Bestselling author, entrepreneur and one of the world's top business Thinkers50, Don Tapscott was officially installed as Trent’s eleventh chancellor during the University’s convocation ceremonies on Friday, June 7 at 10 a.m.
As part of the installation ceremony, Mr. Tapscott addressed graduating students, their families and members of the Trent community prior to the conferring of degrees. Preceded by a citation by Trent University alumnus and Board member Harvey McCue, Dr. Tapscott was officially installed as chancellor by taking the Oath of Office. Representatives of different sectors of the University, including faculty, the Board of Governors and alumni, divested Mr. Tapscott of his honorary robes and invested him with his chancellor robes to complete the installation.
Dr. Tapscott’s address to the graduands highlighted the new spirit of collaboration enabled by the Internet age and how well Trent’s model of interactive learning prepares graduates for the needs of the future. He also thanked his wife Ana Lopes, an honorary Board member who previously served as vice-chair of the University’s Board of Governors, and his mother, Mary Tapscott.
Recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology, Don Tapscott has been an advisor to business and government leaders and has introduced ground-breaking concepts that are part of our understanding of a rapidly changing world. A graduate of Psychology and Sociology at Trent University and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2006, he was re-named one of the most important living business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50 in 2011. On June 1, 2013 Forbes.com listed him as the #1 management thinker in the world according to influence on social media.
Mr. Tapscott is CEO of a Toronto-based think tank The Tapscott Group, and was previously founder and chairman of New Paradigm. He is vice-chair of Spencer Trask Collaborative Innovations, a new company building a portfolio of companies in the collaboration and social media space. With a Master's degree in Education from the University of Alberta, he is also an adjunct professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and the inaugural fellow of the school's Martin Prosperity Institute where he is currently leading a large investigation of new models of global problem solving, cooperation and governance.
Mr. Tapscott is the author and co-author of 14 widely-read books about information technology in business and society, including: Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything; Macrowikinomics: New Solutions for a Connected Planet; Paradigm Shift (1992); and Growing Up Digital (1998). He has given more than 1500 keynote speeches and presentations to many of the most important audiences in the world, including being invited to speak to world leaders by the World Economic Forum in Davos many times.
His clients include top executives of many of the world's largest corporations and government leaders from many countries. The Washington Technology Report called him the most influential Canadian media authority since Marshall McLuhan. Mr. Tapscott and his wife Ana Lopes, an honorary and former member of Trent's Board of Governors, sponsor the biennial Tapscott-Lopes Business and Society Lecture at the University.
Duties of Trent University Chancellor
The role of the chancellor includes conferring all degrees and diplomas and sitting as an ex officio member of the Board of Governors and the Senate. In addition, the chancellor serves as chair of the Senate Executive sub-committee on University Honours and represents the University in an official capacity at external functions from time to time. Each chancellor brings his or her special talents and interests to the position, and enters into and enhances the life of the University. The term of the office is normally for three years but is renewable upon the recommendation of Senate Executive and the agreement of Senate and the incumbent.
Dr. Tapscott’s installation capped off three days of convocation at Trent University with a total of five ceremonies for 1,703 undergraduate, one diploma and 89 graduate students. Eleven Ph.D.s and 78 masters’ degrees were conferred – 40 in the arts and 38 in the sciences.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University is renowned for encouraging the dynamic interplay of research, teaching and learning, which enhance and energize each other in the classroom and beyond. The University is consistently recognized nationally for faculty who maintain a high level of innovative research activity and a commitment to the individual student. Trent distinguishes itself through excellence in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as well as professional and graduate programs. Trent is dedicated to preparing students to make significant contributions to an increasingly complex world by providing them with a distinctive liberal arts, science or professionally- focussed education, which is enhanced by global perspectives, experiential learning and interdisciplinary approaches to personal and professional development. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto. Together with Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus, Trent draws excellent students from throughout the country and around the world.
Posted on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.