Announcements – July 2020

Ry Moran, the founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, is taking on a new position as the University of Victoria’s inaugural associate university librarian, reconciliation. The role is the first of its kind at a Canadian university and will aim to further educate Canadians about the importance of memory and Indigenous knowledge in the journey to reconciliation. In his new position, Mr. Moran will lead efforts at UVic libraries to decolonize approaches to the university’s archives and collections, and integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and being into their work.

York University announced the appointment of Sharon Murphy to the position of interim dean of the faculty of education, beginning July 1. Dr. Murphy has been a member of the faculty of education since 1988. She also served as the associate dean, academic, in education responsible for faculty’s graduate and undergraduate programs since 2019 and provided guidance during the transition to remote and online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University of Lethbridge has appointed Matthew Letts the new dean of the university’s faculty of arts and science. Dr. Letts is a professor in the department of geography and environment and has served as interim dean for the faculty since 2012. He also served as interim associate vice-president, research, in the 2014-2015 academic year and was later the academic program director of the university’s Destination Project from 2016 to 2019. Dr. Letts came to U of Lethbridge from Trent University in 2003. He began his new role as dean on July 1.

Michael Khan has been appointed as the new provost and vice-president, academic, of Trent University for a five-year term effective Aug. 1. Since 2011, Dr. Khan has served as the dean of human kinetics at the University of Windsor. In this role, he oversaw the department of kinesiology and athletics and recreational services. Before this, he was the head of the school of sport, health and exercise sciences at Bangor University in Wales.

Robert Wood was named interim vice-president, research, at the University of Lethbridge. Previously, he was dean of graduate studies and postdoctoral affairs and dean of the faculty of health sciences. Dr. Woods came to U of Lethbridge in 2000 as an assistant professor in the department of sociology. He began his new position as interim VP, research, on June 1 and will remain in the role for 13 months.  

The University of Lethbridge appointed Shannon Spenceley as the acting dean of the faculty of health sciences. Dr. Spenceley, a registered nurse, is an associate professor and has served as assistant dean, nursing, and associate dean in the faculty of health sciences. She previously taught at Lethbridge College and has held several roles in the delivery and administration of health care in southern Alberta. Her new position began on June 1. 

Brock University has named its next chancellor. Hilary Pearson, a philanthropic leader in Canada and the granddaughter of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, will take on the role for a three-year term in the fall. Ms. Pearson has served in senior policy roles in the federal government, as a senior consultant at Montreal’s strategic consulting firm Secor, served as president of Philanthropic Foundations Canada for 18 years, and was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018.  

Kahente Horn Miller is Carleton University’s inaugural assistant vice–president, Indigenous initiatives. In the new role, she will oversee strategic initiatives and build partnerships on research and funding to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities. Dr. Horn-Miller is a professor in Carleton’s School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies. In 2018, she initiated the Collaborative Indigenous Learning Bundles at Carleton, which are being incorporated into courses to help bring Indigenous knowledge to the classroom.  

Starting July 1, Michael Charles, formerly the director of equity and inclusive communities (EIC) at Carleton University, is the university’s new assistant vice-president and university advisor, EIC. Mr. Charles is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and has worked to raise awareness of human rights and EDI by establishing initiatives such as the university’s first Inclusion Week and an EIC advisory group. He also led the creation of the campus safety services action plan, chairs Carleton’s sexual violence prevention and education committee, and serves as a member of the Universities Canada EDI advisory group.  

Carleton University has appointed Benny Michaud to the new role of director, Centre for Indigenous Initiatives. The new position is part of the university’s Kinàmàgawin Indigenous reconciliation strategy and will operate under the portfolio of the provost. Ms. Michaud recently served as assistant director of equity and inclusive communities at Carleton, teaches in the department of history as a contract instructor and, in 2019, helped to host the inaugural Kinàmàgawin Symposium, which offered students, staff and faculty the opportunity to learn about Indigenous pedagogies.  

Steven Lewis Point, who served as British Columbia’s 28th lieutenant governor, has been appointed chancellor of the University of British Columbia. A member of the Skowkale First Nation, Mr. Point is a UBC graduate, former director of the First Nations legal studies program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in 2013 for his commitment to the field of law and his leadership in the Indigenous community. Mr. Point has also worked as a lawyer and provincial court judge, and was chief commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission and chair of the advisory committee that worked to implement the recommendations from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

Tiffanie Ting is the new executive director of continuing studies at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She began her appointment on July 6. Most recently, Dr. Ting was the dean of Cabot House and lecturer of sociology at Harvard University, where she earned a doctor of education in culture, communities and education in 2014.

Canadian Mennonite University has hired John Balsillie in the position of vice-president, administration and finance. Mr. Balsillie has spent the past six years as executive director of the Manitoba Band Association and the Canadian Band Association. Before this, he served as general manager of St. John’s Music. He also taught as a sessional instructor at CMU’s Redekop School of Business for five years. Mr. Balsillie begins his new role on Aug. 1.

Trinity Western University announced the appointment of Glen Van Brummelen as the dean of its faculty of natural and applied science, effective June 1. Dr. Van Brummelen, a historian of mathematics and astronomy in ancient and medieval cultures, has served twice as president of the Canadian Society for History and Philosophy in Mathematics. He has taught at The King’s University in Edmonton and at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont. He was most recently chair of mathematics at Quest University in Squamish, B.C.

