TORONTO, March 3, 2009 -- York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri today announced the appointment of Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Patrick Monahan as York’s next Vice-President Academic & Provost, effective July 1, 2009. The appointment for the new five-year term, which was made after a wide search assisted by a committee, was approved by the Board of Governors today.
"I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Patrick Monahan as Vice-President Academic & Provost,” said Shoukri. “He is a first-class academic leader who has done much to raise the profile and reputation of the Law School and York University. I look forward to working with him as we celebrate York’s 50th anniversary and take York into its next 50 years."
The Vice-President Academic & Provost reports to the President and is responsible for institutional leadership in planning, policy development, and implementation of new and existing academic programs. In conjunction with the Senate and the President, the VPA&P sets the academic goals of the University and establishes priorities in terms of University objectives.
Dean Monahan succeeds Vice-President Academic & Provost Sheila Embleton, who has shown tremendous leadership of York’s academic enterprise through the past decade and will continue to provide advice and counsel during 2009-10 as Special Advisor to the President.
“I believe York University has tremendous potential for growth, development and contribution to the public good,” said Monahan. “It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of York as its next Provost.”
Monahan was first appointed Dean of Osgoode Hall on July 1, 2003, for a five-year term and was reappointed for second term on July 1, 2008. During his time as Dean, Osgoode’s reputation has grown and the Law School is ranked as one of the top in the country. Monahan also spearheaded a strategic plan for the Law School that has resulted in an expanded faculty and greater focus on improving student engagement and the learning experience. In addition, he launched the largest capital campaign in the history of Canadian law schools that will help improve programs and the physical space at Osgoode.
Monahan graduated from Osgoode, as the Gold Medalist, in 1980 and has been a member of the Osgoode faculty since 1982. He holds a BA from the University of Ottawa, an MA from Carleton University, an LLM from Harvard University, and is a member of the Bar of Ontario. Monahan is a recognized authority on constitutional law, Canadian federalism, and administrative law. From 1986 to 1990, he was senior policy advisor to the Attorney General and Premier of Ontario respectively, where he played a key role in the negotiation of the 1987 Meech Lake Accord. He has frequently provided legal advice to major public sector organizations, including all three levels of government, federal royal commissions, government agencies, the Auditor General of Canada, and others.
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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Richard Fisher, Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing and Communications, York University, 416 736 2100 x58230 / richard.fisher@yorku.ca
