Santa Ono becomes UBC President and Vice Chancellor

A Vancouver-born biomedical researcher, Santa Jeremy Ono, has become the 15th President and Vice Chancellor of the Vancouver-based University of British Columbia in west Canada, the university announced on Monday.

Since 2012, Ono has served as the President of the University of Cincinnati (UC) in Cincinnati, Ohio of the United States. Prior to that, he served as the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at UC.

Ono, whose parents emigrated from Japan, is one of only a handful of North American research university leaders of Asian descent. He earned his BA in Biological Science at the University of Chicago and his PhD in Experimental Medicine at McGill University. His principal research interests focus on the immune system and eye disease.

"I am greatly humbled by the opportunity to lead one of the world's greatest universities," said Ono. "UBC attracts the best and brightest faculty and students. It is uniquely positioned on the Pacific Rim and boasts one of the most diverse and sustainable campuses. I relish the opportunity to help UBC realize its aspirations and destiny as a truly global university."

The UBC Board of Governors voted unanimously to appoint the president following an international search by a 21-member committee comprising faculty, staff, students, alumni, senate and board members from UBC's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, and chaired by UBC Chancellor Lindsay Gordon.

UBC has more than 61,000 students and 15,000 faculty and staff. It is ranked the sixth best public university in North America, according to the Times Higher Education Rankings 2015-16. Endit