Recent announcements | Office of the Vice-President and Principal

Wellbeing and Belonging at UTM

I’m writing to introduce our wellbeing and belonging committee and to share some ways for you to shape its priorities. Thanks to Heather Hines for chairing this committee – and to Nader Boutros, Nythalah Baker, Tee Duke, Ravi Gabble, Mai Lu, Dina Moreira, Steven Suraci, Kathi Wilson, and Shahid Zafar for serving as its first members.

Committee Priorities

This committee came together around a shared belief in the power of connection at work. Our staff, faculty, and librarians do good for others when they have supports to be well themselves.

More on the wellbeing and belonging committee

Appointment of Dany Savard as Chief Librarian at U of T Mississauga

We are pleased to announce that Dany Savard has accepted the position as chief librarian at U of T Mississauga’s library (UTML) for a renewable five-year term starting on 1 January 2025.

Dany has served ably as UTM’s interim chief librarian since March 2024, during which time he has, among many other things, co-chaired the campus’ digital scholarship working group, developed UTML’s new annual team-wide workplan, and led proposals to re-design UTML’s special collections space. He continues to provide thoughtful, people-first advice as a member of the principal’s senior team at UTM and of the University of Toronto Libraries’ tri-campus executive committee.

Appointment of France Gagnon as Vice-Principal Research and Innovation

I am delighted to announce that agenda committee of academic board has approved the appointment of Professor France Gagnon as vice-principal, research and innovation, at U of T Mississauga for a two-year term – from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026 – which is eligible for a three-year extension.

Her research makes national and international impact: she has published 60+ peer-reviewed articles, including in Nature, Lancet, and Human Genetics; earned $9M+ in research funding, including grants from CIHR and the Heart and Stroke Foundation; and broken ground in her field as one of the first genetic epidemiologists in Canada.
More on appointment of France Gagnon

Launch of Continuous Improvement Program

I’m writing to announce UTM’s first continuous improvement (CI) program, which will launch the week of 16 September, as led by our campus-wide project management office (PMO).

The program realizes an idea raised during conversations about the strategic framework and academic plan. Our people – staff, faculty, librarians – are leading their fields; they’re also managing a lot of work. We can make that work easier by streamlining awkward, time-consuming processes we rely on every day.

More on UTM's first continuous improvement (CI) program

Celebrating Black at UTM

I’m writing to celebrate the recent progress of Black@UTM and to preview some ways you can get involved in this work going forward. Black@UTM – part strategic action group, part online community space, all parts amazing – works to promote Black excellence, empowerment and belonging on our campus. Its senior team reports into my office to match their connection to priorities of the Strategic Framework: Black belonging matters campus-wide; its leaders need a campus-wide platform.