Deborah Brown appointed Ryerson vice-president, administration and operations

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Brown as Ryerson’s new vice-president of administration and operations effective January 29, 2018.

Deborah joins us from Mohawk College where, since 2014, she served as the vice-president, corporate services responsible for capital projects, finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, internal audit, corporate governance, legal services, campus safety, business and ancillary services.

“I am delighted to be joining a university that is so well-known for being a city builder, an innovator, and strong partner with governments, businesses and community organizations,” said Deborah Brown, vice-president, administration and operations. “As a Ryerson graduate, I am excited by this opportunity to work with students, faculty and staff to contribute to Ryerson’s continued and future success.”

The Administration and Operations portfolio at Ryerson (previously named Administration and Finance) consists of seven non-academic units that work collaboratively with colleagues across the university. The portfolio focuses on people, infrastructure, and community safety and security ensuring that students, faculty and staff can call Ryerson a vibrant place to learn and work.

Deborah brings with her a strong track record of experience and commitment to collaboration, equity, diversity and inclusion. Prior to her role at Mohawk, Deborah worked in senior leadership positions within the Ontario government, most recently as the acting chief administrative officer and assistant deputy minister at Treasury Board Secretariat. In that role, she was responsible for business planning and reporting, controllership and financial management, and human resources.

Deborah holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Ryerson University and a corporate governance designation from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management/ Institute for Corporate Directors. She is also a graduate of Western University’s Ivey Executive Program and the University of Windsor’s Executive Certificate Program in Conflict Management. She serves on the board of directors for the YWCA of Hamilton, where she is chair of the Governance and Diversity Committee and she is also a special advisor to Escalator: Jobs for Youths Facing Barriers, an initiative designed to enhance employment opportunities for youth established by the Toronto-based, non-profit organization CivicAction.

Please join me in welcoming Deborah to Ryerson and supporting her success in her new role.

I would also like to thank Janice Winton, the outgoing vice-president, for her outstanding contributions to our university. Janice has been at Ryerson since 1991, serving in a series of progressively senior roles including Ryerson’s Chief Financial Officer, and, Executive Director, Financial Services. Appointed vice-president in 2014, Janice has overseen a range of projects and initiatives including the development of the “Ryerson Works” newsletter, the introduction of changes in food services and community safety and security, overseeing many major capital projects including the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, and the soon-to-open faculty and staff wellness centre. Janice will be retiring effective January 26, 2018. Please join me in extending thanks to Janice for her outstanding work and contributions to Ryerson over the past 26 years.

Finally, I would also like to thank members of the search committee for their contributions to this successful search:

• Kelly Abraham, Associate Director, Campus Retail, Printing & Duplicating Services, University Business Services
• Lisa Barnoff, Dean, Faculty of Community Services
• Tony Conte, Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Administration and Operations
• Janet Hercz, Director, Business Operations and Space Planning, Facilities Management and Development
• Brian Lesser, Chief Information Officer
• Denise O’Neil Green, Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion
• Christina Sass-Kortsak, Assistant Vice-President, Human Resources
• Paul Stenton, Deputy Provost/Vice Provost, University Planning
• Diane Winiarz, Director, Client Services, Financial Services

Mohamed Lachemi
President