{"id":16612,"date":"2021-10-25T12:44:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T16:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.yorku.ca\/?p=16612"},"modified":"2023-06-14T10:24:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T14:24:22","slug":"york-us-tracey-taylor-oreilly-named-one-of-top-100-canadas-most-powerful-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/2021\/10\/25\/york-us-tracey-taylor-oreilly-named-one-of-top-100-canadas-most-powerful-women\/","title":{"rendered":"York U\u2019s Tracey Taylor-O\u2019Reilly named one of Top 100: Canada\u2019s Most Powerful Women"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Executive at York University\u2019s School of Continuing Studies receives top award<\/em><\/p>\n

TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021<\/strong> \u2013 York University\u2019s Tracey Taylor-O\u2019Reilly, assistant vice-president, continuing studies, has been named one of this year\u2019s top 100 most powerful women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network<\/a> (WXN).<\/p>\n

The Top 100 Awards<\/a>, which were launched in 2003, celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada\u2019s top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks.<\/p>\n

Taylor-O\u2019Reilly joined York University in 2013 where she founded and launched the new School of Continuing Studies in 2015, one of the largest in Canada and an award-winning global leader in professional and English language programs. In its first five years, professional program enrolment grew 10-fold under her leadership. The School continues to partner with employers to create innovative educational experiences designed to fill Canada\u2019s most-pressing skills gaps.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe labour market continues to be greatly affected by technology and automation, and under Tracey\u2019s visionary leadership, York University\u2019s School for Continuing Studies has quickly gained an impressive reputation for providing accelerated professional programs that combine the technical and cross-functional skills sought by students and employers,\u201d says York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. \u201cShe has not only enhanced York\u2019s continuing studies programming but has contributed significantly to the vision of the University and to the lives of our students by strengthening our commitment to accessibility and social mobility. I am delighted to have the opportunity to congratulate Tracey on this well-deserved recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"headshotTaylor-O\u2019Reilly has also contributed to closing the labour gender gap and diversifying the workforce by increasing the number of women and under-represented communities enrolled in technology programs, working as instructors, and serving as program advisors at the school.<\/p>\n

The success of this strategy is particularly evident in its impact on gender diversity in the field of information security. The percentage of women enrolled in the School\u2019s cybersecurity program, for example, exceeded the percentage of women working in the field in Canada last year. In less than five years, two of that program\u2019s female graduates earned recognition as leaders in the industry and returned to inspire others as instructors at York.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a tremendous honour to be recognized by the WXN and join the ranks of some of the most innovative and influential business leaders in our country.\u00a0 Transforming the way professional education is delivered to help Canadians and newcomers to Canada advance their careers while meeting urgent industry needs is something I am truly passionate about,\u201d says Taylor-O\u2019Reilly. \u201cThe role universities now play over the course of a career has never been more important. We are living in times where people will need to upskill every few years throughout their career. At York University our vision is to become a life-long partner to adults to help them navigate each stage of their working life. We have an incredibly talented team who are bringing this ambitious vision to life.\u201d<\/p>\n