Dr. Ronald Bordessa
President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Ronald Bordessa was appointed president of UOIT in July 2006. He brings a wealth of postsecondary administrative knowledge and teaching experience to the university based on a 35-year commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
Prior to joining UOIT, Dr. Bordessa was vice-president, Academic, and provost at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia, where he oversaw the introduction and development of many new programs and initiatives which resulted in significant growth in both domestic and international enrolment.
He began his postsecondary career in the Geography department of Atkinson College at York University teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Bordessa devoted more than 30 years of service to York University and was appointed to various academic administrative positions including program co-ordinator, Urban Studies; department chair, Geography, and Social Work; and associate dean and dean of Atkinson College, renamed Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies. During this time, his research interests earned him widely publicized national and international books and research papers covering many aspects of social life in urban areas, as well as essays on literary studies, environmental issues and the politics of land development.
In addition to his work in Canada, Dr. Bordessa was a visiting professor of Geography at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia and at Helsinki University in Finland where he developed a strong and continuing interest in the country during his two-year tenure.
He also continues to hold the position and title of Docent at the University of Joensuu in Finland.
Dr. Bordessa was born in Wales, United Kingdom. He received his BA in Geography from the University of Wales at Swansea and a PhD in Geography from Liverpool University. His wife, Dr. Mari Peepre, is the former founding director of the School of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University. Together they have four adult children.
To listen to Dr. Bordessa's installation speech, or to download his speech in text form, please click here.
