Andrew Petter 2010

By: Diane Luckow
Photograph by: Greg Ehlers

Meet Andrew Petter, SFU’s president-in-waiting.

A past dean of the University of Victoria law school and a former B.C. attorney general, Petter prevailed over national and international candidates to become SFU’s ninth president and vice-chancellor. He’ll take the reins on September 1, succeeding President Michael Stevenson, who has completed two five-year terms.

Petter, 56, was born in Victoria and raised both there and in Nelson. He brings to the presidency seven years of senior university administrative and development experience, a long history as a teacher and scholar, and 10 years of public service as MLA for Saanich South. His interests, expertise, and passions jibe nicely with SFU’s current focus on the undergraduate experience, community education, First Nations programming, and the environment.

A “people person,” Petter has a knack for building consensus among diverse groups, say those who know him well.

“He’s a team player; he builds the team, and he’s strategic,” says David Turpin, president of the University of Victoria. “He sees the role of the university not just in education and research, but also in connecting with society and serving it in many ways.”

Petter’s own contributions range from his time in government, during which he played a key role in the Nisga’a treaty negotiations and spearheaded major environmental reforms, to his efforts to enrich UVic Law’s academic programs to reach into the wider community. For example, as dean he oversaw development of an innovative new graduate program and collaborated on the creation of a law school in Nunavut to provide training for Inuit lawyers.

“My years of public service have enhanced my understanding of community issues,” says Petter, “and bolstered my conviction that education is the key to building better communities.”

Petter is also devoted to students. “His actions time and again reflected a students-first attitude and an understanding that an institution is nothing if not for them,” says Hart Shouldice, former president of the UVic Law Students’ Society. “I think it is safe to say he may be the only law school dean in Canadian history to engage in a lunchtime arm-wrestling match with a student!”

In 2002 Petter received an Honorary Citizen Award from the City of Victoria, and in 2003 he received UVic’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He and his life partner, Maureen Maloney, also a renowned academic, will move into the president’s suite at UniverCity. Petter’s son, Dylan, is currently pursuing an MBA in England. aq

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