TORONTO, April 24, 1998 -- York University President Lorna R. Marsden is proud to announce that Canada's Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary J. Smith, has been appointed Vice-President (University Advancement) of York University, effective July 1, 1998.

Smith, a 53-year-old native of Toronto, brings to York University the experience and knowledge garnered from an eventful and distinguished 30-year diplomatic career. That career spanned several continents and included stints in Germany as Deputy Ambassador when the Berlin Wall came down, in Israel during the turbulent early eighties, at the Soviet desk in Ottawa during the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and in Moscow during the Cold War. Smith has known no sleepy posts.

Smith, who speaks French, Russian and German, graduated in 1968 from York University's Glendon College where he earned his Honours B.A. (Cum Laude) in Political Science. He was appointed Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia in September, 1996 after spending a year as a Fellow at the Centre for International Affairs, Harvard University. Just prior to that, he served as Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Pacific Branch, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, during which time he played a key role in organizing the first trade Team Canada Mission to China in November 1994.

Smith's career has also taken him to the United Nations in New York where he served as political advisor to the Canadian Delegation, to Brussels as a First Secretary/Political Counsellor to the permanent delegation to NATO, and to New Delhi, India where he was the Deputy High Commissioner. He also served as Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Division and as a leading member of Prime Minister Trudeau's Task Force on International Peace and Security in 1983/84, accompanying the then Prime Minister on the "Peace Mission" to 18 world capitals. Smith was also the chief Embassy organizer for the 1972 Canada-Soviet Professional Hockey Series, and as such accompanied the Soviet team to the Games in Canada and acted as liaison officer to Team Canada during the matches in Moscow.

"We are delighted to have someone of Ambassador Smith's stature join the York community. He brings to York an impressive array of experience and expertise in international, domestic, academic and governmental issues. He is strongly committed to higher education, especially international education, and has a strategic mind capable of promoting the York community through a myriad of channels," said Marsden. "We welcome him back to York, and look forward to the exciting and effective contribution he will make to his alma mater," she said.

In the position of Vice-President (University Advancement), Smith will have the exciting challenge of creating and implementing a long-term integrated advancement plan in support of the strategic academic objectives of York University. Reporting to the President, the Vice-President is responsible for communications, development, alumni affairs and community relations. He will oversee the completion of York University's first $100 million National Campaign, which has successfully secured $80 million thus far.

"I have very fond memories of my student days during York's initial decade as a university in the spirited 1960s," said Smith. "I'm honoured to have this exciting opportunity to return to my home town and alma mater as we engage the challenges of a new century and a new Millennium, when higher education and international exposure and discourse will assume even greater importance. I look forward to working with the entire University community to assist York assume its place as a global university in an international city," he said. Smith is the author of several publications, including "Arms Control Across the East-West Divide" (Canada and the New Internationalism), "Arms Control and Security Building in Asia Pacific: A Canadian Perspective" (East West Centre, Hawaii), and "Multilateralism and Regional Security in Asia: the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and APEC's Geopolitical Value" (Harvard University, Centre for International Affairs.)

Smith is married to Laurielle Chabeaux. They have a 25-year-old daughter, Tatiana, and a 22-year-old son, Eric.

York University, the third largest university in Canada, is respected internationally for its innovative research and teaching. With its combination of dedicated and award-winning faculty, bright and ambitious students, dynamic curriculum and modern campuses in the heart of one of North America's most influential urban centres, York University is setting the modern standard in academic excellence.

For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/039/98