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Dr. Gervan Fearon became President of George Brown College in August 2021. Working with colleagues across the college, he aims to support career-oriented programs to meet the needs of students and the demands of employers; advance college-led research; and enhance community engagement. With a proven track record of collaboration, transformative leadership and engaging higher learning communities in a shared mission, he leads George Brown’s efforts to provide transformative education opportunities that benefit learners, industry and the greater community.

Gervan previously served as the President and Vice-Chancellor at Brock University and at Brandon University. He has also held numerous progressive roles in post-secondary education, including Vice-President, Academic, at Brandon University; Dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University; Associate Dean at York University’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies; Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington; and as an Associate Professor at York University. Gervan also has a strong teaching and research record.

His career also included serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and a Senior Analyst at the Treasury Board, Ontario Ministry of Finance. He has also served on numerous community boards, including Ontario Trillium Foundation, Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council, United Way Niagara, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. He was also Co-Chair of the Niagara Region’s Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Committee, Chair of the Budget and Audit Committee of Council of Ontario Universities, and President of Tropicana Community Services.

Gervan was a co-founder of the Canada Caribbean Institute, along with Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, The University of the West Indies. Gervan is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013), The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award (2017), The University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor's Award (2020) and several other awards of recognition. 

He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Western Ontario and received his master’s and bachelor’s of science degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CGA) and Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D).

On May 24, 2021, Gervan gave an interview to CBC Radio's Metro Morning Toronto. Interview transcript.

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Ken Steele is Canada’s best-known higher ed futurist, facilitator and consultant in branding, marketing and innovation. As a former Shakespeare scholar and instructor, technology consultant, marketer and entrepreneur, Ken brings a unique, wide-ranging perspective and divergent thinking to college and university strategic planning, marketing and enrolment management.

Worldwide, more than 30,000 higher ed professionals have come to know Ken as a definitive source of breaking news, bright ideas, strategic foresight, and thoughtful insight. He co-founded Canada’s largest PSE market research firm, created a leading daily news digest, and has written dozens of articles and white papers, and hundreds of research reports and environmental scans.

Ken monitors worldwide developments shaping the future of higher education in real time, writes a free daily newsletter (the Eduvation Insider), produces a video webcast (Ten with Ken), and convenes national roundtables of higher ed marketers. He sits on eCampus Ontario’s Virtual Learning Advisory Committee, and has consulted with hundreds of colleges and universities – from New England to New Zealand – helping them interpret market research, understand their competitive context, distil their institutional “Brand Chemistry,” and nurture a culture of innovation across campus.

If you haven’t heard Ken speak before, take a look at his introduction video here.

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Nina Bilimoria Angelo is Unibuddy's Toronto based Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. In this capacity, Angelo will support the global expansion of Unibuddy's unique peer-to-peer platform that allows institutions to help students make crucial decisions about where to go to school, what to major in, and how to make the most of their higher ed experience. Prior to joining Unibuddy, Angelo led teams at Top Hat, Pearson and HP and advised Fortune 500 companies as a management consultant. A seasoned higher ed leader, Angelo specializes in strategy creation, product conceptualization and testing, positioning and messaging, brand advocacy, and generally bringing order to chaos. "At such a critical time in higher ed's evolution, students need peer support now more than ever," Angelo says. "I am thrilled to contribute to the growing success of Unibuddy, where I believe we are helping improve educational return-on-investment for all students."

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Kara Eldersveld specializes in developing transparent, mutually beneficial partnerships with colleges and universities that focus on prioritized growth opportunities. Every institution has a unique recipe for growth and Kara has a proven track record of assembling complex and strategic solutions that leverage expertise across academic program strategy, marketing, enrolment and course design/development. Prior to Blackboard, Kara was the Director of Marketing and Enrolment Strategy at Rice University. During her time there she worked closely with university leadership to develop a university-wide program portfolio strategy that included more than 300 non-credit and certificate programs. She also developed an in-house workflow around market research, program performance, governance, instructional design, marketing, advertising, enrolment, admissions, and student services. Prior to Rice, Kara worked as the head of strategy and accounts at two different award-winning advertising firms, serving a variety of clients, from k-12, higher-ed, non-profits, entertainment, and hospitality. Her corporate and high-education experience gives her a unique perspective around how to solve for the complexities of building a successful strategic online program portfolio from the ground up. Kara holds an B.A. from Miami University in Mass Communications.

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John F. Albanese is an experienced leader in admissions, enrolment, and student affairs. He is student-centered and data-driven, with expertise in recruitment and enrolment strategy and curating the student experience. John closely follows the data and trends in the prospective student marketplace and has led enrolment growth at several universities. He is inspired by the transformative experience students achieve with the right direction and support and has focused on integrating key functional areas to optimize student success. John’s most recent roles prior to joining GCNYC include leading recruitment, enrolment, and student services for MBA and MS programs at Baruch College-City University of New York and the University of San Francisco.

