Dear colleagues,
I wanted to follow up on my decision to step down as York's eighth president and vice-chancellor. It is wonderful to welcome everyone back for a new academic year and I want to share with you the steps being taken to ensure a smooth transition and York's positive trajectory. As you are aware, the Board of Governors has appointed Lisa Philipps in the role of interim president and vice-chancellor effective Jan. 1, 2026. Two other positions have been approved to address the resulting vacancies as follows:
Laina Bay-Cheng
Dr. Laina Bay-Cheng will assume the role of interim provost and vice-president academic on Jan. 1, 2026 continuing to Dec. 31, 2027 to allow the search for York's next president to proceed.
Dr. Bay-Cheng joined York in 2022 as the inaugural associate vice-president, faculty affairs, after spending 17 years at the University of Buffalo. Her research examines the impact of interlocked social injustices on young women's sexual rights and lives. As AVP, faculty affairs, she developed supports for faculty colleagues at all career stages and roles, ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of York's faculty hiring processes and building networks of support among academic leaders
In her role as vice-president, equity, people and culture, she has pushed forward the implementation of York University's Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and facilitated the York U Forward Action Plan for sustainability. Dr. Bay-Cheng's expertise and commitment to equity make her an invaluable leader and I am grateful to her for agreeing to put her talent to work in the role of provost and vice-president, academic.
Parissa Safai
Dr. Parissa Safai has been appointed as the interim vice-president, equity, people and culture, commencing Jan. 1, 2026, continuing to Dec. 31, 2027. Dr. Safai is currently the Chair of the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health at York. Her research focuses on the critical socio-cultural study of sport at the intersection of risk, health and health care, including the social determinants of athletes' health.
Dr. Safai has served in various academic leadership roles within the School, Faculty and University, including as special advisor to the president for academic continuity planning and COVID-19 response. Her extensive experience and dedication to addressing social inequalities make her an excellent addition to the senior administrative team.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Bay-Cheng and Dr. Safai for taking on these interim appointments. We look forward to their contributions and the continued success and growth of York University.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Lenton
President & Vice-Chancellor
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
