A Conversation with Dean Cynthia Holmes

Recently, Dr. Cynthia Holmes was announced as the new dean of the Ted Rogers School of Management. She shared what drew her to the Ted Rogers School and Toronto Metropolitan University and what she hopes to accomplish.

What's the one thing you'd like the Ted Rogers School of Management community to know about you?

My top priority as Dean will be to support the people at the School, the faculty, students and staff.  I want all of us to feel welcomed, valued and heard.  I firmly believe that by cultivating a strong sense of community and by building genuine connections, we can create a wonderful environment where we can all thrive.  

What drew you to this opportunity? 

I’m very proud of the faculty, students, and staff at Ted Rogers School and I’m inspired by our academic and professional growth. I love this place, and I recognize the importance of the Dean's role in fueling an environment that nurtures learning, innovation, and success.

When and why did you decide to do the work you're doing now?

When I first joined the Ted Rogers School in 2010, Dean Ken Jones spoke to me about setting up a real estate department and set me on the academic leadership path. I find the work incredibly rewarding, meaningful, and energizing.

What do you see as the emerging trends in higher education?

So many exciting developments are on the horizon!

• Exploring alternative course delivery modes;
• Increasing experiential learning opportunities, especially through industry partnerships;
• Emphasizing well-being and mental health in the curriculum and across the university;
• Implementing initiatives to enhance access, promote equity, and foster a sense of belonging for all students;
• Adding learning about sustainable practices to the curriculum;
• Creating learning opportunities about indigenous worldviews and anti-racism practices for all students; 
• Adopting more sophisticated data analytics to support improved decision making; 
• Welcoming more international students and crafting rewarding international collaborations for researchers; 

And so much more!

What are your research areas of interest?

My research areas of interest are real estate finance and housing economics.  I love real estate because it’s tangible, durable, can be beautiful, and our built environment is important to our quality of life and community. My recent work is focused on how students’ living situation impacts their academic performance and engagement.

What is your vision of the future, or long term vision for the School and faculty? 

My approach to leadership is consultative, so I want to engage with our community members before articulating any sort of new vision statement.  But, the foundational elements of my personal vision for the Ted Rogers School are as follows:

1. Establishing an exceptionally strong reputation driven by research excellence and innovative teaching;
2. Leveraging a rich and varied set of industry, government, community, and alumni connections to enhance our research, teaching and student experience;
3. Having happy and satisfied faculty members and staff who feel supported; and
4. Cultivating a strong and diverse student body, both undergraduate and graduate, who will receive an education that will create an excellent foundation for their lives and careers.

Tell us more about your perspective on why a business education matters more than ever?

I believe that education, broadly, holds greater importance now than ever before in our rapidly evolving world. A business education delivers learning outcomes that uniquely equip students for career success. The Ted Rogers School teaches students how to boldly address the opportunities and challenges in the world of business. We offer an education that is relevant for the job market, building skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and ethical and strategic decision-making. 

What challenges do you see in front of you, and how are you thinking about approaching them?

My first important challenge as Dean is related to finances and finding ways to support student scholarships, equity and inclusion initiatives, and research support, to name just a few. I expect to direct a great deal of my attention to addressing this issue in different ways, including donor stewardship and granting initiatives. Our faculty and students are brimming with energy and ideas, and I intend to support them in a fiscally responsible way.

As someone who has been here for many years, what do you wish people knew about Ted Rogers School that they don't know now?

I think that many people outside of the school don’t realize our incredible strength in research.  We’re amazing!  Choose any metric you like:  number of publications, number of citations, grant funding volume, etc. etc. etc. and we have demonstrated incredible growth over the past decade.

What was the best advice you ever received?

My high school math teacher told me that I should study math at university, and I did.  Almost every great thing in my life has flowed out of that decision.

What do you enjoy when you are not working?

I love watching my teenage son play basketball - he’s a great rebounder.

What is the last book you read?

I’ve been reading Andy Weir and John Scalzi recently. Both are authors who write humorous science fiction. I enjoy science fiction novels, among others, because they are especially  open for thought-provoking creative possibilities, and adding humour makes for memorable character development and an enjoyable read.

Where is your favourite place to travel? 

Montréal, my hometown, holds a special place in my heart.

What are three fun facts about yourself? 

1. I have a viral video on YouTube called “Otters Holding Hands.”  Oprah.com featured it in 2009 and in 2010, Time Magazine named it one of YouTube’s 50 Best Videos (external link) !  
2. Through a meandering path, the success of this video is responsible for me becoming a member of the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo, which is a true delight in my life.
3. My favorite animal at the zoo is Sabi, a white rhino.  She is currently pregnant with her first baby, due September or October 2023.

If you could have dinner with any three famous people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

I’m torn between choosing three great chefs (since the meal would be extraordinary, right?), or three great comics (because what is more fun than laughing through dinner, right?) or three amazing academic leaders (because I would welcome advice and insights).  I would split the difference and choose Chef Marcus Samuelsson (amazing), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (hilarious), and Martha Piper (who was president of UBC when I was a doctoral student there).