Feridun Hamdullahpur has been an engineer, educator and leader over the span of his more than 35 year career in research and higher education. Dr. Hamdullahpur has served as the sixth President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo since 2010.
A professor of mechanical engineering, Dr. Hamdullahpur holds a PhD in chemical engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul.
As President of the University of Waterloo, Dr. Hamdullahpur has devoted his tenure to fostering excellence in academics and research, with a dedication to developing an innovative culture committed to experiential education. Through President Hamdullahpur’s stewardship, the University of Waterloo has remained Canada’s most innovative university for 26 consecutive years.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hamdullahpur has been an active researcher in thermo-fluids and energy engineering, a passionate teacher and an academic administrator. He has authored hundreds of scientific and academic publications and supervised over 50 graduate students. He was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2014. He has served in various academic and administrative roles, most recently as a Vice-President Academic and Provost at the University of Waterloo.
President Hamdullahpur is a leading advocate for the value of basic research and its relevance to academic excellence, economic prosperity and societal development.
His current focus at the University of Waterloo is expanding its lead in innovation, building on Waterloo’s long-standing and emerging strengths in co-operative education, research, entrepreneurship and equity.
In 2015 President Hamdullahpur was appointed chair of the new Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure, an ambitious initiative to build a world leading digital infrastructure ecosystem for Canada. He is also proud to have been one of ten global university presidents appointed to the United Nation’s HeforShe Impact 10x10x10 campaign to engage boys and men in the cause of gender equity.
The President continues to serve in many roles on committees and boards including as Chair of the Waterloo Global Science Initiative since 2016, an active member of the Sorbonne Université Strategic Orientation Committee since 2014, and as a member of the King Abdulaziz University International Advisory Board since 2017.
In acknowledgement of President Hamdullahpur’s leadership in education and innovation, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in January 2013.