Jean-Simon Rhéaume – Contributor

Bishop’s University residence life has long been ranked among the top university residence facilities in Canada. While everyone who has lived on campus has their own preferences on which hall is the best, one residence hall often takes the award for most sought-after residence. Janyne Hodder Hall is one of the newest buildings on campus, and is what some would call the pinnacle of Bishop’s housing. 

Photo courtesy of University of The Bahamas

Students are always talking about how they appreciate the residence because of its modernity, beauty and comfort. The building itself was constructed in 2023 and consists mostly of what we call “bog-style” residence rooms, which are residences composed of two sleeping rooms that share a common living space and two small bathrooms. The beauty of this residence raises the question, who is Janyne Hodder, and how did this residence hall receive its name?

Well, it’s safe to say, Janyne Hodder herself deserves to be affiliated with such a nice place. Dr. Janyne Hodder was the principal of Bishop’s University from 1995 to 2004. Most notably, she was the first woman to hold this position both at Bishop’s and in the province of Quebec. Dr. Hodder is a pioneer for women in administrative positions within the Quebecois university system. 

While principal, Dr. Hodder dedicated herself to enhancing Bishop’s financial position, campaigning for more funding to increase student scholarships as a way to make education more affordable, and to attract future students. 

Her groundbreaking position and work at BU show how special she is. Thanks to her dedication to bettering Bishop’s, it is now a university that is breaking barriers and attracting students from all financial backgrounds, making education more accessible for all. Her work did not go unnoticed at Bishop’s. In fact, she was the recipient, in honoris causa, of a Doctor of Civil Laws from Bishop’s University.

Where is Dr. Hodder now? As of today, she is the acting President of the University of the Bahamas. Returning to the university where she began her career at Queen’s College, the Bahamas Teachers’ College, and the College of The Bahamas. 

Dr. Hodder’s impact on Bishop’s continues to be felt, nearly a decade after her departure as principal. We might be a small school in terms of staff and students, but as we always say, it’s the quality before the quantity, which is exemplified by Janyne Hodder.