Thomas R. Williams
- January 3, 2025
- 85 years
About Thomas R. Williams
Thomas R. Williams, 85, Canadian academic and university administrator, principal of Queen's University (2008–2009).
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Full Biography
|Thomas Robert Williams (September 9, 1939 – January 3, 2025) was a Canadian university professor and academic administrator who served as the 19th principal of Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario. He became principal and vice-chancellor of Queen's on May 1, 2008, following the in-term resignation of Karen Hitchcock. He concluded his term as principal on August 31, 2009.
Education and career
Williams was born on September 9, 1939 in Peterborough, Ontario. He spent his childhood in Peterborough, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Quebec, and Saint-Lambert, Quebec.
Williams began his post-secondary education at McGill University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1960. He stayed on at McGill to complete two degrees in education, worked at the University of Chicago, and earned his doctorate in education from the University of Michigan. He then went to the staff of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. He arrived at Queen's in 1977, to become the dean of the Faculty of Education, holding that position until 1986. He served as a professor in the Faculty of Education as well as in the School of Policy Studies. He served as vice-principal of operations, and as vice-principal of institutional relations, during the principalship of David Chadwick Smith (1984–1994). He was a professor emeritus of education and of policy studies, and maintained active research interests in both fields after his retirement.
Principal at Queen's
Queen's principal and vice-chancellor, Karen Hitchcock, was the first woman and the first American to hold the posts and had been expected to serve until her five-year term ended on June 30, 2009. In January 2008, she had applied to be considered for re-appointment for a second five-year term. However, there was active dissent from the undergraduate student assembly and it unanimously passed a resolution calling for her not to be granted a second term. Amid controversy over her leadership, Hitchcock resigned on April 16, 2008, effective April 30, 2008.
Williams was appointed to fill the principalship vacancy in a vote from the Queen's board of trustees on April 25, 2008. He took office on May 1, 2008, and served until August 31, 2009, when he was succeeded as principal by Daniel Woolf of the University of Alberta. During his sixteen months in office, he contended with a ballooning deficit caused largely by the global economic crisis, improved relations with the city of Kingston, Ontario, and dealt with the ongoing problem of an unsanctioned street party by cancelling the annual fall homecoming celebrations. He also secured funding for a new medical school and a planned performing arts centre. In an interview with CKWS-TV on April 25, 2008, Williams called the Queen's principalship "the best job in Canada". Known on the campus informally as 'Dr. Tom', Williams served a term as honorary president of the Queen's Alma Mater Society in the late 1990s, and has historically enjoyed an excellent rapport with Queen's students. In October 2009, Queen's board of trustees recognized Williams' service to the university by awarding him the designation principal emeritus. On October 26, 2009, Williams received an honorary doctorate of laws from Queen's.
Community involvement
Williams was an extensive contributor to both the Queen's and Kingston communities. He served on the board for both the main hospitals in the city, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital. He served on the board for the Kingston Community Foundation and for Imagine Kingston. He was also the chair of the building committee for the new performing arts centre at Queen's.
Death
Williams died in Kingston, Ontario on January 3, 2025, aged 85.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_R._Williams
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Thomas R. Williams's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which degree did Thomas R. Williams earn from McGill University in 1960?
- A.Bachelor of Education
- B.Bachelor of Policy Studies
- C.Bachelor of Arts
- D.Bachelor of Science in Chemistrycorrect
Thomas R. Williams graduated from McGill University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1960.
Source: Education and career section
2.Where did Thomas R. Williams earn his doctorate in education?
- A.University of Chicago
- B.University of Toronto
- C.University of Michigancorrect
- D.McGill University
Thomas R. Williams earned his doctorate in education from the University of Michigan.
Source: Education and career section
3.What position did Thomas R. Williams hold at Queen's University starting in 1977?
- A.Dean of the Faculty of Educationcorrect
- B.Professor of Chemistry
- C.Principal of the University
- D.Vice-principal of Operations
Thomas R. Williams arrived at Queen's in 1977, to become the dean of the Faculty of Education, holding that position until 1986.
