Will lead University through next five years of growth and change 

TORONTO, April 26, 2011 − The Board of Governors of York University is pleased to announce Mamdouh Shoukri will serve a second five-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor. The announcement was made at the Board’s April 25th meeting. Dr. Shoukri’s new five-year term will commence on July 1, 2012.

“The Board is pleased with the progressive steps that Dr. Shoukri and his colleagues have taken over the past four years, and enthusiastically supported his renewal as President for a full second term,” said Paul Cantor, chair of the Board of Governors. “We look forward to continuing to work with Mamdouh to build a financially sound, comprehensive University that balances the student experience, research intensity and engagement across the York community," Cantor concluded.

York University advanced significantly during Shoukri’s first term as President. Key accomplishments and successes include the establishment of a clear strategic direction for the University that was reflected in the White Paper and the 2010-2015 University Academic Plan – both unanimously endorsed by Senate – and the strategic priorities of academic excellence, student success and community engagement which flowed from it. New leadership was appointed across a large number of senior academic and non-academic positions. York’s campuses continued to grow at a rapid pace to meet ever-growing enrolment, with new buildings and major renovations including: the new Life Sciences building; Glendon’s Centre of Excellence for French-Language & Bilingual Postsecondary Education; the opening of the Sherman Health Science Research Centre; the new Learning Commons at the Scott Library; and the expansion of Osgoode Hall. York was also recognized for its commitment to sustainability, and was named as a Campus Sustainability Leader in the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card.

Shoukri also focused on taking steps to better engage with York’s community. The collaboration and the partnerships that have been created through the TD Community Engagement Centre, as well as the Markham Convergence Centre, have enhanced the University’s ability to share ideas, a concept that complements York’s interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. Finally, Shoukri guided “York to the Power of 50”, which was not only the most successful fundraising campaign in York’s history, raising $207 million, but a celebration of York’s 50th anniversary in which all of York University’s numerous achievements and successes were proclaimed.

“Mamdouh enjoys tremendous support both inside and outside the York community for his academic vision and leadership,” said Susan Dimock, chair of Senate, “On behalf of the Senate, I would like to congratulate Dr. Shoukri on his renewal as President and Vice-Chancellor, and we look forward to continuing the close and positive working relationship we have enjoyed in the past.”

“I am honoured to continue to serve as York University’s President,” said Shoukri. “Our University is home to some of the world’s most talented and dedicated students, faculty and staff, and I am proud to be a part of it. Our solid reputation as one of Canada’s leading comprehensive research and teaching universities is a result of the strength of our community, and together we will continue to push the boundaries and redefine the possible.”
 

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 About Dr. Shoukri: 

Mamdouh Shoukri was appointed on July 1, 2007, as York University’s 7th President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Shoukri began his career in academia at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he joined the faculty in 1984. In 1990, he was appointed chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department, and eventually became Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1994-2001. Dr. Shoukri then went on to serve as Vice-President Research & International Affairs.

Dr. Shoukri is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc., Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and the York Central Hospital. He has served on the Ontario Government Advisory Committee for the Centres of Excellence and on the Board of Directors for two Ontario Centres: Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, and Communications and Information Technology Ontario. Additionally, he was a member of the Ontario Research and Innovation Council (ORIC) – a council appointed by the premier of Ontario in July 2006, with a mandate to advise the government on its innovation strategy in order to keep the province’s economy strong.

Dr. Shoukri is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. He is the author and co-author of more than 120 papers that have appeared in refereed journals and symposia. Dr. Shoukri holds a BSc (Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from Cairo University and a MEng and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from McMaster University.

For further information, contact:
Wallace Pidgeon, Associate Director, Media Relations
416-736-2100 ext 22091
wpidgeon@yorku.ca