From: Trevor Young, Vice-President & Provost
Date: October 29, 2024
Re: Appointment of Professor Susan McCahan as Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies, and Appointment of Professor Nicholas Rule as Vice-Provost, Academic Programs (PDAD&C #11)

I am pleased to announce that the Executive Committee of Governing Council has approved the appointments of Professor Susan McCahan as Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies, and Professor Nicholas Rule as Vice-Provost, Academic Programs. Both appointments are for five-year terms, effective November 1, 2024. Professor McCahan’s appointment as Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, has been extended to coincide with her Digital Strategies role, and she will continue as Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies, is a new position reporting to me and Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships, reflecting its dual focus on academic innovation and institutional digital strategies. A key aspect of this role is leadership in information technology, focusing on enterprise-level services and systems, with a particular emphasis on information technology related to the academic mission of the University.

As the Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies, Professor McCahan will collaborate with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead strategic planning efforts in close consultation with Deans, Vice-Presidents, Vice-Provosts and other academic administrators. A key focus will be the renewal of U of T’s student information systems, and the advancement of institutional policy, guidelines and projects. This new position will coordinate between institutional and distributed IT services, and serve as the strategic lead for digital transformation in the realm of academic experience, including research, teaching and learning.

Professor McCahan is well-positioned to take on this new role given the synergies and opportunities for growth, and coordination between the Digital Strategies (DS) and Innovations in Undergraduate Education (IUE) portfolios. In addition, the recommendations and outcomes of the AI Working Group, led by Professor McCahan in her role as Provostial Advisor on AI, will link well with both the DS and IUE portfolios.

As Vice-Provost, Academic Programs, Professor Rule will work closely with Deans and divisions across the three campuses to shape and implement academic policies, and will be responsible for the administration of the U of T Quality Assurance Program (UTQAP), ensuring that the University’s academic programs meet high standards of academic excellence and meet the needs of students.

Professor Rule brings to this role relevant experience as an academic administrator, including since May 2023 as Vice-Principal, Academic, and Dean at U of T Mississauga, where, in collaboration with teams across campus, he organized consultations toward an academic plan, shaped work to strengthen academic advising, and supported the development of academic programs, including a proposal for the first doctoral degree based at UTM. Previously, he served as Provostial Advisor and Chair of U of T’s Resilience Project Team, which guided a safe return to campus after the pandemic through recommendations and resources to promote long-term resilience in our operations, a role in which he focused heavily on the university’s business and academic continuity.

Professor Rule’s work in long-term planning draws on his experience at U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science (A&S), where he supported student-centred change on working groups for mental health, internationalization, and undergraduate education. At A&S, he also served as Interim Vice-Dean, Undergraduate, and as Chair and Associate Chair in the Department of Psychology.

Please join me in congratulating Professors McCahan and Rule on their new positions.

Professor William Gough has generously agreed to serve as interim Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean at UTM from November 1, 2024 to the end of the calendar year. Dr. Daniella Mallinick, Assistant Dean at UTM, will join my office on secondment from November 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, as senior strategist. Thanks to both of them for their leadership through this transition period.