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Announcement of appointment of dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

JJ McMurtry

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton has issued the following message to the York University community:

I am pleased to inform members of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and the York University community that the search for dean of LA&PS has reached a successful conclusion.

In 2018, I established a search committee, comprising members of LA&PS (faculty, staff, and students) and one member appointed by me, and chaired by Provost Lisa Philipps, charged with undertaking a search for the next dean and advising me with regard to the appointment. This is an important time in the development of the Faculty, as it builds on its outstanding teaching and research strengths and successes, continues to advance its national and international reputation, and prepares to expand its programming to the new Markham campus.

JJ McMurtry

Following an extensive national and international search which attracted very strong candidates, I am delighted to announce that Professor John Justin (JJ) McMurtry has accepted our invitation to take up a 4.5-year term as dean of LA&PS, commencing Jan. 1, 2020. On Dec. 13, the Board of Governors accepted my recommendation for the appointment.

Professor McMurtry will be well known to members of our community. He holds an appointment in the Department of Social Science in LA&PS and is a member of its Business and Society Program. Since October of 2018, he has been serving as interim dean of the Faculty. As interim dean, he has promoted research in the Faculty through the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence and supports for researchers to secure tri-council funding; enhanced the student experience through a review of advising, expansion of experiential education opportunities, and technology upgrades to classrooms; initiated a Colleges revisioning process; led the Faculty’s planning around York’s Markham Centre campus; welcomed the opening of the IBM Learning Space in Markham in September 2019; overseen the hiring process for close to 40 tenure stream faculty members, including Canada Research Chairs; and significantly improved the Faculty’s financial position.

Professor McMurtry has an extensive record of service to the Faculty and the University: immediately prior to his appointment as interim dean, he served as associate dean (programs) and subsequently, vice-dean in LA&PS. He has previously served in several other capacities, including Chair of the Department of Social Science (2014-15), graduate program director of Social and Political Thought (2012-15), coordinator of the Business and Society Program (2007-10), and as a member of the executives of both CUPE 3903 and YUFA.

Professor McMurtry earned his BA at the University of Guelph, and holds MA and PhD degrees in social and political thought from York University. He has an interdisciplinary social justice focused research and teaching record spanning community ownership and alternative energy, Indigenous communities and alternative economics, and the history and theory of the social economy and social enterprise in Canada and internationally. His publications include 26 authored or co-authored articles and book chapters, and he is editor or co-editor of the books: Living Economics: Canadian Perspectives on the Social Economy, Co-operatives and Community Economic Development and Co-operatives in a Global Economy: The Challenges of Co-operation Across Borders. In addition, he has participated in a number of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants including as principal investigator on “People, Power, Planet: Best Practices and Knowledge Mobilization in Community Energy Development.” From 2015-18, he served as English language editor of The Canadian Journal of Non-Profit and Social Economy Research.

I look forward to continuing to work with Dean McMurtry in the coming years to advance our shared objectives, and I invite all members of the Faculty and the University community to join me in congratulating him and wishing him well as he undertakes this important leadership role.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Search Committee for the dean of LA&PS for their contributions to this important process.

Introducing the 2019-20 cohort of York University President’s Ambassadors

Some of the students

York University has announced the students selected to participate in the second cohort of the President’s Ambassador Program.

This diverse group of multi-talented undergraduate and graduate students are engaged York community members who will share their commitment for the University through various institutional events and initiatives. All students who applied for the program should be recognized for their involvement and enthusiasm for the University.

Some of the students selected for the second cohort of the President’s Ambassador Program

“From athletic teams and artistic endeavours to community service and mentorship roles, the newest cohort of President’s Ambassadors are active contributors to student life at the University,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “On behalf of all of us at York, I want to congratulate these student leaders on their selection as President’s Ambassadors, and I look forward to getting to know more about them and about their ideas for continuing to improve the student experience at York.”

Ambassadors have already participated in a number of institutional and community events this fall, including First Generation Day, Red & White Day, Vaughan Scholars Hub and York Circle.

Applications are open for the winter semester and students are encouraged to apply to the program to join the 2019-20 cohort of President’s Ambassadors. Learn more about the program and apply by Friday, Dec. 13. Interviews will take place in January 2020.

Some of the students selected for the second cohort of the President’s Ambassador Program

Designed to provide York students with a unique perspective on the University community, the President’s Ambassador Program offers opportunities for current students to serve as representatives of the University and to share their experiences as York students with other students, staff, faculty and alumni.

To request ambassadors to attend an event, fill out this request form, preferably two weeks in advance of the event date.

