Dr. Sara-Jane Finlay
The Board of Governors has accepted the President’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Sara-Jane Finlay as the new Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion for a five-year term commencing March 16, 2015.
Dr. Finlay is currently Director of the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty and Academic Life at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Finlay received her B.A. (English Language and Literature) in 1987 from Huron College, Western University, followed by a B.A.A. (Radio and Television Arts) from Ryerson University in 1990; and her M.A. (Women’s Studies) and Ph.D. (Communication and Media Studies) in 1997 and 2001, respectively, both from Loughborough University. She also holds a Post-graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (Higher Education) from the Southampton Institute, Hants, UK. Dr. Finlay commenced her professional research and teaching career in the UK at Loughborough University, lecturing in Media and Sociology, and then at the Southampton Institute, in Media with Cultural Studies, focusing on gender, race, class, culture and identity. Moving into administration, Dr. Finlay was the Course Leader for the M.A. Media, and in 2003, became Head of Media Studies at the College of St. Mark & St. John, Plymouth, UK. In 2004, Dr. Finlay became a lecturer in the Institute for Culture and Communication at the University of Toronto and moved in to an administrative role in the Office of the Vice President and Provost in 2005.
Dr. Finlay brings a deep commitment to equity and diversity. She has extensive experience in academic policy and planning, and champions the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the university’s academic mission. She has developed leadership programs for senior academic administrators, policies and programs for faculty and staff, all infused with these core values.
We would like to thank faculty members, staff, students, and members of the President’s Advisory Committee on Aboriginal Affairs for participating in the search process and providing valuable feedback to the Advisory Committee. We are grateful to the members of the Advisory Committee for their commitment of extensive time and energy throughout the search.
The Provost is also grateful to Dr. Gurdeep Parhar, who has served as Acting Associate Vice-President Equity and Inclusion for the past two years during this interim period, and looks forward to working with Dr. Finlay as she brings to the role strong leadership skills, collaborative and relationship-building skills and a passion for equity and inclusion.
http://vpacademic.ubc.ca/2014/12/appointment-for-associate-vice-president-equity-inclusion/