By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: May 19, 2015
Quest University Canada has named Dr. Peter Englert as its fourth president and vice-chancellor succeeding Dr. David Helfand who is stepping down from his position after seven years. Dr. Englert will assume his new role and join the Quest community starting August 1, 2015.
An accomplished higher education administrator, researcher and teacher with over three decades of service to international higher education institutions across the globe, Dr. Englert’s career has encompassed work as a university scholar, teacher, and research scientist in Germany, New Zealand, and the US. As a visiting scholar and teacher, his experience includes assignments in Italy, Austria, China, and Japan. Dr. Englert led the University of Hawaii at Manoa, from 2002 to 2005 as chancellor.
Prior to that, he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Dean of the Faculty of Science and of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He joined Victoria University from his position as senior manager of GNS Science, New Zealand’s leading provider of Earth, geoscience and isotope research. Earlier in his career, he was Director of Nuclear Science and professor of chemistry at San Jose State University, CA, USA, following a teaching assignment at the University of Cologne, Germany.
Dr. Englert received his academic degrees from the University of Cologne and was a research fellow at the University of California, San Diego. He participated in NASA’s Mars Observer and Mars Odyssey Missions, and was an elected board member of the International Association of Universities.
“Quest University Canada is an exceptional higher education institution. It is young, growing, and dynamic. Quest has already established itself as a place of progress and success in the landscape of private higher education,” says Quest University president-elect, Dr. Peter Englert.
“Building Quest has been by far the most rewarding effort of my career and I am delighted to be leaving the University in such capable hands,” said Dr. David Helfand, departing President and Vice-Chancellor at Quest.
“In addition to our mutual affinity for science and space, Peter shares my commitment to innovative, student-centered education. His considerable experience of academic leadership in a variety of international settings will support Quest’s continued growth and build its impact on higher education.”
