Olympian and Activist to be Next Ombuds at University of Toronto

Last week, U of T's Governing Council selected Bruce Kidd as its next University Ombudsperson. Kidd is currently a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, but he is better known as an Olympic athlete, sports academic, athlete’s rights advocate, and sports historian. He has been inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, made an Officer of the Order of Canada, authored a dozen books, and served as the principal of the University of Toronto Scarborough. He succeeds Ellen Hodnett, who served as Ombuds since 2015, and will serve an initial three-year term.

Claire Kennedy, who chairs Governing Council and also oversaw the review of the Ombuds office, said that Kidd was exceptionally well-suited for the position. “He embodies the values of the university and has a well-earned reputation for being principled and fair,” Kennedy said. “In his many roles, Professor Kidd has continuously demonstrated a student-centric commitment for success built on fairness and empathy.” Kidd graduated from the University of Toronto, and earned an MA from the University of Chicago and a PhD from York University. (UToronto News; Wikipedia.)

Related posts: University of Toronto Expands Ombuds Services to All Campuses; University of Toronto Now Has Ombuds on All Campuses; Students' Union Demands Apology from Ombuds at University of Toronto.