The Canadian Association of University Teachers reacted angrily to the newly-appointed co-chair of the Canada Excellence Research Chair program selection board. Stephen Harper’s federal government named Shirley Tilghman, president of Princeton University, to the post, drawing criticism from CAUT.

“While the President of Princeton University is undoubtedly a distinguished academic… there is no shortage of Canadian university presidents and other distinguished academics at Canadian universities who could more appropriately have filled the role” as co-chair for the Canadian program, said a letter signed by CAUT President Wayne Peters and Executive Director James Turk.

CAUT made it clear that they had no concerns about Tilghman’s ability, but were only concerned with having the Canadian program co-chair serving as the head of an American university.

Tilghman was raised in Winnipeg and attained her B.Sc. in chemistry from Queens University. She remains a Canadian citizen.

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