List of presidents of the University of Toronto

President of the University of Toronto
Incumbent Melanie Woodin since July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01) [1]
University of Toronto
Residence	President's Estate
Appointer	The Governing Council of the University of Toronto
Inaugural holder	John Strachan
Formation	1827 (1827)
Website	president.utoronto.ca

The University of Toronto, a public research university in Greater Toronto, Ontario, has had 17 presidents since it was founded in 1827 as King's College. The current officeholder is Melanie Woodin, who has served as president since 2025.

The president is the executive head of the University of Toronto appointed by the Governing Council, of which the president is also an ex officio member. The president's office is historically in Simcoe Hall, 27 King's College Circle on the St. George campus, and has living accommodations at the President's Estate.

The first officeholder was The Reverend John Strachan, the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto, who chartered King's College under King George IV. The first president under the university's present name was The Reverend John McCaul in 1850. McCaul was also the longest-serving president, holding the office from 1848 to 1880 under various titles including the President of University College. James Loudon was the first Canadian-born president, and served from 1892 to 1906. The incumbent, Melanie Woodin, is an alumna of the university and the first woman to hold the office. ^[2]

Presidents

No.	Image	Name	Term	Title
1		The Right Rev. John Strachan	1827–1848	President of King's College
2		The Rev. John McCaul	1848–1850	President of King's College
			1850–1853	President of the University of Toronto
			1853–1880	Principal of University College
3		Sir Daniel Wilson	1880–1889	Principal of University College
			1889–1892	President of the University of Toronto
4		James Loudon	1892–1906	President of the University of Toronto
5		Sir Robert Falconer	1907–1932	President of the University of Toronto
6		The Rev. Henry John Cody	1932–1945	President of the University of Toronto
7		The Hon. Sidney Earle Smith	1945–1957	President of the University of Toronto
8		Claude Bissell	1958–1971	President of the University of Toronto
9		John Robert Evans	1972–1978	President of the University of Toronto
10		James Milton Ham	1978–1983	President of the University of Toronto
11		David Strangway	1983–1984	President of the University of Toronto
12		George Connell	1984–1990	President of the University of Toronto
13		Robert Prichard	1990–2000	President of the University of Toronto
14		Robert Birgeneau	2000–2004	President of the University of Toronto
–		Frank Iacobucci	2004–2005	President of the University of Toronto (interim)
15		David Naylor	2005–2013	President of the University of Toronto
16		Meric Gertler	2013–2025	President of the University of Toronto
17		Melanie Woodin	2025–present	President of the University of Toronto

References

1. "Neuroscientist Melanie Woodin named as University of Toronto's 17th president". Global News. March 26, 2025.
2. "History of the Position". University of Toronto.

External links

• University of Toronto – Office of the President

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