UNB’s Renaissance College changes its name to School of Leadership Studies after 25 years

On April 9, 2025 the University of New Brunswick announced that the UNB Renaissance College was changing its name to the School of Leadership Studies. Dean of Leadership Studies Carol Nemeroff explained that the founders of the Renaissance College wanted to follow the lead of universities with satellite colleges like Oxford. The founders also hoped that “Renaissance” would bring to mind the interdisciplinary focus of Italian Renaissance thinkers. However, the name generated confusion for a quarter of a century, with many assuming that leadership studies was a diploma or community college program rather than bachelor’s degree program from an accredited university. The term “Renaissance” also often confused prospective students who assumed courses focused on fifteenth century Italian art. Carol and the other administrators involved in the name change hope that the School of Leadership Studies will more accurately reflect the programs offered through UNB’s Leadership Studies programs.