The Presidential Search Committee is responsible for the search for 91亚色鈥檚 ninth president and vice-chancellor.

As part of the process of developing the mandate and position profile for the University鈥檚 next president and vice-chancellor, the committee members would like to hear from as many members of the University community as possible.

We invite you to offer your perspectives. We have scheduled our third consultation for: Thursday, Sept. 17 on the Keele Campus at 10 a.m. to noon in the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building.

The session will be in-person with virtual available to those who are unable to join in-person.

Registration for the session:

The Search Committee has prepared questions to consider in advance of the sessions (or if you would like to prepare a written response). The questions can be found here.

If you prefer to write your response, please take a moment to comment in confidence to: yorkpvc@boyden.com or by completing the survey available at . Your comments will not be attributed to you, but will be shared with the committee.

Antonio Di Domenico
Chair Presidential Search Committee鈥�

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The following is an edited version of the speech delivered by 91亚色 Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps to the Class of 2026 at this year鈥檚 convocation ceremonies 

To the exceptional Class of 2026, my warmest congratulations to you all. I am thrilled to join with you in celebrating your achievement, your perseverance and your potential for the future.  

Behind every graduate is a story of hard work and determination. Of overcoming obstacles and moments of self-doubt. Of stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone. Many of you balanced your studies with employment, caregiving responsibilities and financial pressures. Some of you moved far from home to pursue your education here. 

You should be enormously proud of what you have accomplished and how you have grown during your time at 91亚色. I know that your families, friends, professors and the many people who supported you along the way are extremely proud of you as well. 

You are graduating at a remarkable time of change, disruption and reinvention. It鈥檚 a time when the world very much needs your talents, your energy and the new ideas you will inject.  

One of the most interesting parts of my job is to meet with 91亚色 alumni from all generations and with our community partners. And, what I am hearing so often is that every organization across the public and private sector, from the smallest to the largest, within Canada and beyond, is struggling to keep up with the pace of change and to navigate the new questions and uncertainties that the world keeps throwing at all of us. I also hear a strong recognition that it is the next generation of talent that will help bring the innovation that is needed to renew our industries and institutions.     

During your time here, you did far more than complete courses or acquire technical knowledge. You learned how to learn, how to think critically, independently, rigorously and from multiple perspectives.   

I am proud to be a 91亚色 alumna myself. One of the greatest gifts my education gave me was exposure to perspectives and experiences very different from my own. It broadened how I understood the world and gave me a wider range of viewpoints to draw upon throughout my life and career. I have never stopped drawing on it. 

As 91亚色 graduates, you carry something with you that cannot be downloaded or automated: the capacity to build human relationships, to navigate complexity with integrity and to bring people together around difficult problems. In a world too often marked by polarization and injustice, those qualities are not just valuable 鈥� they are essential. 

Technology will continue to evolve. Industries will shift. Some roles will change in ways none of us can fully anticipate. But the foundation you have built here 鈥� the habits of mind, the networks, the resilience 鈥� that is yours. And it will serve you across every stage of what comes next. 

Thank you for choosing 91亚色. We are immensely proud of you, and we cannot wait to see what you do next. 

Congratulations, Class of 2026. 

Bonne chance. Merci. Miigwetch.

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The Presidential Search Committee is responsible for the search for 91亚色鈥檚 ninth president and vice-chancellor.

As part of the process of developing the mandate and position profile for the University鈥檚 next president and vice-chancellor, the committee members would like to hear from as many members of the University community as possible.

We invite you to offer your perspectives. We have scheduled our second consultation for: Wednesday, June 24 on the Keele Campus at 10 a.m. to noon in the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chamber, N940 Ross Building.

The session will be in-person with virtual available to those who are unable to join in-person.

Registration for the session: .

The Search Committee has prepared questions to consider in advance of the sessions (or if you would like to prepare a written response). The questions can be found here.

If you prefer to write your response, please take a moment to comment in confidence to: yorkpvc@boyden.com or by completing the survey available at . Your comments will not be attributed to you, but will be shared with the committee.

Antonio Di Domenico
Chair Presidential Search Committee鈥�

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The Presidential Search Committee (PSC) reviewed and discussed the search process, and scheduled and finalized the consultation questions.

The committee will consult with the 91亚色 community to seek input that will inform the development of the position profile.

The PSC welcomes the perspectives of the 91亚色 community and will arrange meetings and open sessions in May and June.聽In addition, the consultation questions will be shared widely and those who prefer to prepare a written submission may do so via email.

Information on the consultation process will appear on the Presidential Search website and in YFile.

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The program highlights contributions that position 91亚色 as an instutition for research excellence and transformative innovations. 

Research contributed by more than 60 faculty members reflect the breadth of the University's research strengths, spanning sustainability, law, AI, chemistry and the social sciences.

