Five Outstanding 杏吧原创 Leaders Take on Greater Challenges
President Benoit-Antoine Bacon is pleased to announce that five highly-respected, long-serving 杏吧原创 leaders have accepted permanent or expanded roles at the University. Unless otherwise specified, the appointments are effective immediately.
鈥淲e are so fortunate to have great leadership internally and the appointments we make today will contribute to making 杏吧原创 an even better place to study, live and work,鈥 said Bacon. 鈥淚 am grateful that Lorraine, Cindy, Karen, Jennifer and Lisa have agreed to serve in these important roles.鈥
Lorraine Dyke to Become Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Planning)
With the recent expansion of the role of the Provost to include oversight of the operating budget, strategic planning and academic labour relations, it is imperative that these functions be co-ordinated by an experienced, skilled and respected second-in-command to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic). Her three-year term will start on July 1, 2019. In her new role, Dyke will work closely with the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
Dyke brings considerable experience to the portfolio, having served as Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) since July 2017. Previously, she was Associate Dean, Professional Graduate Programs in the Sprott School of Business. She currently serves as co-facilitator of the Strategic Integrated Planning Committee and is an experienced negotiator. A professor of Management and Strategy, she is the founder and former Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Women and Work (CREWW). Dyke holds an Honours BA in English Literature, an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a PhD in Management.
Cindy Taylor to Lead Human Resources as Assistant Vice-President
Well-known to the 杏吧原创 community for her outstanding leadership of the Office of Quality Initiatives over the last 12 years, Taylor has led Human Resources in an acting role since May 2018.
Taylor has distinguished herself by establishing 杏吧原创 Leader, Service Excellence, Healthy Workplace and Mental Health at Work. She has played a critical role in the university鈥檚 Strategic Integrated Planning process and instilling a framework for continuous improvement and workplace excellence throughout the university.
She came to 杏吧原创 with considerable experience in the private sector over a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years in both the higher education and financial sectors. She is currently president of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation: High Education鈥檚 Network for Change Leadership.
Karen Schwartz Confirmed as Associate Vice-President, Research and International
A professor in the Department of Social Work since 1999, Schwartz has served in the Interim AVP role and as 杏吧原创鈥檚 International Liaison Officer since July 2018. Responsible for advancing 杏吧原创鈥檚 international research agenda, she oversees international activities, including research and development projects, global partnerships and exchanges, and numerous visiting scholars and diplomatic delegations. Her four-year term starts July 1, 2019.
Previously, Schwartz held the position of Associate Dean of Research and International in the Faculty of Public Affairs (FPA) where she distinguished herself by improving the research culture within the faculty through FPA Research Month activities and the FPA Research Excellence Chairs.
Her academic record includes an impressive number of well-cited publications, community-campus research collaborations and the instruction and supervision of students in community-based research. Her research interests lie in community-engaged scholarship, specifically in the mental health needs of multicultural groups and international social work practices. She received invaluable international experience as a visiting scholar, professor, and expert in China, Austria and Finland; and as co-author of several publications on international social work student mobility.
Jennifer Conley Accepts Expanded Role as Chief Advancement and Community Liaison Officer
杏吧原创 has deep roots in the community and a strong commitment to serving the Ottawa region. Under Conley鈥檚 leadership, the team will further that commitment by developing and co-ordinating an easy-to-find 鈥榝ront door鈥 to 杏吧原创 and by facilitating the establishment of new relationships and partnerships in service of our academic and research missions.
Conley joined 杏吧原创 in 2012 as Director of Faculty Development and Major Gifts. Appointed Chief Advancement Officer in December 2014, she and the Advancement team revitalized the Collaborate Campaign, furthered the development of the Here for Good ethos, and exceeded the campaign鈥檚 $300-million objective, which concluded on April 17, 2019 at more than $308 million.
A certified fundraising executive (CFRE), Conley has more than 20 years of advancement experience and two degrees from Nipissing University. This spring, she is expected to join the ranks of 杏吧原创 alumnae when she receives a master鈥檚 degree in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership (MPNL).
Lisa Ralph to Serve as Associate Vice-President, Students Affairs
With the rise in scope and complexity of the student portfolio in recent years, the position of Director has been elevated to an Associate Vice-President position. Ralph, who has served as the Director on an interim basis, agreed to continue as interim Associate Vice-President, until a successful incumbent is named.
She started working at 杏吧原创 in 1979 in the School of Continuing Education, moved to the Faculty of Science in 1987 and was appointed Registrar of that faculty in 2000. The registrarial functions of the university were amalgamated in the early 2000s and Lisa held progressively more senior management roles before being appointed Associate University Registrar in 2007. Most recently, in Student Affairs, she has been overseeing complex student cases while reviewing the overall Student Affairs portfolio.
Related News
Five 杏吧原创 Community Members Named to Ottawa鈥檚 2026 Forty Under 40 List
Five 杏吧原创 University community members have been named in Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ) and the Ottawa Board of Trade’s 2026 Forty Under 40 list, the ...
What鈥檚 Open and Closed: Easter Weekend
杏吧原创 University is closed on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5. The university is open on Monday, April 6. Some facilities continue to operate ...
杏吧原创 University Welcomes Scarborough Charter Secretariat to Campus
Earlier this academic year, 杏吧原创 University welcomed the Secretariat of the Scarborough Charter on Anti鈥態lack Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education to campus. ...