{{Short description|Canadian neuropsychologist}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Benoit-Antoine Bacon | image = Carleton University President Dr Benoit-Antoine Bacon delivers remarks (44401590090) (cropped).jpg | caption = Bacon in 2018 | office = 17th [[List of Presidents of the University of British Columbia|President of the University of British Columbia]] | chancellor = [[Steven Point]]<br>[[Judy Rogers]] | term_start = November 1, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = Deborah Buszard (acting) | successor = | office1 = 15th President of [[Carleton University]] | term_start1 = July 1, 2018 | term_end1 = August 31, 2023 | chancellor1 = [[Yaprak Baltacioğlu]] | predecessor1 = Alastair Summerlee (acting) | successor1 = Jerry Tomberlin (acting) | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[Concordia University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Université de Montréal]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) | module = {{Infobox scientist | embed = yes | fields = [[Neuropsychology]] | workplaces = {{ubl |[[Bishop's University]] |[[Concordia University]] |[[Queen's University at Kingston]] |[[Carleton University]] |[[University of British Columbia]]}} | thesis_title = Etudes des substrats neurologiques de la stéréopsie chez le chat | thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/304577676/ | thesis_year = 1999 | doctoral_advisors = Franco Lepore<br>Jean-Paul Guillemot}} }} '''Benoit-Antoine Bacon''' is a Canadian [[neuropsychologist]] who has been serving as the 17th president of the [[University of British Columbia]] since November 2023. He previously served as the 15th president of [[Carleton University]] in [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]], from 2018 to 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carleton University appoints new President and Vice-Chancellor |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/carleton-university-appoints-new-president-and-vice-chancellor/ |website=ctvnews.ca |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025153744/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/carleton-university-appoints-new-president-and-vice-chancellor-1.3910248 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Born in [[Montreal]], he graduated from [[Concordia University]] in Montreal, Quebec with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] (Honours) degree in [[psychology]] in 1995. He received his [[PhD|Ph.D.]] in [[neuropsychology]] from the [[Université de Montréal]] in Montreal, Quebec in 1999, and completed a [[post-doctoral fellowship]] at the [[University of Glasgow]] in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Carleton University names Benoit-Antoine Bacon as president |url=https://obj.ca/article/carleton-university-names-benoit-antoine-bacon-president |website=obj.ca |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025153745/https://obj.ca/article/carleton-university-names-benoit-antoine-bacon-president |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career==
His first academic appointment was in the Department of Psychology at [[Bishop's University]] in [[Sherbrooke|Sherbrooke, Quebec]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Announcements – May 2018 |url=https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/people-on-the-move/announcements-may-2018/ |website=universityaffairs.ca |date=May 25, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025155515/https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/people-on-the-move/announcements-may-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following serious labour strife at Bishop’s, he was asked to serve as Chief Negotiator for the union and led the settlement of several collective agreements.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Q&A with Benoit-Antoine Bacon |url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2016-10-13/news/a-qa-with-benoit-antoine-bacon/ |website=queensjournal.ca |date=October 14, 2016 |access-date=2019-10-25 |archive-date=2019-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025153755/https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2016-10-13/news/a-qa-with-benoit-antoine-bacon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He later served as Chair of Psychology, Dean of Arts and Science, and Associate VP Research at the institution.<ref>{{cite web |title=Provost at Queen's U appointed new president of Carleton University |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/provost-at-queens-u-appointed-new-president-of-carleton-university |website=ottawacitizen.com |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025153744/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/provost-at-queens-u-appointed-new-president-of-carleton-university |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013, he was hired as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at his alma mater [[Concordia University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Benoit-Antoine Bacon appointed provost |url=http://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2013/04/26/benoit-antoine-bacon-appointed-provost.html |website=concordia.ca |date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=May 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516002352/http://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2013/04/26/benoit-antoine-bacon-appointed-provost.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, he moved to Ontario to serve as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Benoit-Antoine Bacon appointed provost |url=https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/benoit-antoine-bacon-appointed-provost |website=queensu.ca |date=January 8, 2016 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608203520/https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/benoit-antoine-bacon-appointed-provost |url-status=live }}</ref>