The York University President’s Ambassadors for the 2018-19 academic year are:

  • Hanaa Ammer, third year, health management, Faculty of Health;
  • Talon Becker, fourth year, bachelor of business administration, Schulich School of Business;
  • Gurneet Bhela, fifth year, global health, Faculty of Health;
  • Ammon Cherry, third year, environmental studies, Faculty of Environmental Studies;
  • Jenning Cheung, fourth year, public administration, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and Faculty of Education;
  • Jennifer Del Riccio, second year, Juris Doctor, Osgoode Hall Law School;
  • Sara Dhir, fifth year, law and society, LA&PS;
  • Yasmin Dini, fourth year, global health, Faculty of Health;
  • Mathias Dos, second year, commerce, LA&PS;
  • Aly Fawzy, fourth year, kinesiology, Faculty of Health;
  • Jacob Fine, second year, biology, Faculty of Health;
  • Kelly Fung, fourth year, bachelor of business administration, Schulich School of Business;
  • Pablo Gonzalez, second year, biotechnology, Faculty of Science;
  • Amin Hatamnejad, second year, kinesiology, Faculty of Health;
  • Crystal Heidari, third year, Juris Doctor, Osgoode Hall Law School;
  • Amy Kingston, fourth year, theatre and human rights and equity studies, School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design;
  • Priyaan Lall, second year, economics, LA&PS;
  • Ridhima Malhotra, fourth year, commerce, LA&PS;
  • Christina Marton, geography, LA&PS;
  • Vrati Mehra, second year, masters in kinesiology and health science, Faculty of Health;
  • Javeria Mirza, fourth year, global political studies, LA&PS;
  • Rana Nasrazadani, fifth year, human rights and equity studies, LA&PS;
  • Davina Potkidis, third year, biology and music, Faculty of Science; and,
  • Mark Subekti Tan, first year, humanities, Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Announcement of the appointment of a new vice-president research and innovation

The following is a message to the University community from York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:

Amir Asif

Following an extensive national and international search, I am pleased to announce that York University has selected a new Vice President of Research & Innovation. The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors has accepted the recommendation of the search committee that Professor Amir Asif be appointed for a five-year term beginning on May 1, 2020.

Professor Asif has served as the Dean of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science (GCS) at Concordia University since 2014. He is well known to members of the York community, having served as the founding Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) from 2006 to 2014. As Chair, he transformed EECS into a comprehensive department offering programs in computer engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, digital media and computer security, which was selected as one of the two founding departments for the new Lassonde School of Engineering at York University. He is also currently serving as the Chair of the Research Committee of the Engineering Deans Canada, the national council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Science in Canada.

Professor Asif has more than 15 years of experience serving in senior university leadership positions. Most recently, he led the development of the 2016-21 GCS Strategic Plan and the creation of faculty research support and capital infrastructure funds focused on attracting the best researchers and achieving excellence in research. Professor Asif was instrumental in establishing successful research collaborations between the public and private sectors, examples of which are NSERC Canada Excellence Research Chair in Smart and Resilient Cities and Communities ($10M), Green-Surface Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing approved as a NSERC Strategic Partnership Grant ($5.5M), multiple NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Grants ($10M), four Industrial Research Chairs (over $6M) and various NSERC Create and Mitacs Accelerate Grants  ($5M). During his five-year term as Dean, the School of Engineering and Computer Science grew by 35 per cent in terms of student enrolment and 40 per cent in terms of faculty complement. The research funding within the school grew by over 50 per cent during his deanship.

Professor Asif led the development of Concordia’s Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and 10 new interdisciplinary research centres at Concordia, including collaborations with the other Faculties and disciplines. He is also passionate about refining public policy on higher education and improving the student experience. As Vice-Chair of the University Senate and Chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy at York University, he oversaw the development of University-wide policy on academic standards, regulations, curriculum and programs, including research-informed pedagogy.

Innovation and interdisciplinarity are also at the heart of his research. As a specialist in signal processing, Professor Asif focuses on developing next-generation technologies for a variety of everyday applications including health and medical devices, radar and sonar applications, distributed multi-agent networked systems and electrical power grids. He leads by example in the pursuit of research excellence, maintaining active research and teaching profiles. He is the recipient of several prestigious teaching awards and has published extensively in scientific journals and international conferences. He has been awarded grants for core engineering research and applied industrial projects undertaken in Canada and internationally, including from the Ontario Research Foundation/Research Excellence program for his work as principal investigator of the Centre for Innovation in Information Visualization and Data Driven Design (CIV/DDD), a multi-million dollar, multi-institutional research project. He continues to work with industry on applied research projects, the latest such collaboration leading to a joint patent filing with IBM.

