Acting University of Winnipeg president says the school plays a key downtown role

Jino Distasio became acting president on Dec. 12 and says the University of Winnipeg should be an open, welcoming downtown institution.

Jino Distasio, an urban geography professor and long-time member of the University of Winnipeg community, stepped into the acting president role on Dec. 12. He has spent decades researching urban revitalization and housing insecurity and says he plans to remain connected to the classroom by teaching one course next term. Distasio expressed a desire to support student activities and to position the university as an open, welcoming part of downtown Winnipeg. He also mentioned revisiting decisions made about campus programming, including the women's soccer team. Key points: - Jino Distasio became acting president on Dec. 12 and has held roles including acting dean, vice-president and director of the Institute of Urban Studies. - He has focused his research on urban revitalization and the "housing first" principle and has longstanding ties to the university dating back to his student days in the 1980s. - The board of regents removed former president Todd Mondor two weeks before Distasio's appointment; the article reports Mondor's tenure included a drop in international student enrolment, hiring freezes, cuts to newcomer English programming and the scrapping of the women's soccer team for 2024-25. - Distasio said he wants students to have chances to express themselves outside the classroom and recalled hundreds participating in touch football at the Axworthy Health & RecPlex. - Premier Wab Kinew described Distasio as "the perfect person" for the role, and Distasio said whether he will seek the permanent presidency will be decided during the interim "test drive." Summary: Distasio's acting presidency centers on strengthening the university's role in downtown Winnipeg and supporting student life and collaborative research. He plans to stay involved in teaching and to work with provincial officials on issues including international student policy. Whether he will pursue the permanent presidency will be determined during the interim period.