York University has selected a new vice-president, research and innovation: Amir Asif. Dr. Asif is currently dean of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University, a position he’s held since 2014. Dr. Asif will begin his new role at York on May 1. Before joining Concordia, Dr. Asif was the founding chair of York’s department of electrical engineering and computer science from 2006 to 2014. He is the current chair of the Research Committee of the Engineering Deans of Canada, the national council of deans of engineering and applied science in Canada. Dr. Asif holds an MSc and PhD from Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Michelle McNeil has been named the associated alumni executive director at the University of New Brunswick. She began her new position on Dec. 16. Ms. McNeil has been involved with the UNB community for over two decades as a student and then employee. After working as a conference coordinator for UNB Fredericton’s residential life, campus and conference services, she was named manager of conference services in 2006, director in 2007 and senior director in 2014.
Donna Kahérakwas Goodleaf, who recently served as Concordia University’s interim senior director of Indigenous directions, is taking on a new role as the university’s new director of decolonizing curriculum and pedagogy. In this role, Dr. Goodleaf will develop and implement university-wide training on decolonizing and Indigenizing the academy. She will also work with faculty members to help them re-centre their curriculum in ways that promote critical discourse, analysis and integration on Indigenous histories and perspectives.
Concordia University named alumna Manon Tremblay as the institution’s new senior director of Indigenous directions, beginning a five-year term on Dec. 3. Ms. Tremblay was most recently the director of Indigenous research for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and provided guidance to Tri-Council presidents, members of the Canada Research Chair Coordinating Committee and the minister of science. Before this, she held positions at the Public Service Commission of Canada and the University of Ottawa, and spent 15 years as the coordinator of Concordia’s Aboriginal Student Resource Centre.
The University of Manitoba welcomes Michael Benarroch as its new president and vice-chancellor, starting July 1. Dr. Benarroch is currently the provost and vice-president, academic, at Ryerson University. Before his time at Ryerson, he was the dean of U of M’s I. H. Asper School of Business, where he worked with Indigenous faculty, students and community members to help strengthen the university’s Aboriginal Business Education Program. Dr. Benarroch was born in Tangier, Morocco, and immigrated to Winnipeg with his family when he was three years old. He holds a BA from the University of Winnipeg, an MA from Western University and a PhD from Carleton University.
Cory Searcy has been appointed vice-provost and dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University. Dr. Searcy has held various roles at the school, including interim dean and associate dean, programs. He also led the creation of Ryerson’s Graduate Scholarship Awards. He is a professor of industrial engineering and former graduate program director for the interdisciplinary environmental applied science and management program at Ryerson. He received a BSc and MSc from the University of Manitoba and a PhD from the University of Alberta.