President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton issues the following announcement to the York University community:
Following the retirement of Maureen Armstrong at the end of June, York will be making changes to the role of university secretary and general counsel. Going forward, this position will be separated into distinct secretary and counsel roles in order to better reflect the growing scope of work and responsibilities of both portfolios.
Details of the search processes for the permanent university secretary and general counsel will be available soon. In the meantime, I am pleased to announce that Cheryl Underhill has been appointed interim university secretary and Christine Silversides has been appointed interim general counsel.
Cheryl Underhill previously served as the senior assistant secretary in the University Secretariat. She has been a member of the Secretariat since 1991 and became an assistant secretary in 1998. In her progressive roles, Cheryl has supported the work of both the University Senate and the Board of Governors. Her current portfolio includes the positions of secretary to the Senate Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee, the Board Academic Resources and Investment Committees, and assistant secretary to Senate and its Executive Committee. Having previously supported the Board of Governors, its Executive, Finance & Audit and Land & Property Committees, as well as the Senate Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee, she has continued to provide counsel to colleagues in these areas.
Christine Silversides joined York University in 2006 as the inaugural director, legal services, responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of the University’s legal office in addition to providing advice and counsel to the University on a wide array of legal matters. Prior to joining York, Christine practised law with a Toronto law firm, providing advice and counsel to primarily education-sector clients on a broad spectrum of legal matters. She has also held legal counsel roles in a public company and a public sector agency. Christine is president of the Ontario University Lawyers’ Group and vice-president of the Canadian Association of University Lawyers.
Please join me in welcoming Cheryl and Christine to their new roles. I would also like to extend my deep gratitude to Maureen Armstrong for her leadership, innovative ideas and collegiality during her time at York.