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Principal Patrick Deane and Provost Matthew Evans are pleased to announce the appointment of Ann Tierney as Queen’s next Vice-Provost (Global Engagement). Ms. Tierney will succeed Sandra den Otter, who has held the role for the past five years. 

“The most urgent challenges facing society are global in nature and ensuring we as an institution are advancing our international impact is more important than ever,” says Principal Deane. “I am grateful to Sandra for her work developing and implementing the strategic plan over the past several years, and I am very happy that Ann will bring her considerable experience to the portfolio in the years ahead.”

During her time as Vice-Provost (Global Engagement), Dr. den Otter launched the 2023-2028 Global Engagement Strategic Plan, which focuses on six objectives: Enhancing Global Partnership, Global Learning, Research and Knowledge Mobilization, Global Campus, A Whole University Approach, and Communicating Impact. Under her leadership, the Global Engagement team implemented regional hubs and advisory councils with specialist knowledge and expertise, nearly doubled participation in learning abroad, incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals into global learning, and deepened networks for global research, among many other achievements. 

Ms. Tierney, who has served as Vice-Provost and Dean of the Division of Student Affairs at Queen’s for the past 14 years, will continue to advance the Global Engagement Strategic Plan, working to further broaden international partnerships and research collaborations, and embed global learning into the Queen’s experience. She brings with her a wealth of experience from her time in Student Affairs, including in-depth knowledge of the international student recruitment process through her oversight of the Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment team.

“Ann’s experience in Student Affairs will be incredibly helpful as she leads the Global Engagement strategy, building on the foundations that have been set by her predecessors,” says Provost Evans. “Much of her work will focus on deepening existing international partnerships, creating new ones, and ensuring collaborative projects and initiatives get off the ground and gain speed.”

While leading Student Affairs, Ms. Tierney transformed student services, implementing and expanding a range of programs and services promoting health and wellbeing, fostering a sense of belonging, and increasing student development and leadership, as well as expanding housing and recreation spaces for students with three new residences, and several major athletics facilities. 

In addition to her leadership of strategic enrolment management, Ms. Tierney led a campus-wide review of international recruitment operations that resulted in enhancements in outreach, as well as new scholarship programs and visa supports for international students. She has championed admission pathways and led a major scholarships and financial aid initiative to increase access to Queen’s.

Ms. Tierney holds a degree in Law and a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s. She held senior administrative positions in student services at both Carleton University and the University of Calgary before returning to Queen’s to lead Student Affairs in 2011. 

Dr. den Otter will step down from the Global Engagement role at the end of June, and Ms. Tierney will take over July 1, 2025. 

Corinna Fitzgerald has been appointed Interim Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. Ms. Fitzgerald has been acting in this role since January 2025, when Ms. Tierney left on a six-month study leave.