From: Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students
Date: April 20, 2023
Re: Appointment of David Kim as Warden of Hart House

I am pleased to announce that the University Affairs Board of Governing Council has approved the appointment of David Kim as Warden, Hart House for a five-year term beginning June 5, 2023, until June 9, 2028.

David Kim currently serves as the Dean of Residence & Director of Student Life for Spaces & Experiences and has held various roles in residences and student life since he joined the University of Toronto in 2007. In his current capacity, he has oversight for the admissions, student services, and residence life operations for Chestnut Residence, Graduate House, Chelsea Residence, and Knox College, and he also sits on the planning committees for two new residence buildings that are at various stages of planning and construction: Spadina-Sussex Student Residence and Harbord Residence.

David’s contributions and involvement at U of T are extensive. He has been an active participant of the Hart House Board of Stewards for several years and has had a strong connection to Hart House from his time as a U of T student to the present day. David is a member of the University’s International Student Experience Advisory Committee and has worked with the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering to develop the first Faculty in Residence Program on the St. George Campus. David acted as co-lead for the U of T Quarantine Accommodation Program, working to develop and oversee the comprehensive array of supports for students required to complete a quarantine/isolation period throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of his work, David has received several awards including the 2018 Chancellor’s Emerging Leader Award, the 2018 Arbor Award, and the 2022 Vice-President University Operations and Real Estate Partnerships Impact Award.

David is committed to equity and inclusion and is currently Co-Chair of the staff working group of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group, and has been Chair of the St. George Positive Space committee for the last 8 years, collaborating with institutions across the GTA to plan and promote the annual #DisplayYourPride event.

David holds a PhD in Higher Education from OISE, where he is a sessional lecturer and coordinates a student internship program in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. He recently received the 2023 NASPA International Education Knowledge Community Best Practices Award for his academic work.

I am delighted that David has accepted this position and ask that you join me in welcoming him as the new Warden of Hart House. I also want to thank Sherry Kulman for her leadership as Interim Warden over the past several months, and acknowledge her steadfast commitment to Hart House, as she transitions back to her role as Senior Director, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Hart House.