I know you will join me in welcoming Professor Asif to the York community. I am very grateful to the members of the search committee for their contributions to this process.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank Rui Wang for his excellent work and leadership as the Interim Vice President of Research & Innovation. An update will be forthcoming regarding this role for the winter term.

Passings: Yvonne Aziz (LLD [Hon.] ’85), retired executive officer to Presidents Murray Ross and H. Ian Macdonald

Yvonne Tempe Aziz (nee Salmon), former executive officer to York University’s first president Murray Ross and then to President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald, died peacefully on Nov. 15 in Toronto in her 101st year.

Yvonne Tempe Aziz

A third-generation Australian, she was born in New South Wales on May 14, 1919. Raised and educated in Sydney, Australia, Yvonne was a gifted linguist, fluent in French and German, in addition to her native English. Her love of language prompted her travel to Europe at a young age and, in 1939, she left her native Australia first for England and then to France where she planned to study at the Sorbonne. The winds of the Second World War and the aggression of Germany saw her leave France for England, where she became a freelance translator for the British Foreign Office before immigrating to New York, NY, where she worked for British Security Coordination – the covert organization set up by the British Intelligence Service (MI6) on the authorization of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Following her marriage in 1944 to Abdul Aziz, a member of the Royal Indian Engineers, she relocated to India where she lived through the turbulent and often violent period of the country’s independence that resulted in its partitioning into the current nations of India and Pakistan. Her son, Julian, was born in New Delhi in 1946 and her daughter, Jane, in Karachi, Pakistan in 1949. Yvonne, her husband and daughter came to Canada in 1957 to settle in Toronto, and were later joined by their son in 1959.

In Toronto, Yvonne worked for the Canadian Association of Adult Education and soon became the editor of the association’s journal, Continuous Learning. In 1964, she joined the staff of York University, moving to the Office of the President, where she distinguished herself, not only as an effective, competent and outstanding administrator, but as a woman of deep social conscience and a tireless champion of her gender. Over the years of her service to York University through to her retirement, Yvonne’s work ethic, uncompromising integrity, quiet dignity, tact, charm and dedication all combined to see her become one of the most beloved and respected members of the York University community.

In 1985, York University honored her with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her distinguished career of service as an administrator for the University, respected colleague and valued friend. Through all, she was a devoted wife, a wise and loving mother, and a proud and adoring great/grandmother. Yvonne was an extraordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life for a full century across four continents during some of the most tempestuous and challenging times in modern history.

The memory that she lived her life with grace and courage will endure. Friends are welcome to pay their respects to Yvonne on Monday, Nov. 25, at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church at 19 Don Ridge Drive, Toronto. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at the church.

If desired, and in lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 250 Dundas Street West, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2Z5.

Yvonne was predeceased by her beloved husband Abdul, who died in 2003. They were married for nearly 60 years. She was the loving and dedicated mother of Jane Griffiths of Markham and Julian Aziz (Jennifer Dakin) of Oakville. Yvonne was also the devoted and cherished grandmother of Lesley Griffiths (Andrew), Michael Griffiths, Courtney Reistetter, Megan Kempe (Somers), Ryan Folk (Jay) and Connolly Aziz, and affectionately known as “Great Grammy” to all 10 of her adoring great-grandchildren.

Announcement of the appointment of a new University Secretary

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton issues the following announcement to the community:

Pascal Robichaud
Pascal Robichaud

Following an extensive search process, I am pleased to announce that York University has selected a new University Secretary. The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors have accepted the recommendation of the search committee that Pascal Robichaud be appointed for a five-year term beginning on Jan. 1, 2020.

Pascal is currently the Registrar for l’Université de Moncton, where he is responsible for the design and implementation of all policies related to academic study. During his nine-year tenure, he led the development of over 30 new policies, including the framework for undergraduate degree programs, a new regulation on plagiarism and academic dishonesty and the institution’s new tuition policy. He also restructured the Registrar’s Office and revamped its processes with the goal of improving the student experience.

He has a deep understanding of university governance gained through practical experience. With the university’s Secretary General, he shared responsibility for supporting the various committees of Senate. Over the past year, Pascal has also been Chair of the Senate of the l’Université de Moncton, in recognition of his expertise in both governance and parliamentary procedure.

Prior to joining l’Université de Moncton, Pascal served as Director of University Affairs for the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour in the Government of New Brunswick. In this role, he was responsible for all policy initiatives, legislation and programs related to universities in the province. He has also held management and policy roles in the Federal and municipal levels of government.

Pascal holds a Master of Public Administration from l’Université de Moncton. A former student leader, he is motivated by the reality and aspirations of university students. Through his various roles, he has demonstrated the ability to work collegially with diverse stakeholders to ensure the success of policies and strategic initiatives.

