The search is on for York’s next chancellor

The York Board of Governors has struck a committee to search for a successor to Peter Cory, 11th chancellor of York University, who was appointed to the position in June 2004. The community is invited to submit suggestions of individuals for this important and prestigious position. The chancellor is the titular head of the University and confers its degrees.  

The committee is comprised of the following individuals: 

  • Paul Cantor, Chair of the Search Committee and member of York’s Board of Governors,
  • Marshall Cohen, Chair of York’s Board of Governors,
  • Terrie-Lynne Devonish, member of York’s Board of Governors,
  • Nimmy George, student and member of the Senate of York University,
  • Celia Haig-Brown, member of the Senate of York University,
  • Zahir Janmohamed, member of York’s Board of Governors,
  • Bonnie Kettel, member of York’s Board of Governors and member of the Senate of York University, 
  • Mamdouh Shoukri, York president & vice-chancellor, 
  • Brenda Spotton Visano, Chair of the Senate of York University,
  • Ryan White, student and member of the Senate of York University, 
  • Randy Williamson (LLB’88), York University alumnus,
  • Harriet Lewis, University secretary & general counsel, and committee secretary.

The committee has established criteria for the next chancellor as follows:

"The Chancellor of York University should be a highly esteemed individual who is regarded as a leader in the community at large, is able to command the respect of the University community and to build bridges between the two. He or she should appreciate and embody the values of the University as set out in York’s Mission Statement, embrace its accomplishments and aspirations, and carry out the Chancellor’s duties in a way that enhances the University’s welfare. He or she should have the capacity to convey to the public and to government the value of universities in general, and York University in particular, and to remind the University of the needs and expectations of society. The Chancellor should have the time to confer the University’s degrees at Convocation, to play an active role in the University and to participate in its on-going life. He or she should not have been Chancellor of another University nor be in a conflict or apparent conflict of commitment between a duty to York and to another university."

York’s Mission Statement can be found at: http://www.yorku.ca/ycom/yms.

Suggestions, with biographical information (if possible), should be forwarded by Nov. 1, 2007, to:

Harriet Lewis, Secretary of the Search Committee
N904 Ross Building,
York University
4700 Keele Street,
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
E-mail:  hlewis@yorku.ca
Fax:  416-736-5094

The committee will consider all suggested names in confidence.