AU Board Chair announces appointment of President Dr. Alex Clark

From:     AU Board Chair, Byron Nelson <communications@athabascau.ca>

Date:      Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 1:50 PM

To:         AU Staff Members

Subject: President, Athabasca University

Effectively immediately, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Athabasca University, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Alex Clark has been appointed as the next President. Dr. Clark is the current Dean of Health Sciences and will succeed outgoing President Dr. Peter Scott. I confirm that Dr. Peter Scott has been released from his position as President of Athabasca University.  

This is an important decision and comes at an important time of growth and needed stability. Dr. Clark was a leading candidate in our recent and thorough search for a new President. Using an executive placement firm, we followed an extensive and exhaustive search that involved multiple steps and included numerous international candidates. Dr. Clark has impressed the Board with his vision of leadership, his strong credentials, and his commitment to the community.  

Founded more than 50 years ago as a leading distance-delivery post-secondary institution, Athabasca University is focused on open and flexible learning while also contributing to the local community and our Indigenous partners.  

We have faith in Dr. Clark’s ability to lead the implementation of a new courageous vision for Athabasca University as a uniquely open, inclusive, and flexible university, committed in all it does to improve the lives of people and communities via benefits to diverse learners.  We have confidence that Dr. Clark will be able to fulfil his mandate while building community via new ways of working together with our valued internal audiences and important external stakeholders.

The Board thanks Dr. Scott for his service and welcomes Dr. Clark to a new chapter in the proud history of Athabasca University.