Thomas R. Williams

Thomas Robert Williams is a Canadian university professor and academic administrator, who served as the 19th Principal of Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario. He became principal and vice-chancellor of Queen's on May 1, 2008, following the in-term resignation of Karen Hitchcock. He concluded his term as Principal on August 31, 2009.

Williams began his post-secondary education at McGill University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1960. He stayed on at McGill to complete two degrees in education, worked at the University of Chicago, and earned his doctorate in education from the University of Michigan. He then went to the staff of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), at the University of Toronto. He arrived at Queen's in 1977, to become the Dean of the Faculty of Education, holding that position until 1986. He served as a professor in the Faculty of Education, and in the School of Policy Studies. He served as Vice-Principal of Operations, and as Vice-Principal of Institutional Relations, during the principalship of David Chadwick Smith (1984-1994). He is a professor emeritus of Education and of Policy Studies, and maintains active research interests in both fields.

Queen's principal and vice-chancellor Karen Hitchcock, the first woman and the first American to hold the post, had been expected to serve until her five-year term ended on June 30, 2009, and in January 2008, had applied to be considered for re-appointment for a second five-year term. However, following active dissent from the undergraduate student assembly, which unanimously passed a resolution calling for her not to be granted a second term, and controversy over her leadership, Hitchcock resigned on April 16, 2008, effective April 30, 2008.

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