"I am exceedingly proud to be part of an institution that contains the kind of excellence we are celebrating," says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor. "91亚色 is an institution that offers educational experiences to our students that are informed by this deep research, scholarly and creative excellence; and a place where we also make it part of our mission to reach outside the metaphorical walls of the University to share and collaborate with communities, industry, policy-makers, the media and the wider public."

The recipients demonstrate the purposeful research that is fundamental to real-world change, says Amir Asif, vice-president, research and innovation

The annual awards program serves as an opportunity to recognize the excellence, creativity and ingenuity of 91亚色' research community.

Awards

President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA)
Christopher Caputo, associate professor in the Faculty of Science, received this award for his contributions to sustainable chemistry and materials science. His research advances the use of Earth鈥慳bundant elements as alternatives to rare and precious metals, addressing key environmental and sustainability challenges while influencing catalytic and materials science.

A Tier II Canada Research Chair and recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry, Caputo has secured more than $4 million in research funding. His work has resulted in 21 patents and strong industry engagement, demonstrating the translation of discovery into application.  

The President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award was also awarded to Emily Kidd White, associate professor at , for her pioneering scholarship at the intersection of law, emotion and constitutional theory. Her work applies the philosophy of emotion to legal analysis, examining the gap between formal legal reasoning and the lived realities of legal practice, particularly in international law. 

Her research has shaped scholarly conversations across disciplines and established her as a thinker of global influence, strengthening 91亚色鈥檚 research profile and academic mission. 

President鈥檚 Research Excellence Award
Presented to Jimmy Huang, professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, this award recognizes his contributions to information retrieval, data mining, AI and natural language processing. A Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair and founding director of the Information Retrieval and Knowledge Management Research Lab, Huang has played a leading role in shaping the future of AI research, including some of the earliest systematic evaluations of large language models.

Huang has secured more than $7 million in external research funding and his work has influenced practice across industry and health care. His mentorship record includes supervising 16 postdoctoral fellows, 23 doctoral students and 32 master鈥檚 students, many of whom have gone on to academic careers.  

President鈥檚 Research Impact Award
Kerry Kawakami, professor in the , received this award聽for the influence and reach of her scholarship on unconscious bias. Her research has reshaped how systemic inequality is understood across academic,聽legal聽and institutional contexts, extending well beyond the聽post-secondary聽sector.

Kawakami鈥檚 work has informed legal practice and judicial decision鈥憁aking, including professional development programs for the Law Society of Ontario, expert testimony and keynote addresses. Her research has been cited in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, demonstrating its impact on public understanding, policy and the pursuit of justice. 

The awards ceremony also highlighted faculty in other categories. 

Book Awards, Literary and Artistic Achievements
Six honourees received this award for their books, creative works and exhibitions that received national or international recognition from peers and leading cultural institutions. 

Major Grants
Recognition for researchers leading significant, externally funded research initiatives that advance knowledge and address complex societal challenges was awarded to seven honourees. 

Other Learned Societies, Fellowships and Awards
91亚色 awarded 12 honourees with this award for their leadership and contributions that have been recognized through election to learned societies, prestigious medals, professional fellowships and national or international honours. 

Outstanding Early Career Awards
Four honourees earned this award to recognize the notable achievements of 91亚色鈥檚 early-career researchers whose work shows strong promise and leadership within their fields. 

Significant Knowledge Mobilization &Impact Awards
For knowledge mobilization and impact outside of academia, 14 honourees were recognized with this award. 

91亚色 Research Chairs, Canada Research Chairs and Distinguished Research Professors
Fifteen honourees were celebrated for these appointments that support research excellence and scholarly leadership at the highest level in their respective fields. 

Royal Society of Canada & Governor General Awards
Two honourees earned this distinction, recognizing faculty who have made remarkable contributions in their research pursuits related to science, humanities and the arts. 

View the slide deck below to see a full list of recipients. 

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The committee discussed in general the search and consultation process and provided initial feedback on the draft consultation questions.聽聽

The committee will meet again on May 6.聽Details regarding the consultation process and the opportunities for community members to participate will be widely publicized once they have been determined.

Regular updates will appear on the聽Presidential Search聽website and in聽YFile.

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Last year, 91亚色鈥檚 Board of Governors approved a five-year budget plan that set a path toward long-term financial sustainability while reinforcing the University鈥檚 commitment to academic excellence,鈥痵tudent鈥痵uccess鈥痑nd access.

The transition to a five-year budget framework was in alignment with the provincial government鈥檚 expectation under the Efficiency and Accountability Fund review, an independent third-party assessment focused on operational efficiency and long-term financial sustainability. The review was funded through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and builds on the 91亚色 U Forward Action Plan and the University鈥檚 response to the Auditor General of Ontario鈥檚 2023 Value for Money audit.

