The University of Windsor announced that Bill Van Heyst will be the new dean of its faculty of engineering. Dr. Van Heyst is currently a professor in the School of Engineering and associate dean for external relations in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph. He has been teaching at the U of Guelph since 2002 and focuses his research on air quality. He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario and a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Canadian Society for Bioengineering.
David Zietsma has been appointed interim president of Redeemer University. Dr. Zietsma, the university’s provost and vice-president, academic, will take on the role after Redeemer U’s president, Robert Graham, steps down on May 1. Previously, he served as vice-president, external relations and enrolment, and dean of humanities. As a member of the president’s council, Dr. Zietsma was involved in the development of the university’s 2020 strategic plan and led the development of its new core curriculum.
The University of Windsor named Myra Tawfik as its inaugural Don Rodzik Family Chair in Law and Entrepreneurship. The position is the law faculty’s first endowed chair. Dr. Tawfik is an expert in intellectual property law with a background in research, teaching, community outreach and policy development in intellectual property education for start-ups and entrepreneurs. She will hold the position for five years, beginning July 1.
Jennifer Simpson was appointed Ryerson University’s next provost and vice-president, academic. Dr. Simpson, who is currently dean of the faculty of humanities and social sciences at Memorial University, joins Ryerson on July 1. At Memorial, she has implemented consultative decision-making processes and supported equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenization efforts. Dr. Simpson was chair of the deans’ council working group on EDI and is currently the chair of the national deans’ initiative regarding the value of the humanities and social sciences.
Douglas Farenick has been appointed to a second five-year term as dean of the University of Regina’s faculty of science, beginning July 1, 2022. Previously, Dr. Farenick has served as associate dean of science, research, and head of the department of mathematics and statistics at the university. He has held leadership roles with the Canadian Mathematical Society and is currently the president of the Canadian Council of Deans of Science. He also serves on the board of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and represents U of R on the TRIUMF members council.
The University of Toronto announced Rhonda McEwen’s appointment to the position of vice-principal, academic, and dean at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She begins a five-year term on July 1. Dr. McEwen is currently UTM’s special adviser to the vice-president and principal on anti-racism and equity, as well as the director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology. Her research focuses on social and new media, with an emphasis on mobile and tablet interactions.
has been appointed dean of the faculty of nursing at the University of Regina. She will join the U of R from MacEwan University, where she is currently serving as associate dean of its faculty of nursing. Dr. Pollard is a 3M Quality Team Award winner, was made a fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education and received the Alberta Nursing Education Administrators Award for leadership in psychiatric nursing education. She begins her five-year appointment at the U of R on July 1.
York University has named E. Louise Spencer its acting vice-president, advancement, effective April 1. Ms. Spencer is currently the assistant vice-president, development, at York and is responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of the advancement team. She came to York in 2017 as senior director, major gifts and planned giving. Before this, she held senior fundraising, strategy and leadership roles in development, executive development and advancement at the Ivey School of Business at Western University.
Lori Campbell, who is a two-spirit nēhiýaw āpihtāwikosisān and band member of Montreal Lake First Nation in Treaty 6 territory, is the inaugural associate vice-president, Indigenous engagement, at the University of Regina. Ms. Campbell was the University of Waterloo’s first senior director of Indigenous initiatives and played an important role in U of Waterloo’s early Indigenization planning. She is currently the director of the university’s Indigenous student centre and an adjunct lecturer in the Indigenous studies program at St. Paul’s University College. Ms. Campbell joins the U of R on June 1.
has been named Memorial University’s next provost and vice-president, academic, and pro vice-chancellor. She begins a five-year term on Aug. 16. Dr. Strzelcyyk was born and raised in Germany and is a scholar of German and European literature. She will join Memorial from the University of Calgary, where she has been the head of the department of Germanic, Slavic and East Asian studies (now the department of linguistics, languages and cultures), vice dean in the faculty of arts and deputy provost.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and the University of Manitoba welcome Stephanie Scott to the position of executive director. Under her leadership, the NCTR will embark on digitization and research initiatives, which include phase two of the Missing Children project, a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant to develop a searchable database and planning for a new archives building. Ms. Scott, who is Anishinaabe from Roseau River First Nation, previously worked with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as its manager of statement gathering.
Naomi Andrew was appointed vice-president, administration, at the University of Manitoba, effective March 23, 2021. Ms. Andrew has served the U of Manitoba community for the past 18 years in leadership roles including acting vice-president, administration, general counsel and associate vice-president, fair practices and legal affairs. She joined the university in the office of legal counsel in 2003 after practicing commercial law at a Winnipeg law firm.
Brian Porter has been appointed chair of Huron University College’s first board of governors. Mr. Porter is president and chief executive officer of Scotiabank. His previous roles at Scotiabank include executive positions with global banking and markets, global risk management, group treasury and international banking. He also served as the bank’s chief risk officer from 2005 to 2008. He is a board member of the Business Council of Canada, the Council of the Americas and was elected chair of the board of trustees of the University Health Network in 2017.
Darren Thomas has been named associate vice-president, Indigenous initiatives, at Wilfrid Laurier University. Dr. Thomas is currently an associate professor in Laurier’s Indigenous studies program and formally begins his new role on July 1. In this position, he will provide strategic advice, support and expertise to academic and administration units across the university to help create an environment of cultural safety. Dr. Thomas, a member of the Haudenosaunee along the Grand River, will also work to further engage and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities.
The University of Windsor announced Phebe Lam is its new acting associate vice-president, student experience. Dr. Lam will serve in the role, which began on March 22, for two years. She has been teaching at the U of Windsor since 2015 and has helped expand the reach of mentorship programs across the university’s faculty of arts, humanities and social sciences. She has also developed new student advising and support programs, including the Pathway to Academic and Student Success peer mentor program.
Amy Dambrowitz is the University of Calgary’s registrar, effective May 1. She has been working at the University of Alberta since 2008, serving in the office of the provost, the faculty of graduate studies and research and the registrar’s office, where she has served as associate registrar since 2018. Dr. Dambrowitz has also worked at the University of Washington and the University of Toronto. In 2018, she received the U of A staff recognition award for her energetic commitment to the success of the university.
Queen’s University announced the appointment of Nancy Ross as vice-principal, research. Dr. Ross is currently associate vice-principal, research and innovations, at McGill University. She is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, a member of McGill’s department of geography and an associate member of the departments of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health and epidemiology. Dr. Ross, who is a Queen’s alumna, will begin her new position on Aug. 1 and will be a faculty member in the university’s faculty of health sciences.