On December 20, 2023, Ottawa, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence and Chancellor of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), announced the appointment of Dr. Jill Scott as the 14th Principal of RMC Kingston. The official commencement of her role is scheduled for March 4, 2024.
“I offer my sincere congratulations to Dr. Jill Scott on her appointment as Principal of the Royal Military College of Canada. I thank the previous Principal, Dr. Harry Kowal, for his commitment and service throughout his nine years as Principal. I also acknowledge the leadership of Interim Principals, Dr. Cécile Malardier-Jugroot and Dr. Phil Bates, who have guided the institution over the past year – and I thank them for their contributions to the College,” commented the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence and Chancellor of RMC.
Taking on the responsibility of steering the academic direction and frameworks for the esteemed military institution, Dr. Scott will oversee all academic and second language activities at the national level. Beyond this, her role extends to representing RMC both nationally and internationally, with a primary focus on upholding and enhancing the college’s reputation as an accredited university of academic distinction.
Dr. Jill Scott Biography:
Prior to her appointment to Royal Military College, Jill Scott served as Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs, and professor in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ottawa. In this capacity, Dr. Scott was chief academic officer and chief budget officer from 2019-2024, providing leadership in key areas such as equity, diversity and inclusive excellence, antiracism, Indigenous affairs and reconciliation, and mental health and wellness.
From 2013-2019, Dr. Scott served as the inaugural Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Queen’s University, where she oversaw the implementation of a new academic quality assurance process, led research and new practices in assessing higher-order cognitive skills in undergraduate education, and co-chaired the Provost’s Task Force on Truth and Reconciliation. Dr. Scott assumed additional responsibilities as Interim Associate Vice-Principal (International) in 2018-2019. During her time as Head of the Department of German Language and Literature, she led major reform to academic programming and departmental structures.
At Queen’s University, she was professor in the Departments of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and German Language and Literature, and held cross-appointments to the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies. Dr. Scott has taught and published widely in the fields of German and Austrian literary studies, forgiveness and conflict resolution, and Indigenous studies. Dr. Scott holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Toronto. She is fluent in English, French and German.
Founded in 1876 in Kingston, Ontario, RMC stands as a venerable Canadian military college, providing a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate programs spanning social sciences, humanities, science, and engineering.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome Dr. Jill Scott to this historic institution. I look forward to working with Dr. Scott as we continue to accomplish our mission as the modern, diverse institution it must be to educate, train, and develop the future leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Brigadier-General Pascal Godbout, Commandant and Vice-Chancellor of RMC
Dr. Jill Scott’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in the continued legacy of RMC, reaffirming its commitment to academic excellence and its standing as a respected institution both within Canada and on the global stage. As she steps into her role, the college anticipates a new chapter of growth and accomplishment under her leadership.