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Angi is an accomplished communications professional with 20+ years of experience in higher education, focusing on marketing and communications using traditional and digital media, brand development, and storytelling. She is a mom of two, a pastel and watercolour artist, the queen of list-making and pie-baking. She's a dog mom of two labs, she loves the outdoors, and she loves a good hot dog. She considers herself an expert loader of dishwashers (although, her husband will disagree), and despite her skills in digital communications, she is very particular about her pens. She was around when email became a 'thing'.

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Craig has worked with and for the most innovative companies in Canada for the past 15 years. Craig is currently the Head of AB Solutions for ApplyBoard, one of Canada’s fastest growing companies, and the largest international student platform in the world.

ApplyBoard’s newest product, Insights Dashboard, is reinventing how higher education institutions navigate the race for global talent. Craig’s team has developed this product from the ground up to provide the top Institutions in Canada with data and insights that are unique in the industry.

Craig has an undergraduate degree from Western University (London, Ontario), a Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) from the University of Waterloo. He has been part of leadership teams of large and small companies leading change initiatives wherever he has gone.

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Vidur Kalive is the Artificial Intelligence Architecture Lead at York University, with responsibility for multiple projects that are aimed at integrating AI and Machine Learning into different aspects of the student experience at the university, including SAVY, York University's Student Virtual Assistant. Vidur has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Business. He has over 5 years' of experience working in the higher education sector. In his previous role, Vidur worked with Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, where among other things, he helped develop Deakin's AI student virtual assistant using IBM Watson, which at the time was the first implementation of its kind anywhere in the world.

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Nick is currently responsible for the success of SAVY AI – York University's student virtual assistant, with capabilities to navigate York students to resources for academic success, health and wellness, student life, campus services and career development. He brings to this role almost 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, web and application development, and project management. Nick has also led York University's Division of Students' choices of CMS, CRM, and email management solutions and the creation of communications strategies and online protocols. He now spends his time finding ways to leverage technology to aid in student success.

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Ken Steele is Canada’s best-known higher ed futurist, facilitator and consultant in branding, marketing and innovation. As a former Shakespeare scholar and instructor, technology consultant, marketer and entrepreneur, Ken brings a unique, wide-ranging perspective and divergent thinking to college and university strategic planning, marketing and enrolment management.

Worldwide, more than 30,000 higher ed professionals have come to know Ken as a definitive source of breaking news, bright ideas, strategic foresight, and thoughtful insight. He co-founded Canada’s largest PSE market research firm, created a leading daily news digest, and has written dozens of articles and white papers, and hundreds of research reports and environmental scans.

Ken monitors worldwide developments shaping the future of higher education in real time, writes a free daily newsletter (the Eduvation Insider), produces a video webcast (Ten with Ken), and convenes national roundtables of higher ed marketers. He sits on eCampus Ontario’s Virtual Learning Advisory Committee, and has consulted with hundreds of colleges and universities – from New England to New Zealand – helping them interpret market research, understand their competitive context, distil their institutional “Brand Chemistry,” and nurture a culture of innovation across campus.

If you haven’t heard Ken speak before, take a look at his introduction video here.

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Shawn Chorney is currently serving his 13th year as vice president at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario.

Progressive, collaborative, innovative, and inclusive in support of delivering above established targets, are terms that have been used by both internal and external college stakeholders when describing Chorney's tenure as vice president. Chorney has collaborated with and led a team of dedicated and talented colleagues to establish Canadore as a college of choice that supports its learners as unique stakeholders of their college. This work has included the stewardship of comprehensive strategies and frameworks linked to mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion, sustainable development, and Indigenous education. This passion includes social innovation as evidenced through project leadership linked to clean water, sustainable food development, seniors' social inclusion, and The Village, Canadore's ground-breaking approach to educating health and wellness professionals.

Under Chorney's leadership, the College has secured more than $25M to develop and foster social innovation through programs and services. These include initiatives such as iCan Lead, the student leadership program developed by Canadore and poverty reduction efforts in the region including the Nipissing Poverty Reduction Through Education Program.

Prior to his time at Canadore, Chorney led campus expansion and renewal efforts at Northern College as both Associate Regional Director, South Region, and as Manager of the College Foundation. Chorney previously held positions at the United Way as Executive Director and in the private sector as a successful and results-driven entrepreneur.

Chorney currently serves on numerous boards and committees including the Colleges and Institutes Canada National Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and as a member of the Ontario College Athletics Association Board of Directors. Chorney is a 2009 recipient of the Ontera Youth Leadership Award, 2015 alumnus of the Governor Generals Canadian Leadership Conference, and 2017 recipient of the Colleges and Institutes Canada Award for Leadership.

