guelph’s Master of Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence Advisory Board, George Brown College’s Cyber Security Program Advisory Council and the Royal Canadian Military Institute. He has also previously served as an Entrepreneur in Residence for Laurier University and advisor for Communitech and MaRS.
Mary Anne McMahon of Charlottetown, PEI, has a Bachelor of Business Administration from UPEI and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University. She has over 35 years of experience in tax and administrative law, and corporate governance. She was formerly general counsel to the Canada Revenue Agency, legal counsel to the CRA Board of Management, and a senior associate with EY Law LLP. She is currently Chair of the PEI Community Care Facilities and Nursing Homes Board.
Dr. William Montelpare is a professor and the Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health at UPEI. His more than 37-year academic career includes teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in health, human physiology, research methods and design, biostatistics and epidemiology, beginning at Brock University, Lakehead University, the University of Leeds, and now UPEI. Through teaching, research, and community service, he has gained tremendous experience working with diverse colleagues from around the world in multiple areas of health care and specifically research and analyses associated with projects across the spectrum from business, social sciences, physical sciences, and health science to arts and culture.
The Honorable Mary Robinson of Albany, Prince County, PEI, has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business and is a Certified Crop Advisor. She has served on multiple boards for private businesses and non-government and government organizations, including the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the World Farmer’s Organization. In 2024, Mary was appointed to the Senate of Canada by the Prime Minister.
Raised in West Royalty, PEI, Dr. Ajay Sahajpal has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UPEI (Class of 1997). He is a multiorgan transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon with Advocate Health in Milwaukee/Chicago. He holds various professional leadership and board appointments within the organization. He is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and passionate about serving his community, particularly around underserved populations and access to education and health equity.
Sara Underwood is the elected UPEI Alumni Association representative on the Board of Governors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction (English major, Philosophy minor) from UPEI, and a diploma in journalism. She has been writing and editing fiction and nonfiction for more than 35 years and has received several awards for her writing. She is the co-owner of Taris Studios, and a producer for the online subscriber service IGNITE Your Music Career. Sara is currently the Media and Communications Officer for Holland College, where she has worked for almost 20 years. She will be retiring in the fall and plans to pursue a variety of projects.
Bill Waterman, of Donaldston, PEI, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and has a Master of Business Administration from the Université de Moncton. He had over 25 years of experience working in industry and government before turning to academia. Currently, Bill is an assistant professor of accounting in the McDougall Faculty of Business at UPEI. He also serves on several boards, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation, chairing both the Investment Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee, and Chartered Professional Accountants of Prince Edward Island (CPA PEI), chairing the Public Practice and Membership Committee.