Presidential Search
Search for TMU’s next President and Vice-Chancellor completed
Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, a widely respected scholar, educator and leader, has been appointed Toronto Metropolitan University’s 10th President and Vice-Chancellor, the first woman in the role.
The appointment was approved by TMU’s Board of Governors on April 29th, following a rigorous and highly deliberative presidential search, which began in June 2025. The search for Toronto Metropolitan University’s 10th President and Vice-Chancellor was guided by a dedicated committee appointed by the Board of Governors, in accordance with university bylaws.
Iannacito-Provenzano will succeed current TMU President Mohamed Lachemi, who has served in the role since 2016.
While President Mohamed Lachemi’s term was originally set to end in April 2026, he agreed to extend his current term up to the end of 2026. This extension, approved by the Board of Governors last fall, will support the transition and allow time for the completion of a number of complex university processes and initiatives currently underway.
Currently serving at TMU as Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Iannacito-Provenzano will begin her five-year term as President in January 2027.
Presidential search committee
In keeping with (PDF file) TMU’s General By-laws, a search committee was struck by the Chair of the Board of Governors, and was approved by the Board on June 26, 2025.
Committee role
The committee led an extensive consultation process, which helped identify the ideal qualities and characteristics of TMU’s next President and Vice-Chancellor, oversaw the work of the search firm and reviewed potential candidates. The search committee submitted a final recommendation for approval by the Board of Governors in April 2026. More information about the role of the Presidential Search Committee can be found in (PDF file) Article 13.3 of the university’s General Bylaws.
Committee membership
The composition of the search committee membership was dictated by TMU’s General By-laws and was designed to be a representative cross-section of the university community. The committee was chaired by the Chair of the Board of Governors and included the Vice Chair; seven other members of the Board, appointed by the Board; and four members of the Senate, elected by the Senate. It was intended that the committee include representation from administrative staff, alumni, faculty, and students.
A full list of members is below.
| Chair | Catherine Paisley, Search Committee chair and chair, TMU Board of Governors Norie Campbell, vice-chair, TMU Board of Governors |
| Senate | Ahmed Elshahed, student representative, TMU Senate Cynthia Holmes, dean, Ted Rogers School of Management Sean Kheraj, vice-provost, Academic Kateryna Metersky, assistant professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing |
| Board | Tony Conte, staff elected member Rola Dagher, government appointed member Irene Gammel, faculty elected member Hyacinth Gawne, alumni elected member Louise Taylor Green, government appointed member David Porter, government appointed member Walied Soliman, government appointed member |
Search timeline
As part of their work, the search committee heard from TMU community members and other stakeholders through a series of engagement opportunities, oversaw the work of the search firm and reviewed potential candidates.
The search committee submitted a final recommendation for approval by the Board of Governors in April 2026.
| May 2025 | Senate elections to select four search committee members |
| June 2025 | Board announces final search committee members |
| July 2025 | Search committee officially on-boarded, regular meetings begin |
| September 2025 | Consultations with TMU community, other stakeholders begin |
| October 2025 | Position profile and job ad finalized and approved by search committee |
| November 2025 | Search Committee Chair provides presidential search update to Board of Governors |
| November 2025 | Job opportunity posted |
| December 2025 - April 2026 | Applicants received and reviewed, interviews take place |
| April 2026 | Search committee submits Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano for approval as President to Board of Governors; Iannacito-Provenzano approved as President-Designate |
| January 2027 | Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano begins her term as TMU’s 10th President & Vice-Chancellor |
News and announcements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano has been approved by TMU’s Board of Governors as TMU’s 10th President and Vice Chancellor.
Currently serving at TMU as Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Iannacito-Provenzano will begin her five-year term as President in January 2027.
President Lachemi will serve as President until January 2027, during which time he will continue to focus on a number of complex university processes and initiatives currently underway.
Under TMU’s by-laws, the Presidential Search Committee was chaired by the Board Chair and includes the Vice Chair; seven other members of the Board, appointed by the Board; and four members of the Senate, elected by the Senate. It was intended that the committee would include one or more members of the Administrative Staff, Alumni, Faculty and Students. The members for the search committee are listed here.
The search committee represents a cross-section of the university community and was responsible for identifying the ideal qualities and characteristics of TMU's next president. The committee oversaw the work of the search firm and reviewed potential candidates. At the conclusion of the search process, the committee was required to recommend a candidate to the Board of Governors for approval. More information about the role of the Presidential Search Committee can be found in (PDF file) Article 13.3 of the university’s General Bylaws.
The search committee is committed to engaging in meaningful consultations to support the search. Over the last year , the committee met with a variety of leaders and stakeholders from across the university community in one-on-one, small and large group consultations, as well as public town halls.
The committee was confirmed at the June 26, 2025 Board of Governors meeting and began meeting in July 2025. They submitted their final recommendation to TMU’s Board of Governors for approval on April 29.
Yes. There were no limits or constraints on the search committee in terms of choosing where a qualified candidate may come from, as long as the candidate was legally permitted to work in Canada.
As a normal part of all searches, the search firm will assist in identifying potential candidates.
After a competitive and thorough review, the University selected Odgers as the professional search firm.