University of Toronto president, Meric Gertler, with approval of the university’s Governing Council, has announced his intention to appoint and reappoint five members of the university’s senior administration.
Cheryl Regehr was reappointed vice-president and provost for a five-and-a-half year term. Regehr joined the university’s teaching staff in 1999, eventually serving as dean of the Faculty of Social Work. She previously held positions in the fields of social work, emergency mental health, and law.
Following her term as vice-provost, academic, Regehr succeeded Cheryl Misak as provost. Regehr was initially appointed for one term on September 2, 2013 until February 28, 2015. As provost, Regehr oversees the university’s budget and academic matters and is the university’s second highest ranking official behind the president.
At the time she became provost, Regehr expressed a desire to increase student engagement. “One of the things that I want to continue to work on building with people is enhancing the number of opportunities we have… for students to get out of the university and tackle some of the real problems our society and our societies face,” Regehr told The Varsity in September 2013.
Her first term was rife with challenges, including the controversial Student Societies Summit and the last year’s University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) elections.
David Palmer was reappointed for his role as vice-president, advancement for a five-year term. Palmer served as vice-president, advancement for two terms and has led the university’s Boundless fundraising campaign.
The reappointments of Regehr and Palmer are effective January 1, 2015.
Also effective January 1, 2015 for a three-and-a-half year term, professor Bruce Kidd will be appointed vice-president, University of Toronto and principal, University of Toronto Scarborough. Kidd, the former Hart House warden and dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, was appointed to both positions on an interim basis in February.
Although he held the position of dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health for 19 years, Kidd first entered U of T as a student and member of the track team.
Kidd subsequently became an Olympian and, following his athletic career, returned to U of T as a professor. Kidd was instrumental in the creation of Varsity Stadium and often speaks on the importance of accessibility in sports.
“While drawing enormous benefits from its integral place in Canada’s leading university, UTSC has become a mature, research intensive, educationally innovative campus in its own right,” Kidd told The Varsity in October 2014.
UTSC celebrated its fiftieth anniversary earlier this year.
Effective February 1, 2015, professor Vivek Goel will be appointed U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation for a five-year term. Goel is a former U of T provost and was acting university president before David Naylor.
Judith Wolfson has also been appointed to the new role of vice-president, international, government, and institutional relations for an 18-month term beginning January 1, 2015. Wolfson’s role is slated to enable U of T to develop its international activities, profile, and partnerships, while strengthening its governmental and institutional relationships.
