From: Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President and Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga
Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President and Provost
Date: April 7, 2022
Re: Update on the Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean, University of Toronto Mississauga (PDAD&C #35)

It is with mixed emotions that we share with you that Professor Rhonda McEwen, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean of U of T Mississauga, will be leaving for an amazing new opportunity, to be President of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. 

Professor McEwen has had a profound and positive impact in her time at UTM: as a professor and then director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology; as a Canada Research Chair, investigating emerging media and human-machine communication; as Special Advisor to the Vice-President & Principal on Anti-Racism and Equity; and finally, as our campus’s Dean. Professor McEwen supported UTM’s Black Table Talks, a networking opportunity for Black students, faculty, librarians and staff; and Visions of Science, which engages youth from low-income or marginalized communities with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In all her roles, Professor McEwen has encouraged a culture of academic success, innovation and inclusion. We will be sad to see her depart from UTM, but we are delighted that she will lead an outstanding institution within the U of T family, and wish her tremendous success and happiness.  

Professor McEwen will take up her new position in July 2022. The Agenda Committee of Academic Board has approved the appointment of former Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean Amrita Danière, who has generously agreed to resume the role on an interim basis, for one year or until a new Dean is appointed. Professor Danière is well known to our community as a brilliant, dynamic and caring leader. In addition to her previous role as Dean, Professor Danière has served UTM as Acting Vice-President & Principal; as Vice Dean, Graduate; and as Chair of the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment. She has served as Graduate Chair of U of T’s tri-campus Department of Geography and as Co-Director of the International Partnership for Sustainable Societies IDRC/SSHRC funded project on Building Urban Climate Change in Southeast Asia, which was based at the Asian Institute within the Munk School of Global Affairs. Her award-winning research explores the relationship between social capital, urban governance and civic spaces in Asian cities. Most recently, she is the co-editor of a special issue of Frontiers: Sustainable Cities focused on transformative urban climate adaptation and is the principal investigator on a School of Cities Urban Challenge Grant.

While the UTM community will feel the loss of Professor McEwen’s keen intellect, passionate vision and personal warmth, we know you will all join us in wishing her the very best in her future endeavours, and in thanking Professor Danière for her willingness to step forward and provide experienced leadership through this transition.