Dear colleagues,
Further to the announcement I shared in December 2024 about the departure of Pascal Robichaud, I am pleased to announce that after an extensive and competitive search, Sarah Willey-Thomas will be joining us as York’s university secretary, effective May 12, 2025.
Sarah Willey-Thomas is a strategic governance professional with experience in post-secondary, non-profit and corporate governance environments.
She has served in progressively senior governance roles since 2013. Most recently, she held the position of associate university secretary at the University of Waterloo where she supported the Board of Governors and its standing committees. Previously she has served as an associate university secretary to the Senate and its committees at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph.
She is currently the Chair of the Council of Ontario University Secretaries (COUS) and a member of the Governance Professionals of Canada, the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Association of Governing Boards. She also contributes to the Canadian University Boards Association as a member of its conference planning committee.
Sarah holds a bachelor of arts in leadership and contemporary studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a master’s of international public policy from Wilfrid Laurier University and the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She earned her Governance Professionals of Canada designation in 2021 and is expected to complete the Association of Governing Boards’ Board Professional Certificate in 2025.
Sarah also served on several non-profit boards, including the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, RisingOaks Early Learning Ontario (board Chair, 2020-21), Child and Family Services of Grand Erie Foundation and Braemar House School. Her dedication was recognized with the Chairs’ Circle of Excellence Award for her service on the RisingOaks Early Learning Board.
I also want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Cheryl Underhill for her leadership and support during her term as interim university secretary. Cheryl will be returning to her role as senior assistant secretary of the University, effective May 12, 2025. Thanks also to the other members of the Secretariat Office and to Leanne De Filippis for supporting Senate and Board during this period.
Please join me in congratulating Sarah Willey-Thomas and welcoming her to York University.
Sincerely,
Rhonda L. Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor