Past Principals
Deborah Buszard, 2012-2020
Deborah Buszard held senior appointments at Dalhousie and McGill prior to leading UBC’s Okanagan campus for eight years. Achievements during Buszard’s time as Principal included building new and enhanced community partnerships throughout the region; a 150 per cent increase in annual research income; publicly committing to five actions on Truth and Reconciliation in collaboration with the Okanagan Nation Alliance; and surpassing 10,000 in campus enrolment.
From 2022 to 2023 Deborah Buszard served as UBC’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor.
A plant scientist and strawberry breeder, Buszard is Professor Emerita in the Department of Biology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science on the Okanagan campus.
Doug Owram, 2006-2012
A historian who held senior leadership roles at the University of Alberta before coming to UBC as Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Doug Owram helped grow the new UBC Okanagan campus in the years just after its creation. The student population doubled at the Okanagan campus during his tenure.
Owram is currently Professor Emeritus, History, in the Department of History and Sociology of the Okanagan campus’ Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Barry McBride, 2004-2006
The inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBC Okanagan, Barry McBride, was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President Academic and Research. Prior to joining the new campus, he served as UBC’s Vice President Academic and Provost of UBC, beginning in 1998.
McBride is Professor Emeritus, Microbiology and Immunology, in the Faculty of Science at UBC’s Vancouver campus.