Runte named to prestigious Order of Canada

President Roseann Runte has been named to the prestigious Order of Canada for her contributions to education in that nation.

The award is given annually by Canada's Governor General.

Before coming to Old Dominion in July 2001, Runte served as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in Toronto, Ontario, for seven years. She previously had served as principal of Glendon College at York University for six years and as president of the Université Sainte-Anne for five years. During her 11 years at Dalhousie University prior to those appointments, she worked her way from lecturer status to assistant dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science and chair of the Department of French.

A writer, poet and distinguished scholar in French literature, Runte has edited 10 books and published three volumes of French poetry. Her work has been translated into French, English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Rumanian. She has won the poetry prize from the Académie Française in Paris. She is a member of the elite Club of Rome, and her work has been lauded by the United Nations Association of Canada. She is the past president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

Born and educated in the United States, Runte holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She is on the board of Prime Mentors of Canada and belongs to The Royal Society of Canada.