The Trent University community was pleased to learn that former Trent president Bonnie Patterson has accepted an appointment as interim president of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

Professor Patterson, who wrapped up her second term as the sixth president of Trent University on June 30, 2009, was president of COU from 1995 to 1998.

“This interim role for Bonnie Patterson is testament to her remarkable accomplishments and outstanding reputation in the post secondary sector,” said David Morton, chair of the Trent University Board of Governors. “This is excellent news for the COU and news that the entire Trent community can take pride in.”

The COU issued a news release announcing the new interim role for Bonnie Patterson on August 13, 2009. Professor Patterson replaces outgoing president and CEO of COU, Paul Genest, as he leaves to take up a new role as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Associate Secretary of the Cabinet. A search process for a permanent president will be set in motion at COU expeditiously, the COU release states.

Bonnie Patterson was president at Trent University from 1998 to 2009.