Earlier this week, new president Richard Florizone kicked off his to get to know the Dal community.
The Dal community wants to get to know him too, of course, so we thought we鈥檇 do our part and help with some of the fun stuff.
Here are 11 things you might not know about Dal鈥檚 11th president.
1. Early aspirations
As a child, Dr. Florizone wanted to be 鈥渁 scientist鈥� or work in a developing country,鈥� saying he鈥檚 always been curious about the world around him. 鈥淎s a physicist, you want to understand what makes the world tick, the origins of the universe. In administration or business, it鈥檚 about organizations and how they function, how you bring facts and data and people together.鈥�
2. School days
In grade school, his favourite subject was English, but his best class was Trigonometry.
3. A short-lived music career
Dr. Florizone picked up the clarinet in junior high, but drifted towards the guitar in high school. The peak of his music career came shortly thereafter, playing guitar with his high school friends in a cover band inspired by new wave icons DEVO (of 鈥淲hip It鈥� fame).
4. Fill鈥檈r up
His first paying job? Working as a gas station attendant.
5. A cut above
While on exchange in Australia, Dr. Florizone ended up working at his host family鈥檚 butcher shop as an apprentice. 鈥淚t was a great experience,鈥� he says of his time behind the counter.
6. Born to be wild?
While you won鈥檛 see a motorcycle parked in front of the president鈥檚 residence anytime soon, he does have his license and speaks fondly of the K7-750 Kawasaki he owned in grad school.
7. Hidden talents
Dr. Florizone sheepishly admits to being able to twiddle his thumbs in opposite directions (which we鈥檝e tried; it鈥檚 surprisingly difficult) and has been known to entertain daughters Elinor and Zo毛 with his juggling skills.
8. Morning routine
The first websites the self-described 鈥渘ews junkie鈥� visits each morning? The Globe & Mail, followed by the New York Times.
9. Morning kickstart
Dr. Florizone isn鈥檛 picky when it comes to caffeine, but you鈥檙e most likely to find dark roast coffee or chai tea in his mug.
10. Words of wisdom
The piece of advice Dr. Florizone continues to carry with him in his career? 鈥淚f you can鈥檛 explain something simply, you probably don鈥檛 understand it well enough.鈥�
11. Role models
When asked who he looks up to, Dr. Florizone explains that he gets inspiration from many different sources. 鈥淩ight now? It鈥檚 former university presidents 鈥� to try and learn from their examples.鈥�
To learn even more about Dr. Florizone and get involved in his 100 Days of Listening, please visit