Weeks into new five-year contract, King’s University College president exits

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The head of King’s University College is abruptly leaving his job just weeks into a new five-year contract, but the London school isn’t saying why.

David Malloy, who joined the Western University affiliate in 2019, will leave as president at month’s end, faculty at the Catholic college were told in an email from Nonie Brennan, who chairs the school’s board of directors.

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“The board and the King’s community would like to thank David for his years of service as president at a challenging time in our history, including managing the COVID crisis,” Brennan wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The Free Press.

“We would also like to thank David for his role in working with faculty to grow the research profile at King’s, at the same time remaining dedicated to teaching excellence in the classroom.”

Brennan declined to be interviewed Thursday, and Malloy didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Asked about the departure, the school’s faculty association declined comment.

Robert Ventresca, King’s vice-president, has been named acting president, Brennan’s email noted.

Malloy made more than $308,000 a year, according to the college’s latest annual filing under Ontario’s public-sector salary disclosure law.

Malloy, an ethics researcher with dozens of publications to his name, was installed in 2019 as the ninth principal of King’s, a title changed to president in 2021.

He began his post-secondary career at Western, getting his bachelor and master’s degrees in physical education before heading to the University of Ottawa for a doctorate in educational administration.

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His appointment at King’s followed a 30-year career with the University of Regina as a faculty member and administrator, the college’s website states.

Malloy was offered a second term with King’s a little more than a year ago, which began July 1, 2024.

The process of reappointing Malloy included community consultation, annual performance reviews and feedback, Brennan said in a 2023 online post in which she said the school was excited he had accepted another term.

“The true leadership at King’s is being conducted by a stellar team of faculty, student and administrative people who take great pride and care in stewarding this great institution,” Malloy said at that time.

During his tenure, Malloy established a department of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization and appointed an Indigenous initiatives adviser.

In 2021, King’s flew the rainbow Pride flag for the first time, becoming the second Catholic university in Ontario to do so. The move was not supported by the area Catholic diocese.

Last fall, it established a support group for members of the gay community.

Once an all-male college affiliated with St. Peter’s Seminary, King’s now has about 3,500 students of all genders.

Huron University College is also a Western affiliate. Former affiliate Brescia University College is now fully integrated with Western.

HRivers@postmedia.com

@HeatheratLFP

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