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About the President’s Division

Priyanka DebnathThe Chief of Staff provides strategic advice and support to the President and senior management team on a wide range of internal and external issues. The Chief of Staff works across all areas of the organization to ensure that York University achieves its mission, vision and priorities.
Ijade Maxwell RodriguesThe Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the University’s government and community relations strategies. In addition, Ijade provides oversight and direction for the events and initiatives that are organized by the Office of the President.
Garth AlleyneReporting to the Chief of Government and Community Relations and Protocol, the Sr. Manager, Partner Engagement will work closely with the corporate and non-profit organizations to develop and implement partnerships and outreach strategies that increase awareness and support for the University’s programs, services, and priorities.
VacantThe Government Relations Officer supports the advancement of York University’s government relations strategic plan by ensuring opportunities are developed and long-term relationships are cultivated and maintained between the University and its key partners which support the University’s efforts to advance our institutional strategic priorities.
Krista DavidsonThe Director of Communications provides strategic vision and leadership to the communications activities of the President and Vice-Chancellor and for the Office of the President, and ensures that all initiatives are consistent with the wider strategic communications objectives of the University.
Irene FezzaThe Executive Assistant provides management and oversight of the President’s schedule, briefing materials and correspondence.
Angelina GullaThe Administrative Assistant to the President is responsible for providing administrative support to the President’s portfolio under the direction of the Executive Assistant to the President.
Helen LeeProvides project management and coordination for the School of Medicine during the start-up phase and provides support to the Dean, Faculty of Health and Provost
Cassandra SchlosserThe Administrative Coordinator provides efficient, professional and confidential executive-level support to the Chief of Staff and the Chief of Government and Community Relations, as well as research support to the Communications portfolio and general operational and project-related support to the Office of the President.
Mark McCleary The Government and Community Relations Coordinator (GCRC) will play a supporting role to the government and community relations initiatives in the Office of the President. The GCRC will also assist in the preparation of material to support meetings with government officials and community stakeholders, writing online content for the website, collecting data and preparing correspondence.
Lynsey KissaneThe Director Institutional Projects, Institutional Strategic Projects provides strategic advice to the Chief of Staff and President, track and monitor strategic projects on behalf of the President, and provides leadership of key strategic projects identified as a priority by the President
Moothi Fahad BinsaudThe Communications and Marketing Assistant advances the communications objectives of the Office of the President and the University by providing assistance with planning, project management, research, and writing for both online and print media.
Kam MirzaeiThe Business Systems Analyst is responsible for analyzing existing and new systems recommending solutions and aligning the IT aspects of the overall business and operations with the strategic initiatives of the Office of the President, with focus on improving operations and processes involving information technology within the Office of the President.
Harriet Ng The Office Coordinator is responsible for handling the queries and complaints directed to the Office of the President; providing direct communication between the Office and the York community at all levels and constituencies; and providing assistance to visitors, service providers, and others with business on the 10th floor of the Kaneff Tower.
Judith OwusuaahThe Advisor, Special Projects, Events and Protocol is responsible for planning and executing projects and special events for the Office of the President.
Ping PengThe Senior Executive Officer is responsible for the integration, oversight, resource utilization, and budget management throughout the Division of the President.
Herbert Francisco De LunaThe Office Assistant provides assistance in a variety of tasks and particularly those related to preparation for meetings and special events.
Shawna TeperThe Director, Community and Government Relations is responsible for supporting the advancement of York University’s strategic community and government relations plans by ensuring opportunities are developed and long-term relationships are cultivated and maintained between the University and its key stakeholders.
Ivan Todorov The Finance Officer is accountable for the provision of essential financial information, and guidance to management to support effective management decision making and strategic planning. The incumbent is also responsible for the integrity and compliance of financial processes and practices to ensure conformity within generally accepted accounting principles as well as University policies, guidelines and practices.
Laksh VigThe Engagement & Policy Advisor supports government and stakeholder relations initiatives in the Office of the President.
Sahar Ghadimi ZakerThe Coordinator, Strategic Process and Projects is responsible for tracking leadership agenda items, serving as the secretary to the President/Vice-Presidents table, liaising with project leads across the University and ensuring the Chief of Staff and President have the necessary information to make effective decisions.

The President and Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the University. The President has ultimate responsibility for the academic work and general administration of the University, the members of faculty, officers, other employees and students, and such additional powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to the President by the Board. The President is expected to bring educational leadership and a visionary approach to defining the academic and administrative focus of the University. The office works to support the President in fulfilling this mandate.

Ijade Maxwell RodriguesThe Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the Institutional Events unit.
Peter
Aylan-Parker
The Senior Manager, Institutional Events is responsible for the implementation and assessment of institutional events including a wide range of institutional events on behalf of the University administration
Jeanine PapacharalambousThe Events & Communications Coordinator facilitates the integration of events, communication and marketing initiatives that encourages and fosters growing levels of engagement and enhances the University’s reputation.
Mallory SilverThe Events & Communications Coordinator facilitates the integration of events, communication and marketing initiatives that encourages and fosters growing levels of engagement and enhances the University’s reputation.
Hannah StanleyThe Events & Communications Coordinator facilitates the integration of events, communication and marketing initiatives that encourages and fosters growing levels of engagement and enhances the University’s reputation.
Kat DicksonThe Events & Communications Coordinator facilitates the integration of events, communication and marketing initiatives that encourages and fosters growing levels of engagement and enhances the University’s reputation.

The Office of Institutional Events is responsible for the creation of memorable institutional events that enhance the reputation of the university.

The University Secretariat administers the governance of the University by supporting the Senate and Board of Governors. The Secretariat also maintains the corporate records of the University and administers the licensing of the University’s names and marks.

The Office of the Counsel supports York University’s mission and priorities by handling all legal matters generated by the activities of the University and its faculties, schools, departments and administrative units.

The Information and Privacy Office (IPO) provides public access to university records and information and protects the personal privacy of the university community in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

The role of Communications and Public Affairs is to bring clarity to what York stands for among its many target audiences and to enhance the reputation of York by communicating York in a strategic and consistent way. The unit ensures that all communications, throughout the university, consistently meet high standards, reflect our mission and are in line with our brand strategy.

The AGYU is one of Canada’s leading public art galleries. As a university-affiliated gallery and through the practices of contemporary art, AGYU fosters interdisciplinary research across Faculties, Departments, ORUs, and research clusters on York’s campus while also establishing meaningful relationships externally, with communities in the surrounding Greater Toronto Area, nationally, and internationally. In addition to exhibition, publishing, education, and outreach activities, AGYU is the custodian of York University’s art collection. A new, multi-site facility that holistically brings together all of the AGYU’s diverse activities with a renewed emphasis on the collection opens in fall 2023, centring the campus as a major cultural destination in Toronto and Canada. The expansion will establish the AGYU as an exceptional cultural asset in the York Region, an important resource for the Jane-Finch community, and a hub on York’s campus.

The Office of the Ombudsperson is a confidential, impartial and independent resource for University Community members (students, faculty and staff) to receive advice and guidance about their university-wide concerns and complaints regarding university policies, procedures and decision-making structures. The central role of the office is to help ensure fairness in university policies, procedures and decision-making structures.