Source: Education and career section
4.Whom did Thomas R. Williams succeed as principal of Queen's University?
- A.Karen Hitchcockcorrect
- B.David Chadwick Smith
- C.John Deutch
- D.Daniel Woolf
Thomas R. Williams became principal of Queen's on May 1, 2008, following the resignation of Karen Hitchcock.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
5.On what date did Thomas R. Williams take office as the 19th principal of Queen's University?
- A.May 1, 2008correct
- B.January 3, 2008
- C.August 31, 2009
- D.April 25, 2008
Thomas R. Williams took office as principal of Queen's University on May 1, 2008.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
6.What was the reason for the cancellation of the annual fall homecoming celebrations under Thomas R. Williams' leadership?
- A.Safety concerns at the performing arts centre
- B.A ballooning university deficit
- C.A decline in alumni donations
- D.An unsanctioned street partycorrect
Thomas R. Williams dealt with the ongoing problem of an unsanctioned street party by cancelling the annual fall homecoming celebrations.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
7.What informal nickname was Thomas R. Williams known by on campus?
- A.Dr. Tomcorrect
- B.Academic Tom
- C.Principal Tom
- D.Professor T
Known on the campus informally as 'Dr. Tom', Williams served a term as honorary president of the Queen's Alma Mater Society.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
8.Which university succeeded Thomas R. Williams in 2009 after he finished his term?
- A.McGill University
- B.University of Toronto
- C.University of Chicago
- D.University of Albertacorrect
Thomas R. Williams was succeeded as principal by Daniel Woolf of the University of Alberta.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
9.What designation did the Queen's board of trustees award to Thomas R. Williams in October 2009?
- A.Honorary chancellor
- B.Distinguished scholar
- C.Principal emerituscorrect
- D.Life trustee
In October 2009, Queen's board of trustees recognized Williams' service to the university by awarding him the designation principal emeritus.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
10.Which two hospitals in Kingston did Thomas R. Williams serve on the board for?
- A.Kingston General Hospital and St. Mary's
- B.Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston General Hospitalcorrect
- C.Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston Community Hospital
- D.Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care
He served on the board for both the main hospitals in the city, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital.
Source: Community involvement section
11.What was the role of Thomas R. Williams regarding the new performing arts centre at Queen's University?
- A.Chief fundraiser
- B.Architectural consultant
- C.Founding director
- D.Chair of the building committeecorrect
Thomas R. Williams was the chair of the building committee for the new performing arts centre at Queen's.
Source: Community involvement section
12.How old was Thomas R. Williams at the time of his death?
- A.89
- B.85correct
- C.86
- D.82
Thomas R. Williams died in Kingston, Ontario on January 3, 2025, aged 85.
Source: Death section
13.In which city did Thomas R. Williams pass away?
- A.Toronto
- B.Peterborough
- C.Montreal
- D.Kingstoncorrect
Thomas R. Williams died in Kingston, Ontario on January 3, 2025.
Source: Death section
14.What role did Thomas R. Williams hold during the principalship of David Chadwick Smith?
- A.Principal of Queen's University
- B.Vice-principal of operationscorrect
- C.Dean of the Faculty of Education
- D.President of the board of trustees
He served as vice-principal of operations, and as vice-principal of institutional relations, during the principalship of David Chadwick Smith (1984–1994).
Source: Education and career section
15.When did Thomas R. Williams conclude his term as principal of Queen's University?
- A.October 26, 2009
- B.August 31, 2009correct
- C.April 30, 2008
- D.June 30, 2009
He concluded his term as principal on August 31, 2009.
Source: Principal at Queen's section
16.In what city was Thomas R. Williams born?
- A.Peterborough, Ontariocorrect
- B.Montreal, Quebec
- C.Kingston, Ontario
- D.Toronto, Ontario
Thomas R. Williams was born on September 9, 1939 in Peterborough, Ontario.
Source: Education and career section
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