Office of Communications: Transition Plan

Dear colleagues, 

We are writing to describe the next phase of the leadership transition in UTM’s Office of Communications. 

Context 

As announced last September, UTM’s Executive Director of Communications, Jane Stirling, accepted a senior-level secondment at UTC from October 2023 through January 2025. Our Director of Marketing and Communications, Nicolle Wahl, also earned a new opportunity outside UTM – as Chief Communications Officer at Sheridan College starting earlier last fall. Congratulations to them both. 

Patricia Lonergan has stepped up as Interim Director, Marketing and Communications in the meantime – and has agreed to continue in this position in 2024. She has made a positive impact already, leading the development of stories that bring priorities of the Strategic Framework to life. 

In late 2023, UTM reviewed the structure of its communications portfolio, informed by ideas from colleagues across the tri-campus, including Jane herself, who continues to work as special advisor to UTM during her secondment. We are excited to continue collaborating on strategies that connect campus-specific work with the tri-campus vision, brand, and goals of U of T.   

Next Steps

To these ends, UTM has created a broader position to cover Jane’s secondment: an Interim Executive Director, Public Affairs, who will link campus portfolios in communications and external relations. Amanda Pautler has generously accepted the role, from 5 February through December 2024, with a dual report to us: U of T’s Vice-President Communications and UTM’s acting Vice-President and Principal. 

She will continue with this dual report when Professor Gillespie returns from research leave on 1 July.

Amanda will work with campus and tri-campus colleagues, leading UTM’s Office of Communications alongside other public-facing priorities in community relations. Both Patricia and Jennifer Hartman, our issues management and media relations strategist, will report to Amanda directly.  

Warm thanks to Patricia, Jennifer, and the entire UTM communications team for their insight during this transition. Thanks to Amanda, too, who will continue to build on her success as one of UTM’s most impactful public champions.  

Best wishes,