McMaster University has appointed Karen Mossman as its next vice-president, research, as of July 1. Dr. Mossman, a renowned virologist, joined McMaster in 2001 as an assistant professor in the department of pathology and molecular medicine. Since then, she has served as chair of the department of biochemistry and biomedical sciences, and associate vice-president, research. She also served as the acting vice-president, research, over the past year.

McMaster University welcomes Susan Tighe as the university’s new provost and vice-president, academic. Dr. Tighe comes to McMaster from the University of Waterloo, where she served as the deputy provost and associate vice-president, integrated planning and budgeting, since 2017. A civil engineer by training, she has been a professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Waterloo since 2000 and holds the Norman W. McLeod Endowed Chair in Sustainable Pavement Engineering.

Canadian Mennonite University announced the appointment of Christine Kampen Robinson as director of practica. Dr. Robinson is currently a part-time assistant professor of practicum and of social science at CMU. Before this, she worked at the University of Waterloo as a career advisor for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Additionally, she managed transition programming for international students at the University of Manitoba.

Eve Stringham is the new dean, science and technology, at Vancouver Island University. Her five-year term began on June 1. Previously, Dr. Stringham served as vice-provost, research and graduate studies, at Trinity Western University and was a faculty member in TWU’s biology department.

Mount Royal University appointed Elizabeth Evans as its interim provost and vice-president, academic. A search to fill the position permanently will begin in August. Dr. Evans joined MRU in 2016 as the founding dean of the faculty of business and communication studies. Before this, she was associate dean, academic undergraduate programs, in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

King’s University College, an affiliate college at Western University, welcomes Gillian Balfour as its new vice-principal and academic dean, as well as a full professor in the departments of sociology and interdisciplinary programs, beginning Aug. 1. Most recently, Dr. Balfour was the associate dean of Trent Online and a professor of sociology at Trent University.

Ryerson University appointed Saeed Zolfaghari to the position of interim provost and vice-president, academic. Dr. Saeed has served as vice-provost, faculty affairs, for six years. He joined the university in 1999 as a professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering.

On June 1, Tanya (Toni) De Mello began a new role as assistant dean, student programming, development and equity, at Ryerson University. She previously served as the director of human rights at Ryerson in the office of the vice-president, equity and community inclusion. Ms. De Mello is a human rights lawyer, a member of the Ontario bar and is currently completing a PhD at the University of Toronto. She spent over 20 years working in the postsecondary sector in governance, student affairs and admissions and human rights.

Ryerson University has appointed Wendy Freeman as the executive director of its Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Dr. Freeman joined Ryerson in 1998 and, prior to her most recent appointment, served as the director of e-learning. She is a professor in the school of professional communication, faculty of communication and design.

The University of the Fraser Valley appointed John C. Pankratz to the UFV board of governors as board chair, effective Aug. 1. Mr. Pankratz is a UFV graduate and is a partner in the Abbotsford office of Grant Thornton LLP. Throughout his career, he has served on the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) board as chair of its public practice advisory group and practice review committee.

John Cappucci was appointed principal at Assumption University, federated with the University of Windsor, for a six-year term beginning Sept 1. Most recently, Dr. Cappucci served as interim principal of the university while at the same time holding the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Religion and Conflict.

Vivek Goel has taken on a new role as special advisor to the University of Toronto’s president and provost to help guide the university’s COVID-19 planning efforts. For the last six years, Dr. Goel has served as vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. While in his new role as special advisor, he will continue to serve as co-chair of the universities COVID-19 incident leadership team and lead recovery and restart activities. He joined U of T in 1991 and has held several senior roles, including four years as vice-president and provost. In 2008, he was the founding president and CEO of Public Health Ontario, which was formed in response to the SARS crisis.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomes alumna Kim Baird to the role of chancellor for a three-year term beginning Oct. 5. Ms. Bair was elected chief of the Tsawwassen First Nations for six terms and negotiated and implemented British Columbia’s first modern treaty, which came into effect on April 3, 2009. She is the owner of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting and advises First Nations, governments, businesses and other organizations on Indigenous matters.  

Western University has appointed Britta Baron as its vice-provost and associate vice-president, international, for a five-year term that began July 1. Ms. Baron has served as director of the international department at Humboldt University in Berlin since 2018. She was previously vice-provost and associate vice-president, international, at the University of Alberta for 12 years. 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University announced Andhra Goundrey as the new dean of its Wilson School of Design. Ms. Goundrey is a KPU graduate, having completed the fashion and technology program in 1996, and holds an MA in leadership from Trinity Western University. She returned to KPU in 2001 as a faculty member and was the coordinator for the university’s fashion design and technology program. Ms. Goundrey was appointed to the associate dean position at the Wilson School in 2017 before serving as interim dean in 2019.  

Melike Schalomon has been appointed the next dean of MacEwan University’s faculty of arts and science, beginning her five-year term on July 1. Dr. Schalomon joined MacEwan in 1996, and has served as associate dean and interim dean, and on multiple faculty and university committees. As dean, Dr. Schalomon will also hold a concurrent appointment as a professor in the department of psychology.  

The University of Lethbridge appointed Lindi Shade as its new manager of Indigenous Student Services. Ms. Shade has primarily worked in mental health as a clinical therapist for youth, adolescents and families and as the director of the Kainai Wellness Centre within the Blood Tripe Department of Health, near Lethbridge. In her new role, she will focus on the mental health of students, improving students’ access to elders and on program creation.