Lisa Philipps appointed York University Provost and Vice-President Academic

Toronto, June 26, 2018 – Rhonda L. Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor, York University, announced the appointment of Professor Lisa Philipps to the position of Provost and Vice-President Academic, effective July 1, 2018, for a five-year term. The appointment follows a pan-university community consultation process, and extensive international search, approved by the Board of Governors today. Professor Philipps has been serving as Interim Vice-President Academic & Provost since May of 2017.

“Lisa has served York in a variety of capacities and has provided outstanding leadership in advancing the University Academic Plan priorities, facilitating the transition to a new budget model, and supporting the Faculties in academic program development, pedagogical innovation, Strategic Enrolment Management and complement planning,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor. “A champion of York’s values, and tireless advocate for our students and faculty colleagues, I am delighted that the University will continue to benefit from Lisa’s passion for education, as well as her knowledge, expertise, and continuing dedication to her new role.”

Philipps first joined York in 1996 and is a Professor of Law in Osgoode Hall Law School. An award-winning law teacher, she holds an LLB from the University of Toronto and an LLM from York. She is also a well published scholar in the areas of taxation law and policy, fiscal policy, higher education policy, and feminist legal theory.

“I am honoured to have been selected as York’s next Provost and Vice-President Academic,” said Philipps. “I care deeply about teaching, learning and research and see this as an exciting time to be at York. We are growing into a new Markham Campus, we are more connected to the GTA than ever before, and we continue building on the exceptional academic programs that serve an incredible, diverse student population. York is unique, and while still a young university, we understand what it takes to provide a world-class education that will serve our students here at home and around the globe.”

Previously, Philipps served as Assistant Dean (First Year) and Associate Dean (Research, Graduate Studies & Institutional Relations) at Osgoode, and in 2014, she chaired the University’s Academic Task Force. From 2011 to 2014 Philipps served as Associate Vice-President Research, with responsibility for supporting research intensification across the University and as liaison with SSHRC and community research partners. In 2015-16, Philipps served as Interim Dean of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University, a new law school with a mandate to strengthen the Indigenous bar and prepare lawyers to practice in northern and rural communities.

Philipps practised tax law with the firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon prior to embarking on her academic career, and taught at the University of Victoria and University of British Columbia before joining York University.

An active volunteer, Philipps currently serves on the eCampus Ontario Board as well as the Provincial Judges Pension Board.

York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. York U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

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For more information:

Barbara Joy, 416-333-3374, barbjoy@yorku.ca