Gary Hepburn appointed dean, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Hepburn as dean, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, effective January 1, 2020. Known for his international leadership in responsive education and strategic management, Gary brings tremendous experience and insight to Ryerson University.

The dean is responsible for all aspects of The Chang School’s operations. In his role, Gary will build positive and collaborative relationships with Ryerson’s academic units while continuously addressing the evolving needs of adult learners. As he continues the successful academic planning process, Gary will pursue an accountability framework that demonstrates The Chang School’s academic quality, responsiveness and fiscal responsibility, and will build upon the excellent support received from the external community to extend the school’s reach and relevance.

Well versed in online and blended-learning best practices, Gary has provided responsive education to students consistently via high-quality programming. Most recently he held the position of dean, Division of Extended Education at the University of Manitoba, where he led an academic unit responsible for establishing and delivering non-credit programs in professional development, English language, international, Indigenous and social impact.

Prior to that, Gary was the director of Academic Programming and Delivery at the University of the West Indies’ Open Campus, where he oversaw the development and delivery of online undergraduate and graduate programming. Notably, in 2018, he helped advance continuing education nationally as the president of the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education.

In addition to his role of dean, Gary will be a professor in Ryerson’s School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD).

Gary holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of British Columbia, with areas of teaching and scholarly interest focused on educational technology, strategic directions and emerging trends in higher education. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Saint Mary's University.

Please join me in congratulating Gary and in wishing him all the best in his new role.

At this time, I would like to thank Fred Anger for his exceptional leadership as The Chang School’s interim dean, as well as the following members of the selection committee for their dedication to this successful search:

Pnina Alon-Shenker
Professor, Business Management

Sam Benvie
Academic Coordinator, Landscape Design

David Cramb
Dean, Faculty of Science

Al Goss
Associate Dean, Student Affairs, Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM)

Dalia Hanna
Program Director, Community Services

Linda Koechli
Program Director, Business

Nima Naghibi
Professor, Department of English

Anver Saloojee
Assistant Vice-President, International

Nicole Brayiannis
President, Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson (CESAR)

Michael Benarroch
Provost and Vice-President, Academic