After a decade of exceptional leadership as Vice President and Provost at the University of Toronto, Cheryl Regehr prepares to step down at the end of the year, leaving an indelible mark on the institution’s commitment to student well-being, inclusive excellence, and teaching innovation.
At a recent reception, U of T President Meric Gertler hailed Regehr’s “incredible leadership” during her tenure, describing her as a champion of student success, an advocate for inclusive excellence, and a compassionate leader during times of crisis, particularly throughout the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Gertler emphasized that Regehr’s dedication to student success and well-being has been the “North Star” guiding her efforts, highlighting her instrumental role in transforming mental health service delivery at the university. He commended her for acknowledging pressing challenges, developing action plans through collegial consultation, and implementing ambitious agendas for change with creativity, determination, and charm.
Regehr, a distinguished professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, will return to a full-time research and teaching role on January 1, 2024. Professor Trevor Young of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine will succeed her as U of T’s provost.
Throughout her tenure, Regehr demonstrated a commitment to teaching excellence, experiential learning, and creating a caring and supportive environment for students. Her initiatives included the establishment of “teaching stream” professorial ranks, funding streams for teaching innovation, and various teaching fellowships and awards. She also facilitated opportunities for students to gain practical experience through summer abroad, co-op, and work-study programs.
An expert in mental health, trauma, and social work practice, Regehr recognized the unique pressures faced by university-aged youth and spearheaded efforts to harmonize student mental health services across the three campuses. This involved increased funding for mental wellness and a partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to provide pathways for students requiring treatment for complex mental health problems.
Regehr expressed her pride in the university’s work on student mental health, particularly in redesigning mental health services to ensure swift and responsive assistance for struggling students, especially during the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
Sandy Welsh, U of T’s Vice-Provost, Students, highlighted Regehr’s deep commitment to understanding and improving every aspect of the student experience. Regehr’s initiatives to welcome more students from underrepresented backgrounds, with the number of access and outreach programs growing from 30 to over 135 since 2018, further exemplify her dedication to fostering inclusivity.
Under Regehr’s leadership, U of T made significant strides in ensuring faculty diversity. The creation of the Diversity in Academic Hiring Fund resulted in the addition of 190 faculty members from underrepresented groups, predominantly Black and Indigenous, along with post-doctoral fellowship programs for Black and Indigenous scholars.
Regehr played a pivotal role in addressing various forms of racism on campus, including collaborating with Indigenous community members to establish the Office of Indigenous Initiatives to strengthen reconciliation efforts. Working groups were also set up to examine and address anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia on campus.
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Regehr provided leadership in ensuring academic continuity and support as the university transitioned to a virtual learning environment.
Regehr’s tenure was not only marked by administrative excellence but also by her scholarly contributions. She authored or co-authored over 50 papers and editions of four books, showcasing her commitment to both academic leadership and research.
Welsh praised Regehr’s compassionate and thoughtful approach to leadership, creating an environment that encouraged ideas and understanding for the challenges faced by the university community.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, Melanie Woodin, spoke of the widespread admiration for Regehr among academic leaders across U of T’s three campuses, highlighting her incredible qualities.
In her own words during a recent event, Regehr expressed her love for being part of the “incredible group of brilliant people” at U of T, emphasizing the collaborative effort of staff, faculty, and students to achieve the mission of being a world-class institution with a local heart.
Cheryl Regehr’s enduring legacy at the University of Toronto reflects a decade of transformative leadership, shaping the institution for generations to come.
