List of vice-presidents and principals of the University of Toronto Mississauga

Vice-President of the University of Toronto, Principal of the University of Toronto Mississauga
since July 1, 2020 (2020-07-01)
University of Toronto
Reports toPresident of the University of Toronto
ResidenceLislehurst
SeatWilliam G. Davis Building
AppointerGoverning Council
Formation1966 (1966)
First holderDavid Carlton Williams
Websiteutm.utoronto.ca/vp-principal

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), one of the three campuses of the University of Toronto, has had 10 principals since it was formally established in 1967 as Erindale College. Since 2002, the role of UTM principal has included vice-presidential responsibilities of the University of Toronto. The current officeholder is Alexandra Gillespie, who has served as the vice-president and principal since July 1, 2020.[1]

Sometimes referred to as the "VP-principal" or "VPP", the vice-president/principal is the executive head of the Mississauga campus. The VP-principal is also an ex-officio member of the UTM Campus Council, an arm of the University of Toronto Governing Council.[2]

Since 2002, when the campus grew significantly and became an academic division of the university, the role of its principal was broadened to become a dual role as a vice-president of the University of Toronto, who reports directly to the president of the University of Toronto.

The VP-principal's official residence on campus is a historic building known as Lislehurst that formerly belonged to the Schreiber estate, from whom the property on which the campus was built was acquired by the University of Toronto in 1963.[3]

The first principal of UTM was David Carlton Williams, a professor of psychology who, in 1964, was tasked with leading the establishment of both the university's Erindale and Scarborough campuses.[4]

Principals

No. Image Name Took office Left office
Principal of Erindale College (1967–2022)
1 David Carlton Williams 1966 1968
2 John Tuzo Wilson 1968 1974
3 E.A. "Peter" Robinson 1974 1976
4 Paul W. Fox 1976 1986
5 Desmond Morton 1986 1991
1992 1995
acting Roger L. Beck 1991 1992
6 Robert H. McNutt 1995 2002
Vice-President of the University of Toronto,
Principal of the University of Toronto Mississauga (2002–present)
7 Ian Orchard[5] 2002 2006
2007 2010
acting 2019 2020
acting Cheryl Misak 2006 2007
8 Deep Saini 2010 2016
9 Ulrich Krull 2017 2019
10 Alexandra Gillespie[6] 2020 2027

See also

References

  1. ^ Kamalendran, Samuel (October 13, 2025). "Reflecting on student success, reconciliation, gratitude, trust, and nature: A conversation with UTM Principal Alexandra Gillespie". The Medium.
  2. ^ "UTM Campus Council Membership". University of Toronto Governing Council. Secretariat. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  3. ^ Percy, John; Abbas, Sabeen (2007). Celebrating 40 Years of History at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Toronto: University of Toronto Mississauga.
  4. ^ "David Carleton Williams". University of Toronto Scarborough. Office of the Vice-President & Principal. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  5. ^ Smith, Elaine (June 26, 2020). "UTM bids fond farewell to Acting Vice-President and Principal Ian Orchard". University of Toronto Mississauga News.
  6. ^ "Installation of Professor Alex Gillespie as Principal of UTM". Office of the President | University of Toronto. April 29, 2021.