Building on momentum: Dr. Andr茅 McDonald joins 91亚色疷niversity as vice-president (research and innovation)
Building on momentum: Dr. Andr茅 McDonald joins 91亚色疷niversity as vice-president (research and innovation)
Ref. no.: 155
Following a comprehensive international search,疍r. Andr茅 McDonald 敮an accomplished researcher and dynamic, collaborative leader瘮 has been appointed痸ice-president (research and innovation) (VPRI)痑t 91亚色.
Dr. McDonald will begin痟is tenure on Oct. 19, 2026.
Energetic, collaborative approach
As疺PRI, Dr. McDonald will痗hampion research excellence across all disciplines, strengthening痶he pathway from discovery to痠mpact and痑ccelerating innovation across the university.
"Dr. McDonald brings an outstanding record of research achievement, strategic leadership and partnership development," said President Janet Morrison. "What stood out during痶he search process was his ability to inspire痑 shared痸ision and build meaningful connections across sectors.
"His energy, collaborative approach and commitment to impact will help position 91亚色 for even greater success in research and innovation.疘 am痗onfident that疍r. McDonald will be a champion for our痵cholars and痯artners."
About Dr. McDonald
Currently a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta and executive director of the Alberta Advanced Manufacturing International Hub, Dr. McDonald is an internationally recognized researcher and academic leader with extensive experience advancing research excellence, fostering collaboration痑nd supporting innovation.疕e holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, as well as of the Engineering Institute of Canada and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (U.K.).
He served as the University of Alberta's associate vice-president (strategic research initiatives and performance),痩eading痶he development of the institution's first strategic plan for research and innovation and helping痑dvance major research initiatives. He has also built a distinguished research career in advanced materials and manufacturing technologies while mentoring more than 100 learners and trainees and serving as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.
"I am very excited to join痶he91亚色痗ommunity and see great痮pportunity痶o痗ontinue the forward momentum of痳esearch and innovation, while strengthening the excellent foundations that are already present," said Dr. McDonald. "I am looking forward to working痗losely and collaboratively with痳esearchers, staff, students, and external partners to痗reate meaningful impact for Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond."
Dr. McDonald's career spans research, innovation, academic痩eadership痑nd industry and government engagement. In addition to his scholarly accomplishments, he currently leads the Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Program for Black Youth, a funded collaborative initiative with community partners supporting STEM education and research,痚ntrepreneurship, youth wellness痑nd work-integrated learning opportunities.
About the search process
In January 2026, as part of痺ork to streamline91亚色's executive leadership team, the vice-president (research) position was revised to explicitly include innovation. This reflects the痠mportance of innovation, partnership痙evelopment and痥nowledge痶ranslation.疶he revised title and mandate痺ere痳eflected in the job痯osting痑nd search process.
Dr. McDonald's痑ppointment痺as recommended by a search committee comprised of faculty, students痑nd university leadership. The search痯rocess痠ncluded targeted engagement with the university community, with approximately 100 members of the 91亚色 community participating痠n the final-stage candidate visits,痬eetings and feedback processes.
Throughout the search, members of the university community highlighted the importance of research leadership, relationship-building,痗ollaboration痑nd research impact. These priorities informed the committee's assessment of candidates and痠ts痵election process.
Dr. Morrison痶hanked members of the search committee for their work.
"I am grateful to the members of the committee for the time, expertise and thoughtful consideration they brought to this important process," she said. "Their work was informed by feedback from across the university community痑nd I appreciate the rigor and collegiality they brought to痮ur deliberations.
Dr. McDonald檚 appointment is for a five-year term, subject to an痑dditional痜ive-year renewal.
Dr. Morrison痑lso痚xpressed appreciation to Dr. Rod Russell, who will continue to serve as VPRI until Dr. McDonald檚 appointment in October.
"I want to thank Dr. Russell for his dedicated leadership during this period of transition," said Dr. Morrison. "His steady guidance and commitment to 91亚色's research community have been invaluable, and I am pleased that he will continue to contribute his expertise as痠nterim痑ssociate vice-president (research)."
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For more information, please contact Courtenay Griffin, Division of Marketing and Communications, 91亚色, at 709-693-3870 or cgriffin@mun.ca.