In past years, the University has brought a proposed budget forward to the Board of Governors in spring. However, following a February announcement from the provincial government related to post-secondary funding, tuition and student assistance, the University determined that more work is needed to fully assess the implications of these changes and ensure the final plan maintains a clear path to balance.

鈥淲e are taking the time to get this right,鈥� says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淥ur efforts right now to keep 91亚色 on track to eliminate its structural deficit are critical to ensure the University can advance its distinctive mission and create positive impact for students and society over the long term.鈥�

The provincial announcement included new investments in the post-secondary sector, limited tuition flexibility and changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). While these measures provide modest financial relief to the University, they require careful review to understand their full impact on 91亚色 U鈥檚 budget outlook and planning assumptions.

These developments come amid a series of external factors that have continued to affect the institution鈥檚 financial position since the 2025鈥�26 budget was approved last June. The ongoing federal student visa cap and further reductions to Ontario鈥檚 international student allocation contributed to lower than anticipated new intakes at the undergraduate level. At the same time, the continued restrictions on domestic tuition and provincial grants throughout 2025-26 have eroded the real value of funding for domestic enrolment, while costs continue to rise.

Narin Kishinchandani, vice-president finance and administration, notes that while the initial budget submissions from Faculties and divisions showed some improvements in response to the fiscal challenges, the collective impact does not yet meet the University鈥檚 financial targets. 鈥淭he draft budgets we received in February are not yet on a path to balance and more work is needed. We are refining scenarios, setting clearer targets and identifying additional steps that will protect our academic priorities while addressing financial realities.鈥�

The continued work builds on actions already taken across the University, including reducing duplication; streamlining services; renegotiating major contracts, such as a renegotiated contract for the University鈥檚 robust and Employee and Family Assistance programs; consolidating suppliers; and optimizing space and administrative operations. Some units have already made significant structural reductions, demonstrating the scale of change required.

Laina Bay鈥�Cheng, interim provost and vice-president academic, sees this deliberate approach as essential to safeguarding 91亚色鈥檚 academic mission and reassuring community members. 鈥淲e are living out the saying, 鈥榗hange is the only constant.鈥� Whether change comes in the form of hardship or opportunity, it often adds to workload and uncertainty. We are working to establish a鈥痜inancially responsible and sustainable path so we can keep鈥痬oving toward our shared goals.鈥�

Over the next month, the University will continue to develop risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Updates will continue to be shared through existing governance channels, including Senate meetings. The whole of the University community will be invited to a community information session in June.

To learn more about the University鈥檚 budgeting process visit the Budgets and Asset Management website.

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In this first video for 91亚色 in Focus: Leadership Perspectives, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps shares what she鈥檚 hearing across the University, the opportunities she sees taking shape and why she feels optimistic about 91亚色's path forward.

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Consistent with the鈥�principles governing a presidential search,鈥痶here will be extensive consultation with Senate and the University community.

Members of the search committee have now been confirmed.

Rhonda Lenton, who served as president and vice-chancellor of 91亚色 since 2017, completed her term on Dec. 31, 2025.

In accordance with Presidential Search Principles, the Presidential Search Committee is made up of 14 full voting members drawn from 91亚色鈥檚 community of students, faculty, staff, governors and alumni. Seven committee members are selected by the Board of Governors and seven by the University Senate.

Members of the Presidential Search Committee will seek a president whose leadership skills, interests and background meet the needs of 91亚色 and will serve the University into the future.

The members of the Presidential Search Committee, confirmed by the Board of Governors and Senate are as follows:

• Antonio Di Domenico, Chair鈥�(alumnus)
• Francesca Accinelli (alumna)
• Naomi Ierullo (non-academic staff member)
• Helen Polatajko (Board of Governors member)
• Dee Patterson (alumna)
• Narendra Singh (alumnus)
• Mary Traversy (Board of Governors member)
• Angele Alook (faculty member)
• Julia Campisi (graduate student)
• Alyssa Furlan (undergraduate student)
• Dasantila Golemi-Kotra (faculty member)
• Rebecca Pillai Riddell (faculty member)
• Brenda Spotton Visano (faculty member)
• Anne Sullivan (faculty member)

With files from Antonio Di Domenico, Chair, Board of Governors

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Dear colleagues, 

We are pleased to聽inform you聽that the nomination deadline for the 2025 President鈥檚 Staff Recognition Awards has been extended to March 6.

This extension provides additional time for our community members to recognize colleagues whose exceptional service, leadership, creativity and commitment have made a meaningful difference at 91亚色. If you have not yet submitted a nomination, I encourage you to do so and help shine a light on those whose contributions strengthen our institution. 

Detailed award criteria and the nomination forms are available on the President鈥檚 Staff Recognition Awards website. If you have any questions about the awards or the nomination process, please contact president@yorku.ca.      

Sincerely, 

Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

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