Chorney holds numerous training designations in mental health disciplines, cross-cultural competency, human resources, and strategic organizational planning. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Laurentian University and a Master of Business Degree from the University of Phoenix.

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Ryan Snowdon is the Strategic Enrolment Management Lead in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University. In this role, Ryan guides the faculty in all matters of enrolment and retention including the development of transfer opportunities and pathways. Ryan has over 10 years of experience working in Undergraduate Admissions at Queen’s where he was integral in developing a First-Generation Pathway while continuing to oversee key initiatives such as the Indigenous Admission Policy and admission to upper year and online programs. Ryan has presented on transfer options and processes at several conferences and colleges throughout Canada and the United States.

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Richard brings 14 years of direct experience in community outreach, relationship building, and providing educational support to various students from underserved communities throughout the GTA. Examples include building and maintaining relationships with Toronto Community Housing (TCH), MP’s Office (Bill Morneau), Regent Park Community Health Centre, Empowered Squared, Toronto District School Board, the Pathways to Education program and most recently representing Queen’s on the Tri-Business School Collaborative. As the Manager of Access and Inclusion with the Undergraduate and Recruitment team, Richard is responsible for the implementation and execution of the Undergraduate and Recruitment (UAR) EDII Task Force recommendations. Formed in August 2020 the UAR RDII Task Force was created to address challenges of equity, inclusion and diversity faced by Black, Indigenous and racialized students. Under his portfolio Richard oversees the First-Generation Student Admissions Pathway and the Queen’s Equity Ambassador Program. Both initiatives focus on increasing access and awareness to post-secondary by engaging with equity deserving and racialized students to reduce barriers to demystify and some of the barrier’s they encounter. Richard is also currently acting as the Vice Chair for the Standing Committee, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with the Ontario University Registrars Association (OURA).

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Shoshannah Bennett-Dwara is a Recruitment Representative in the First-Generation Portfolio for Admission and Recruitment at Queen's University. She works directly with underrepresented communities in the GTA to assist in navigating the process of obtaining a post-secondary education. She has spent 4+ years working in EDII work through enacting policy and enforcing change through her role as Undergraduate Trustee to the Queen's University Board of Trustees as well as through Vice-President of the Queen's Student Diversity Project, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Queen's University Advocacy Coalition, and Chief of Sponsorship on the Queen's Black Premedical Association, among others. She has an overarching goal to express, validate, and ensure that the perspectives and ideas of marginalized groups are readily discussed and actively pursued to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity at Queen's and beyond.

Shoshannah has won various accolades that speak to her passion in furthering the above aim, including the Agnes Benidickinson Tricolour Award, the highest tribute that can be paid to a student for valuable and distinguished service to Queen's University in non-athletic, extracurricular activities. She looks forward to expanding her reach in the coming years and truly cultivating courageous change.

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Michelle is an educator and youth advocate that has taught grades 4 through College, developed International Service-Learning Programs, nurtured Educational Partnerships with school boards from coast to coast, and developed youth policy. Having a finger on the pulse of the needs of young learners, combining their need for experiential learning and developing reflective and values-aligned practices, she founded the Canadian Gap Year Association to raise the profile of gap year as a solution to mental health, lack of clarity, and the skill gap.

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With more than 20 years of leadership experience in Canadian student affairs, Dr. Chris McGrath brings a deep commitment to access, anti-oppression, and equity to his work. Currently the Vice-President, Students and Senior Student Success Officer at George Brown College Chris has worked in leadership roles in public and private post-secondary institutions in Canada and the US. A former President of CACUSS, Chris has served on advisory groups and committees for MyCreds, ACPA, NASPA, Colleges & Institutes Canada, Colleges Ontario and the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health. He is an associate/adjunct faculty member in the graduate programs in higher education at Royal Roads University and Central Michigan University. Grounded in the scholarship of practice, Chris is focused on widening access and inclusion for a diversity of learners. His scholarly work interrogates how quality is enacted at the intersections of neoliberal and post-structural discourses, to render technical a more equity-driven approach to post-secondary quality assurance, measurement, and accountability. Chris also explores leadership as social performance, and how leaders enact identity-based power within organizations to advance quality, access, and equity. He does so while also exploring how tensions in personal and professional moral and ethical discourses inform leaders' decisions and impact the success and well-being of learners and communities.

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Bonnie has over 30 years of experience in the postsecondary sector, including 15 years at McMaster University in recruitment and admissions and more than 10 years as Registrar at Huron University College. During her time at Huron, Bonnie assumed the responsibilities for institutional assessment and planning, and was promoted to the position of Registrar and Executive Director Institutional Research and Planning. In her more than five years with Academica Group, Bonnie has successfully led several SEM Planning and SEM-associated projects. Bonnie completed her Master’s in Enrolment Management in 2013 and is currently working toward her doctoral degree in Performance Improvement Leadership for Higher Education.

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