On May 1, 2018 he was announced as the 15th President of [[Carleton University]] in Ottawa, succeeding interim President Alastair Summerlee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon Appointed as Carleton University's 15th President |url=https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/benoit-antoine-bacon-15th-president/ |website=carleton.ca |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025153807/https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/benoit-antoine-bacon-15th-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He began his mandate on July 1, 2018, at the same time as Carleton Board Chair [[Nik Nanos]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nik Nanos Appointed New Chair of Carleton University's Board of Governors |url=https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2018/nik-nanos-appointed-new-chair-of-carleton-universitys-board-of-governors/ |website=carleton.ca |date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326223031/https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2018/nik-nanos-appointed-new-chair-of-carleton-universitys-board-of-governors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Together they announced Yaprak Baltacioğlu as the 12th Chancellor of the institution in December 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yaprak Baltacioğlu Named Carleton University's New Chancellor |url=https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2018/yaprak-baltacioglu-named-carleton-universitys-new-chancellor/ |website=carleton.ca |date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073954/https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2018/yaprak-baltacioglu-named-carleton-universitys-new-chancellor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 20, 2023, Dr. Bacon was announced as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of British Columbia]], with his term to begin on November 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon named UBC president |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2023/07/20/ubc-announces-17th-president-and-vice-chancellor/ |website=ubc.ca |date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=July 20, 2023 }}</ref> Bacon's term as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University ended on August 31, 2023. He was succeeded by Jerry Tomberlin as interim President and Vice-Chancellor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon Leaving University to Take on UBC Presidency |url=https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2023/carleton-president-benoit-antoine-bacon-leaving-university-to-take-on-ubc-presidency/ |website=Carleton Newsroom |access-date=24 February 2024 |date=20 July 2023}}</ref>
UBC's 2025 financial disclosure showed that Bacon was among the university's top 10 earners, with more than $725,000 in salary and compensations.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Samilski| first = Abbie Lee and Sophia Bertuzzi| title = UBC’s highest-paid employee made $1.11 million in 2024| work = The Ubyssey| access-date = 2026-02-01| date = 2026-01-26| url = https://ubyssey.ca/news/ubc-sofi-report-2025/}}</ref>
==Personal life==
To contribute to breaking down the stigma around mental health and substance use, Bacon has shared his difficult upbringing in a dysfunctional family<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dault |first1=Meredith |title=Clarity of vision |url=https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/alumnireview/stories/clarity-vision |website=queensu.ca |date=2017 |access-date=2019-05-21 |archive-date=2019-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609114626/https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/alumnireview/stories/clarity-vision |url-status=live }}</ref> and subsequent challenges in early adulthood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Installation Address – November 10, 2018 |url=https://carleton.ca/president/2018/installation-address-november-10-2018/ |website=carleton.ca |date=November 10, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328143546/https://carleton.ca/president/2018/installation-address-november-10-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bacon |first1=Benoit-Antoine |title=On Mental Health |url=https://carleton.ca/president/2018/on-mental-health/ |website=carleton.ca |date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126203159/https://carleton.ca/president/2018/on-mental-health/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-aca}} {{s-bef|before=Alastair Summerlee<br />{{small|{{nobold|(interim)}}}}}} {{s-ttl|order=15th|title=President and Vice-Chancellor<br/>of [[Carleton University]]|years=2018–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Jerry Tomberlin<br />{{small|{{nobold|(interim)}}}}}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Deborah Buszard<br />{{small|{{nobold|(interim)}}}}}} {{s-ttl|order=17th|title=President and Vice-Chancellor<br/>of the [[University of British Columbia]]|years=2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Presidents of the University of British Columbia}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bacon, Benoit-Antoine}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Neuropsychologists]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian psychologists]] [[Category:Presidents of Carleton University]] [[Category:Scientists from Montreal]] [[Category:Concordia University alumni]] [[Category:Université de Montréal alumni]] [[Category:Academic staff of Bishop's University]] [[Category:Presidents of the University of British Columbia]]