I look forward to welcoming Pascal to his new role in January. I am very grateful to the members of the search committee for their contributions to this process, and to Cheryl Underhill for providing exceptional leadership and continuity as interim University Secretary.

Reminder: Call for nominations for the President’s Working Group on Free Speech

People walk through Vari Hall, which is located on York U's Keele campus

The following is a repeat message to the University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, first published Nov. 6.

In response to the provincial government’s call to all publicly assisted colleges and universities to develop and implement a free speech policy, York University established its Statement of Policy on Free Speech, effective Jan. 1, 2019, found at secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/free-speech-statement-of-policy.

In keeping with the commitment made by me at the time of policy approval, a Working Group on Free Speech is being struck to continue the recommendations of the Policy Working Group to develop guidelines and resources for the York University community to enable the application of the policy, and to provide a forum for ongoing discussions on how best to preserve open and respectful dialogue on campus.

The President’s Working Group on Free Speech will be comprised of faculty, students and staff, to achieve pan-University representation of community perspectives and equity-seeking groups. Faculty of Health Professor Alison Macpherson, current vice-chair of Senate, will chair the group. It will begin meeting in early January 2020, with three meetings per year anticipated through to June 2021. The full terms of reference for the working group can be accessed at secretariat.info.yorku.ca/files/TORs-Free-Speech-Working-Group.FINAL_.pdf.

The membership will be as follows:

  • Chair, appointed by the president for a two-year term;
  • York Federation of Students representative;
  • York University Graduate Student Association representative;
  • Glendon College Student Union representative;
  • Osgoode student caucus representative;
  • three students at large co-ordinated through the Student Success Centre;
  • two faculty members appointed on the basis of knowledge and expertise in free speech and/or policy development;
  • two faculty members following an expression of interest;
  • two non-academic staff members following an expression of interest;
  • Office of Vice-Provost Students representative;
  • Ancillary Services, Community Safety representative;
  • Community Support & Services representative;
  • Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion representative; and
  • member of the University Secretariat (ex-officio, non-voting).

The above-noted student unions and administrative offices will designate their nominee to the working group.

Nominations and expressions of interest to fill the open faculty, student and non-academic positions on the President’s Working Group on Free Speech should be submitted care of the University Secretariat at info.univsec@yorku.ca by Friday, Nov. 29.

Nominees are asked to include a brief statement on the knowledge and expertise in free speech and/or policy development that they bring to the committee.

Appointments will be made by the president in consultation with the provost and vice-president academic, and the vice-president equity, people and culture recognizing the importance of ensuring representation from equity-seeking groups.

Questions about the President’s Working Group on Free Speech or the process should be directed to Cheryl Underhill, interim university secretary, at underhil@yorku.ca.

It is time to nominate an outstanding York U community member for the 2019 President’s Staff Recognition Awards

Staff Recognition Awards
Staff Recognition Awards

The following is an announcement from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:

I am delighted to announce that nominations for the 2019 President’s Staff Recognition Awards are now open.

Every day, it is my privilege to work with York’s staff members, who are each essential to achieving our priorities as a university – innovative academic programs, world-class research and a welcoming and supportive campus experience. The Staff Recognition Awards are an opportunity to say thank you to the people who make York such an exceptional place to study and work.

I encourage you to reflect on the staff you know who go above and beyond in their work, and consider nominating them for one of the following awards:

  • The Ronald Kent Medal
  • The President’s Leadership Award
  • The President’s Voice of York Award
  • The Deborah Hobson York Citizenship Award
  • The Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award
  • The Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence
  • The Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award

To learn more about each of the awards and to submit a nomination, visit the President’s Staff Recognition Awards website.

Questions about the President’s Staff Recognition Awards and the nomination process can also be sent to president@yorku.ca. The deadline for nominations is January 10, 2020.

Sustainability Seminar Series investigates where we’ve gone wrong in our efforts to ‘save the bees’

Have we gone wrong in our efforts to save the bees? York University Professor Sheila Colla will explore this question in talk as part of the 2019-20 Sustainability Seminar Series.

“A Bee New Deal: Moving past socio-cultural challenges in pollinator conservation” will take place on Nov. 28 from 12 to 1 p.m. in Room 140, HNES Building, Keele Campus. Colla’s presentation is the third instalment in the series.

Sheila Colla

Pollinator declines have become one of the most ubiquitous environmental problems discussed among policy-makers, ENGOs and the public over the past decade. As such, resource-intensive programs and policies have been developed to “save the bees.”

