TORONTO, November 26, 2014 – York University congratulates Julia Foster, Chair, Board of Governors, on today being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Powerful Women in 2014 by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

"Julia’s outstanding leadership in higher education, the arts and healthcare are making Canada a better place to live and work,” says York U President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “She has advanced the model of effective board governance, including her dedicated efforts to increase the number of capable women who sit on boards in all sectors. We are exceptionally proud of her as she receives this well-deserved recognition.”

WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize its community of 19,000 smart women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence.

York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 25 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 280 leading universities worldwide. York U’s community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 270,000 alumni.

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Media Contact: Joanne Rider, York University, 416-736-5593, jrider@yorku.ca