Jen McMillen appointed vice-provost, students

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Jen McMillen as Ryerson’s vice-provost, students, effective January 1, 2019.

Jen joins Ryerson from Humber College where she is the dean of students. In this role, Jen oversees the Department of Student Success and Engagement, comprised of: Athletics and Recreation, Advising and Career Services, Academic Support Services, Student Events, Health, Counselling and Accessible Learning Services, Testing Services, Student Life, Student Conduct, Leadership Development and Residence Life. In conjunction with her team of more than 140 full-time staff, Jen supports the management of high-level student crisis and conduct issues, complex labour and human resource issues, human rights matters and student complaints.

From 2010-2013, Jen was the director of student access, wellness and development at Humber College.  In this role, Jen focused on the development and implementation of programs and services that enhanced the student experience and their learning environment. She has led numerous student mental health initiatives, and spearheaded the wegotyou.humber.ca (external link)  campaign, promoting a broad range of on-campus services for students.

“The Ryerson student community is full of energy and vibrancy, with strong voices and a commitment to bring about positive change — both in their fields of study and in the external community,” said McMillen. “I am thrilled and honoured to be named Ryerson’s new vice-provost, students, where I will have the unique responsibility for collaborating directly with student and academic leaders to ensure student programs, experiences and services of the highest quality are readily available to all students.”

An active community member and leader, Jen co-chaired the Joint Operations Committee of Academic and Students Affairs and the Academic Inclusion Taskforce and sits on a number of institutional and external committees ranging from strategic planning to student success and retention, and internationalization. She recently completed her term as chair, heads of student affairs group, within the Colleges Ontario framework and was a founding member of the Positive Space Committee (LGBTW Support) at Brock University.

Prior to Humber College, Jen was the director of residence and student life at New College, University of Toronto from 2008-2010, and at Brock University, she was the human rights and equity officer from 2006-2008 and the associate director, residence and food services from 2002-2006. She holds a bachelor of kinesiology with a minor in sociology from McMaster University, and a master of higher education with an emphasis in leadership from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.  

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ian Crookshank, our interim vice-provost, students, for his leadership and dedication to the role, to our students and to Ryerson. Ian joined Ryerson in 2012 and has served as the director, student community life and the director of housing and residence life. Most notably, this year he supported the opening of HOEM — Ryerson’s largest student residence.

Thank you to members of the search committee for their great contributions to this successful search.

Please join me in welcoming Jen to Ryerson and offering best wishes in her new role.

Sincerely,

Michael Benarroch, PhD
Provost and Vice-President, Academic