A positive approach can make all the difference. Today, in the “I Am the Change” profile series, we’re shining a light on a York staff member who radiates positivity and optimism. Not only is she a subject matter expert in her field, but she’s also a trusted partner for her colleagues.
The “I Am the Change” series takes you behind the scenes to offer an in-depth look at the individuals driving change at York. From quiet innovators to charismatic leaders, each team member shares their unique blend of skills, experiences, and personality that helps bring the program to life. They all aim to make a positive impact on York and are dedicated to excellence.
For this blog post, we are thrilled to introduce you to Emilie DeOca. Emilie has been a part of the York community for 18 years in various roles. She has contributed to both the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) as the Assistant Registrar, Degree Audit and Special Programs, and most recently, the Student Systems Renewal Program as the Manager, Business Transformation, Academic Structure.
In the OUR, Emilie provided professional direction, policy, and procedural recommendations to decision-making bodies and acted as the University expert in degree audit processes. She managed student records for York’s specialized academic programs and implemented successful special programs like the Transition Year Program, Exchange Programs, Ryerson/York Exchange Programs, the Letter of Permission, and various bridging programs.
Currently, as the Manager, Business Transformation, Academic Structure, Emilie is responsible for providing overall leadership within the Student Systems Renewal Program. She supports the end-to-end maintenance of academic structure across all projects in the program.
Putting aside her deep institutional knowledge and expertise, Emilie is also cherished and respected as a person. She approaches challenges head-on with positivity and is always willing to jump in with an idea or solution—or even just a smile—to help her colleagues feel supported, appreciated, and respected.
Let’s dive a little deeper into what makes Emilie show up to work each day with a positive attitude and ideas to help drive University goals:
"Though it may sound a bit cliché, it's always been my dream to work for York University, and having that dream come true is a blessing each day that I'm here. This blessing includes being surrounded by such supportive and brilliant colleagues and mentors, which fuels my drive and energy each day."
Emilie recognizes the importance of enhancing team culture and consistently works to create a shared sense of commitment to enhancing the student, faculty, and staff experience at York. Her knowledge and profound ability to bring out the best in people have helped drive positive changes that will make a lasting impression on students, faculty, and staff today and well into the future.