Since arriving back to Canada, I’m frequently told stories about the remarkable connection that students and alumni feel with this institution. More than anything else, these stories have shown me just how strongly people respond to UNB and their own particular UNB experience.
At UNB, we work together to create a transformational experience for students, and this commitment is reflected in the many people who are moved to tell me how their time at UNB changed their lives. It’s clear how our efforts are making a difference in the world around us. We really do have a lot to celebrate at UNB.
As many of you know, my own connection to this university runs deep. I’m proud to count myself among our alumni and feel fortunate to now serve as UNB’s president. The University of New Brunswick has come a long way since 1785. Our traditions, our architecture and the accomplishments of all those who’ve come before us serve to reinforce the responsibility to do even better. It’s humbling, but I do feel a great sense of excitement as I look toward our future.
At UNB, we believe that universities exist to serve the public good. We’re living at a time in history when so much attention is focused on individual pursuits and achievements that this focus for universities can be overlooked. UNB’s mission to improve the world for all of us represents an outwardly focused initiative that requires tangible partnerships to produce translational knowledge to transform the community.
At UNB, we are committed to making a difference in the world, and we are. Over the past year, great things have happened at UNB. We’ve made exciting research discoveries, strengthening our society, creating economic opportunities and providing the skills and knowledge that are needed for the future. We’re opening minds in the classroom and across communities in New Brunswick. We’ve taken significant steps toward fulfilling our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. We’re responding with determination to the Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. We’re supporting our communities by developing new programs in health management and systems, and we are also stewarding the environment around us through research and education.
New Brunswick exists in a world that is experiencing massive, rapid and disruptive change that will have real consequences. Advancements in automation and artificial intelligence, climate change, geopolitical instability, and questions over the integrity of news and information reflect only a few of the forces shaping what our society will become in future. It is my belief that these challenges and forces of change illustrate the important role that a public university like UNB has to play. You can be proud that UNB is a force for positive change, dedicated to building a better future for all of us. The world needs more UNB.
I have no doubt that as you read the stories in this Annual Report, you will come to understand why.
Paul J. Mazerolle
UNB President and Vice-Chancellor
