Fired Thompson Rivers University president and vice-chancellor Kathleen Scherf in her official photo. (Thompson Rivers University/tru.ca)

The board of British Columbia's Thompson Rivers University has fired its controversial and colourful president after just one year on the job.

The school announced Monday that Kathleen Scherf, who was installed as president and vice-chancellor of the Kamloops school in September 2008, had been released from her duties, according to a report in the Kamloops Daily News.

The board's chair said the decision came after a routine, annual evaluation of her performance over the past three months.

"The board had lost confidence in her leadership abilities and her judgment abilities regarding the president's position," the report said, quoting chair Ron Olynyk, who didn't elaborate, citing privacy laws.

Scherf couldn't be reached for comment.

Former president Roger Barnsley was set to take over until a replacement is chosen.

Mannerisms not the issue

The theatre professor frequently had boldly coloured streaks in her hair and peppered conversation with "dude."

But the report quoted Olynyk as saying Scherf's mannerisms were not the issue for the board.

Scherf at her October, 2008, installation as Thompson Rivers University president. (Thompsn Rivers University/tru.ca)

"A number of people commented it was not her style," he said. "It was her role and substance as president."

Before moving to Kamloops, Scherf was a dean at the University of Calgary, and had previously taught at the University of British Columbia and the University of New Brunswick.