About the President

Dr. Rene Van Acker

Rene Van Acker is Interim President of the University of Guelph, bringing decades of leadership experience as a scholar, administrator, and advocate for agricultural innovation and education. Previously serving as Professor and Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), Dr. Van Acker was appointed Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI) in 2024. His contributions to U of G reflect a dynamic vision for institutional growth and excellence across research, education, and community engagement.

As Dean of OAC, Dr. Van Acker advanced a transformative strategic plan, Our Shared Priorities, and led the development of OAC’s first infrastructure master plan in over 40 years. Under his leadership, OAC launched Canada’s first Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice program and introduced or revised more than a dozen course-based master’s programs, bolstering academic offerings and revenue. His initiatives also included OAC’s first experiential learning strategy and Planning for Tomorrow, which expanded undergraduate enrolment by 50 percent.

Dr. Van Acker’s impact extends to building platforms for research and innovation. He co-founded the Arrell Food Institute and the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming while contributing to major projects such as the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, and Honeybee Research Centre. His fundraising efforts have secured over $100 million for OAC, including 27 chairs and professorships. As VPRI, Dr. Van Acker spearheaded initiatives to strengthen U of G’s research infrastructure, including advancing national innovation programs and establishing international research partnerships. He introduced a visioning process for the agriculture and food sector and developed a first-ever infrastructure priorities list for ARIO to guide investment in agri-food research.

A respected scholar, Dr. Van Acker has published over 160 peer-reviewed works with an h-index of 41 and remains an active faculty member, supervising graduate students and co-teaching OAC’s capstone course. A proud U of G alumnus, he holds BSc and MSc degrees from the University of Guelph and a PhD from the University of Reading, UK.

Dr. Van Acker’s service to U of G and beyond includes leadership roles in academic governance and organizations such as the Rural Ontario Institute and the Deans Council, Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine. His collaborative approach exemplifies a commitment to advancing institutional excellence and addressing global challenges.