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. 

The post 91亚色 U celebrates transformative聽research excellence, impact聽 appeared first on YFile.

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.

The post 91亚色 president reflects on opportunities shaping what鈥檚 ahead appeared first on YFile.

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

The post Still time to nominate staff for President's Awards appeared first on YFile.

Philipps reflected on what makes 91亚色 special, highlighting its sense of social purpose and commitment to leave no talent behind, and noted 鈥渨e have always opened our doors to a distinctively diverse array of people and ideas, and this powers our University with a unique creative energy.鈥� 

She pointed to 91亚色鈥檚 founding motto, 迟别苍迟补苍诲补&苍产蝉辫;惫颈补&苍产蝉辫;鈥� 鈥渢he way must be tried鈥� 鈥� and the words of the University鈥檚 first president, Murray Ross, who called for a new university to go beyond the 鈥渢ime-honoured patterns鈥� of others and 鈥渢o think rather in terms of today and of special needs related to special problems of contemporary society.鈥� 

She emphasized how 91亚色 has enacted this principle by bridging disciplines to examine problems more holistically, collaborating with community partners and designing learning experiences that connect theory with practice. 

Philipps then outlined three interconnected imperatives that will guide her interim term. 

The first is to maximize research impact, particularly as governments and industry look increasingly to universities for help in developing new approaches to drive social and economic progress. With new federal funding opportunities emerging, she described this as a pivotal moment for 91亚色 to amplify the visibility and reach of its research excellence across the full spectrum 鈥� from fundamental inquiry to applied work that pursues more immediate impact. 

The second priority is to build learning capacities through more student engagement with research, by cultivating the essential human skills needed to work effectively with advanced technologies, and by illuminating meaningful career paths with co-op, entrepreneurial supports, global learning and other hands-on experiences. This also requires supporting instructors as they reimagine teaching, curriculum and assessment for a digital age. 

Her third imperative is to champion 91亚色鈥檚 purpose 鈥� and that of all Canadian universities 鈥� as irreplaceable spaces for independent thought, pluralistic inquiry and dialogue across difference and across borders. She underscored the importance of long-term financial sustainability in protecting the University鈥檚 academic mission and autonomy. 

Philipps encouraged senators to think boldly about the structures, collaborations and ongoing conversations needed to advance 91亚色鈥檚 mission in the years ahead. 鈥淚 hope that together we can embrace this moment as an invitation for our community to help shape a future that is ambitious, globally engaged and deeply connected to the public good,鈥� she finished. 

The post 91亚色 interim president shares vision and priorities with Senate聽聽 appeared first on YFile.

Please read the following carefully.

The search for the next President of 91亚色 is set to begin and will culminate in the appointment of a new President by the Board of Governors. The process is outlined in the Principles Governing a Presidential Search.

Senate has two key roles in the search:

• nominating 5 faculty members and 2 students (1 undergraduate and 1 graduate / professional) to serve on the search committee through a process leading to a ballot of Senators in late February-early March
• providing input on the criteria that will inform the search

The Senate鈥檚 nominees on the Search Committee do not need to be members of Senate.

The nominations process will be governed by normal Senate procedures for nominations and elections in which Senate Executive will play its customary role of preparing a slate of nominees for confirmation by Senate itself.聽 Only Senators will vote.

Faculty Member Nominees
Faculty member candidates for membership will be grouped as follows:

• 1 nominee from among Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
• 1 nominee from a group comprising Science and Lassonde
• 1 nominee from a group comprising Osgoode, Schulich and Health
• 1 nominee from a group comprising Arts, Media, Performance and Design, Education, Environmental & Urban Change, Glendon and Librarians
• 1 nominee from an at-large full-time faculty member

In the case of cross-appointed faculty members, candidates will be slotted according to the home Faculty on file.  To be eligible for nomination, individuals must be full-time faculty members who are available to serve throughout a process expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Student Nominees
Student nominees will be grouped as follows:

• 1 nominee from among undergraduate students
• 1 nominee from among graduate and professional students (graduate and JD programs)

To be eligible for nomination, individuals must be registered students who are in good standing at the University at the time of nomination and throughout a process expected to be completed by the end of 2026.  Student Senators will present recommendations to Senate Executive for approval following an e-mail canvass of all registered students.

Attributes of Prospective Nominees
Senate Executive will construct a slate of candidates that reflects the University鈥檚 diversity.聽 This mix of nominees will include individuals who have long and deep experience at 91亚色 and others whose careers are in early stages.聽 All candidates should possess the following attributes:

• extensive knowledge of, and commitment to, 91亚色
• earned trust and respect
• a capacity and willingness to act as members of the community rather than 鈥渞epresentatives鈥� of constituencies
• no conflicting obligations that might compromise their ability to provide independent judgment or to serve
• understanding and acceptance that membership entails a significant commitment of time over a sustained period

It is an absolute and unalterable requirement that members of the search committee keep all documents and deliberations in the strictest confidence.聽聽聽

Forms for Expressing Interest or Suggesting Individuals
Forms have been created to express personal interest or suggest another individual.聽 Senate Executive will maintain any and all information provided in the strictest confidence.聽 In addition to basic personal information, all nominees or nominators will have an opportunity to provide a brief statement of how prospective candidates fulfill the attributes set out above.聽The forms are accessible online for and .

Time Lines
January 22聽聽聽 聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Call issued

February 6聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Final day to submit expressions of interest / suggestions (12:00 noon)

February 10聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Student caucus recommends student candidates to Senate Executive

February 10聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Senate Executive finalizes a slate of faculty member and student candidates

February 26                          Senate approves a slate of nominees

February 26 鈥� March 6聽聽聽聽聽聽 E-vote balloting by Senators

Documents related to the Presidential searches can be accessed from the University Secretariat Website and will be updated on a regular basis throughout the search. 

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Dear 91亚色 community,鈥� 

As we welcome a new year, I want to express my sincere appreciation to every member of our 91亚色 community. Your dedication, creativity and pursuit of excellence enrich our campuses and strengthen 91亚色鈥檚 impact across our city, our country and the world. It is through your collective efforts, inside classrooms and laboratories, across student services, with our partners and throughout our broader networks, that 91亚色 continues to advance its mission and embody its values.鈥� 

I invite you to watch this short new year message, which highlights our shared aspirations and the priorities that will guide us as we continue to build a more inclusive, sustainable and impactful future for 91亚色.鈥�

Warm regards,鈥� 

Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor鈥�

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