In the summer of last year, I had the immense privilege of being appointed as York University’s interim president and vice-chancellor. As I step into my new role, I am both humbled and excited to lead this remarkable institution at a time when we have such a vital role to play in supporting a healthy society and economy. I see every day why York is renowned for catalyzing positive change, and the power of that commitment in the current moment.
Every role I have had at York has taught me something new about our University. In 2011, I became an associate vice-president, after 20 years as a law professor. This experience gave me further insight into our distinctive character as a research institution. Through York’s foundational commitments to collaboration across disciplines, community-engaged scholarship and international knowledge networks, we have built up capacities that are uniquely suited to the present moment. Universities are being called to work actively with other sectors to develop new responses to urgent challenges, and York can lead the way.
During my time as senior policy adviser to the president, a temporary role I held from October 2024 until July of last year, I led one of the projects under the York U Forward Action Plan: the Faculties of the Future initiative. To prepare the final report, I met with more than 2,000 faculty, instructors, students, staff and academic administrators, and in doing so gained a first-hand appreciation for the extraordinary wealth of creative ideas and energy within our engaged University community.
And, of course, as provost and vice-president academic – my longest administrative responsibility at York – one key takeaway stands out: in a challenging context for institutions of higher learning, we are nonetheless finding myriad ways to bolster our capacity for transformative learning, knowledge creation and positive impact.
One of the many opportunities I see for York during this period is expanding our robust research and innovation activities. A recent report by the Council of Canadian Academies demonstrates that universities not only contribute 35 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic R & D expenditures (far outpacing the OECD’s 16 per cent) but also provide a high level of self-funded research compared to other countries.
York was created in 1959 to open up the university sector to new populations, new ideas and new ways of doing things. This forward-looking mandate has allowed us to grow into one of Canada’s most impactful post-secondary institutions, one that truly embodies our motto, Tentanda via, meaning “The way must be tried.”
Our groundbreaking research leadership is a testament to this: from spearheading the country’s first research initiative focused on inclusive technology to launching Canada’s only university-based Emergency Operations Centre for research, training and operations to celebrating the opening of the first Canadian research hub for psoriatic arthritis, we continue to embody a spirit of innovation, collaboration and determination to make a better future for all. Looking forward, I see that York is well positioned to seize further opportunities to advance the bold and progressive solutions that are so greatly needed in this era. I continue to be inspired by the many York community members whose creativity and dedication make our University such a powerful nexus of ideas, discovery and action, and a place where we are all asked to think harder about how to create positive change for the communities we serve, near and far.
