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John Dobson OAM appointed USC's new Chancellor
The University of the Sunshine Coast has appointed John Dobson OAM as its new Chancellor.
John Dobson, who has been a USC Council member for the past nine years, will fill the role vacated last week by pastoralist Ian Kennedy AO who has served as Chancellor since 1998.
One of his first official duties will be to bestow academic awards at the USC Graduation Ceremony on May 18.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM said he looked forward to working with the new Chancellor.
“John Dobson has been, for many years, one of the highest profile and most widely respected men on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“He has worked with universities in various roles for 40 years. In recent years, he has been a member of successive University Councils at USC, and has served on important Council committees.
“John’s style of leadership and knowledge of the University will provide a seamless transition from one Chancellor to the next.
“He is a caring person and a liberal thinker, and he will – as the Australian Chancellor role evolves through the current national debate – become an important contributor to the standing of USC locally and nationally.”
Professor Thomas said the relationship between the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor was an important one that could make or break a university.
The Chancellor is not a USC staff member and is not involved in the day-to-day administration of the University. He will chiefly be responsible for presiding over regular USC Council meetings.
John Dobson, who is the Catholic parish priest of Caloundra and Dean of the North Coast Deanery in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, said he was excited and honoured by the appointment.
“I’ve always regarded it as a life-giving exercise to be able to serve on the USC Council,” he said. “It energises me.
“This is the most interesting university in the country. There has never been a faster growing or expanding university than this one.”
He said his life experience as a priest would be valuable in chairing meetings of the 18-member Council.
“I’ve interacted with people over a whole broad spectrum of human experience,’’ he said.