TORONTO, October 17, 1997 -- The official installation ceremony for York University's new President, Dr. Lorna Marsden, will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 20 in the Moot Court at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School.

The installation will mark the symbolic beginning of Marsden's term as President, as she takes her oath of office and is invested with the robes of the office of President. This year's recipients of the University-Wide Teaching Awards and Distinguished Research Professorships at York will also be honoured at the ceremony.

Marsden took on the responsibilities of President of York on August 1, following a term as President and Vice-Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University, and after a distinguished career as a sociologist, Senator and community leader. Performing the installation are Charles Hantho, chair of York's Board of Governors, University Senate Chair Helen Doan, and York University Chancellor Arden Haynes. Professor Eshrat Arjomandi will deliver the invocation.

Marsden, who will address the collegial gathering Monday, has had a long and distinguished academic career while serving the community through her participation in many public and private organizations. She has amassed an array of awards and research grants for work on issues ranging from the globalization of the welfare state to women's work in the labour market to gender, science and medicine.

Marsden received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and her PhD from Princeton University. She joined the University of Toronto's sociology department in 1972 where she lectured full time until her appointment in 1984 to the Canadian Senate (Toronto-Taddle Creek). Marsden continued to teach part-time until 1992, when she resigned from the Senate to become the President of Wilfrid Laurier University.

The University-Wide Teaching Awards recognize the outstanding ability of York faculty members, part-time instructors and teaching assistants to impart knowledge and enthusiasm to their students. Recipients can be nominated by colleagues, students, alumni or staff members, and the final winners are chosen by the Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning.

Full-time faculty members being honoured with teaching awards include history professor Gerald Ginsburg, social science professor Dalton Kehoe, and sociology professor Kathy Bischoping. Walter Perchal, who teaches courses in advertising and business history and ethics, and Kym Bird, who teaches courses in English, Theatre and Women's Studies, are the winners in the part-time lecturer category. English graduate student Trevor Holmes is the winner in the teaching assistant category.

Distinguished Research Professorships are the University's highest honour for outstanding contributions to research. Through the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the professorships are awarded based on nominations from colleagues and evaluations received from academics around the world. Receiving the title of Distinguished Research Professor at Monday's ceremony are Lorraine Code, from the department of philosophy, and Barry Lever, from the department of chemistry.

York University, which began in 1959 with a class of 76 students, is now Canada's third largest university with approximately 40,000 students at 3,000 faculty on two campuses (Keele, and York's bilingual campus, Glendon), 19 research centres and ten faculties. With its combination of dedicated and talented faculty, bright and ambitious students, dynamic curriculum and modern campus 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 for Media Relations
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca

Alison Masemann
Media Relations Officer
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
email: masemann@yorku.ca
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