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As UNB prepares for a new chapter in leadership, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the progress and impact achieved during Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle’s seven‑year tenure as president and vice chancellor—a period defined by growth and integration. During this time, UNB expanded its programs, research and campuses, strengthening the student experience and deepening its impact across New Brunswick and beyond.

Over the past seven years, UNB has evolved to meet today’s challenges and advance its institutional goals. During this time, the university has seen rising enrolment despite significant global pressures on post‑secondary education, revitalized its campuses with new and renewed infrastructure, and moved from operating as two distinct campuses to a single, integrated One UNB community—strengthening academic collaboration, research and the student experience.

Perhaps the most significant change under the One UNB framework was the creation of a single, university-wide provost serving both campuses. This unified model of academic leadership has enabled substantial academic transformation, including the expansion of academic programs and research activities, the introduction of new policies related to academic accommodations, safety, and student support and the centralization of student advising. The One UNB framework also led to the launch of the Centre for Learning Futures and the establishment of a university-wide Ancillary Services unit, further enhancing the student experience across both campuses.

From 2020 to 2025, UNB launched 31 new programs, many of them interdisciplinary and aligned with emerging fields and societal needs. A major milestone during this period was the creation of the faculty of nursing and health sciences—UNB’s first university‑wide faculty—bringing together nursing programs in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton to strengthen collaboration in teaching, research and clinical partnerships. At the same time, online learning expanded rapidly, with registrations continuing to grow year over year.

Research momentum also accelerated during this period. UNB added 19 research chairs and established new institutes and centres in areas such as cybersecurity, data science, population health, and spatial computing. Research contracts and grants increased significantly, alongside strong growth in strategic partnerships—including OSCO, 5 CDSB Gagetown, Shannex, and NB Power—creating expanded opportunities for students to engage in meaningful experiential learning while strengthening UNB’s economic and societal impact.

Another clear expression of UNB’s growth in the past several years can be seen in the expansion of The Promise Partnership, the Saint John campus’s youth education program. In 2025, the program opened a new site in Moncton, extending its mentorship, literacy and tutoring supports to more young people in the province.

This culture of improved collaboration, collective responsibility and shared aspiration has also accelerated bricks-and-mortar growth across UNB. The university has invested nearly $200 million in renewing and revitalizing the Fredericton and SaintJohn campuses with modern, sustainable spaces designed for learning, research and community engagement. The Allison D. McCain Engineering Commons opened in Fredericton in 2025, offering contemporary environments for collaboration and innovation. In Saint John, construction progress continues on the Health & Social Innovation Centre, a project that will bring interdisciplinary health programs under one roof. UNB also secured the historic Justice Building in downtown Fredericton as the future home of the law school. This move strengthens our civic ties, offering enhanced community connection and support.

On both UNB campuses, residences have been renewed or built to support our vibrant student community, ensuring our buildings are more accessible, sustainable and better designed for student gatherings.

Each of these advancements is reflected in UNB’s growing enrolment, which increased by 15 per cent during this period to nearly 11,000 students from more than 100 countries. They also serve as evidence of the university’s rising reputation. This year, UNB was named the top university in Atlantic Canada by TIME Magazine. It has also continued to rise in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 and is holding its spot in the top 301-400 globally for computer science and top 251-300 for engineering in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. Alumni engagement has also surged, more than doubling since 2019.

During Dr. Mazerolle’s tenure, UNB introduced a formal leadership development program for faculty and staff, led by Pierre Battah, a respected leadership educator and UNB alum. The program focuses on growing leadership capacity, strengthening communication, and fostering inclusive, people‑centred leadership across the institution. To date, four cohorts have completed the program, with a fifth on the way.

As UNB looks toward 2030, the foundation laid during Dr. Mazerolle’s tenure has positioned the university for continued momentum—supporting students with a world‑class, career‑shaping education, and empowering faculty and researchers with the infrastructure and resources needed to tackle society’s most pressing challenges. This period of co-ordinated growth has strengthened UNB’s role in improving lives throughout New Brunswick, Canada and the world.

In the weeks ahead, we will highlight other defining aspects of this legacy, including UNB’s progress in equity, diversity and inclusion, and the expanding impact of its research and innovation.