However, these initiatives often focus on specific narratives influenced by industries which does not always align with the science. They also do not consider other knowledge systems nor do they use a social justice framework. Colla will talk about where we’ve gone wrong in our attempts to save bees despite intense political and public will, and explain how we can move forward to conserve them and the ecosystem services they provide.

The Sustainability Seminar Series was launched in October 2018 by York University’s President’s Sustainability Council, an advisory body to the president, responsible for providing input and recommendations on how to advance the University’s sustainability initiatives, projects and practices. For more information about the seminar series, visit sustainability.info.yorku.ca/sustainability-seminar-series.

Call for nominations: President’s Working Group on Free Speech

People walk through Vari Hall, which is located on York U's Keele campus

The following is a message to the University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:

In response to the provincial government’s call to all publicly assisted colleges and universities to develop and implement a free speech policy, York University established its Statement of Policy on Free Speech, effective Jan. 1, 2019, found at secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/free-speech-statement-of-policy.

In keeping with the commitment made by me at the time of policy approval, a Working Group on Free Speech is being struck to continue the recommendations of the Policy Working Group to develop guidelines and resources for the York University community to enable the application of the policy, and to provide a forum for ongoing discussions on how best to preserve open and respectful dialogue on campus.

The President’s Working Group on Free Speech will be comprised of faculty, students and staff, to achieve pan-University representation of community perspectives and equity-seeking groups. Faculty of Health Professor Alison Macpherson, current vice-chair of Senate, will Chair the Group. It will begin meeting in early January 2020, with three meetings per year anticipated through to June 2021. The full terms of reference for the working group can be accessed at secretariat.info.yorku.ca/files/TORs-Free-Speech-Working-Group.FINAL_.pdf.

The membership will be as follows:

  • Chair, appointed by the president for a two-year term;
  • York Federation of Students representative;
  • York University Graduate Student Association representative;
  • Glendon College Student Union representative;
  • Osgoode student caucus representative;
  • three students at large co-ordinated through the Student Success Centre;
  • two faculty members appointed on the basis of knowledge and expertise in free speech and/or policy development;
  • two faculty members following an expression of interest;
  • two non-academic staff members following an expression of interest;
  • Office of Vice-Provost Students representative;
  • Ancillary Services, Community Safety representative;
  • Community Support & Services representative;
  • Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion representative; and
  • member of the University Secretariat (ex-officio, non-voting).

The above-noted student unions and administrative offices will designate their nominee to the working group.

Nominations and expressions of interest to fill the open faculty, student and non-academic positions on the President’s Working Group on Free Speech should be submitted care of the University Secretariat at info.univsec@yorku.ca by Friday, Nov. 29.

Nominees are asked to include a brief statement on the knowledge and expertise in free speech and/or policy development that they bring to the committee.

Appointments will be made by the president in consultation with the provost and vice-president academic, and the vice-president equity, people and culture recognizing the importance of ensuring representation from equity-seeking groups.

Questions about the President’s Working Group on Free Speech or the process should be directed to Cheryl Underhill, interim university secretary, at underhil@yorku.ca.

Call for nominations for the President’s Research Awards

ResearchSIDEBAR
ResearchSIDEBAR

The Senate Committee on Awards invites current or emeritus tenure-stream faculty members to nominate colleagues for the President’s Research Awards: the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award, the President’s Research Impact Award and the President’s Research Excellence Award.

Last year’s competition marked the introduction of disciplinary clusters for the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award and the President’s Research Excellence Award. The clusters are: 1) Engineering, Science, Technology, Health and Biomedicine; and 2) Social Sciences, Art & Design, Humanities, Business, Law and Education.

The President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) recognizes full-time faculty members, within 10 years of their first academic appointment, who have had a notable impact on their field and made a significant contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence and the York community’s intellectual life. The PERLA will be conferred to two researchers, one from each disciplinary cluster.

The President’s Research Impact Award recognizes full-time, active faculty members whose body of research or scholarship has translated into a notable impact on communities, individuals, public policies or practice beyond academe, or translated successfully into impactful commercial or other applications, while contributing to the University’s research culture and reputation.

The President’s Research Excellence Award (PREA) recognizes senior full-time faculty at the rank of professor, with distinguished scholarly achievements, who have had a notable impact on their field and made a significant contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence and the York community’s intellectual life. The PREA will be conferred in alternating years between the two disciplinary clusters. This year, the PREA is open to researchers in Cluster 1: Engineering, Science, Technology, Health and Biomedicine.

The criteria and nomination forms can be found on the Senate Committee on Awards website.

The deadline for the submission of nominations is Friday, Nov. 22. Submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m.