Presidential Search
Search for TMU’s next President and Vice-Chancellor
Toronto Metropolitan University has officially launched the search for its 10th President and Vice-Chancellor. The search will begin in summer 2025 and will be guided by a dedicated committee appointed by the Board of Governors, in accordance with university bylaws.
This comprehensive process will involve consultation with the TMU community; the university’s next leader will be announced by fall 2026. 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.
Help shape TMU's future leadership
As part of the Presidential Search process, the Presidential Search Committee is consulting with the TMU community to help shape the university’s future direction and leadership needs.
The community survey closed on October 31, 2025 — thank you to everyone who shared their insights. Feedback from the survey will help inform the development of the position profile for TMU’s next President and Vice-Chancellor.
Community members are still welcome to share additional feedback with the committee by email at presidentialsearch@torontomu.ca.
How to apply
Toronto Metropolitan University invites nominations and applications for the position of President and Vice-Chancellor; applications are encouraged immediately and by January 20, 2026.
TMU has partnered with the leadership advisory firm Odgers for this recruitment. For details on how to apply, please visit careers.odgers.com/en-ca/job/30590 (external link) . For a conversation in confidence or to submit inquiries or nominations, please write to Julia Robarts, Andrea Patrick, and Krutika Hotwani at tmupresident@odgers.com.
Presidential search committee
In keeping with (PDF file) TMU’s General By-laws, a search committee has been formed by the Chair of the Board of Governors, and was approved by the Board on June 26, 2025.
Committee role
The committee is responsible for identifying the ideal qualities and characteristics of TMU’s next President and Vice-Chancellor, oversees the work of the search firm and reviews potential candidates. At the conclusion of the search process, the committee will 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
Committee membership
The composition of the search committee membership is dictated by TMU’s General By-laws and is designed to be a representative cross-section of the university community. The committee is chaired by the Chair of the Board of Governors 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 is 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 Meg Davis, 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 will hear from TMU community members and other stakeholders through a series of engagement opportunities, oversee the work of the search firm and review potential candidates.
The search committee will submit a final recommendation for approval by the Board of Governors by fall 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 & October 2025 | Consultations with TMU community, other stakeholders begin |
| November 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 |
| February - April 2026 | Applicants received and reviewed, interviews begin |
| April 2026 | Search Committee Chair provides presidential search update to Board of Governors |
| Summer/Fall 2026 | Top candidate presented for approval to Board of Governors |
News and announcements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Students are invited to complete the consultation survey (external link) , which is open until 9:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025. Responses will help inform the development of the position profile for the next President and Vice-Chancellor.
Students can also provide feedback to their student society and student union representatives, who will be meeting with the search committee to discuss the qualities, characteristics and goals that are most important to consider in selecting TMU’s next president.
Lastly, students can also share feedback directly to the search committee by emailing presidentialsearch@torontomu.ca.
The search committee is committed to engaging in meaningful consultations to support the search. Over the coming months, they will meet 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. Upcoming consultations will be posted on the Presidential Search Website and shared with the community via TorontoMet Today and other channels.
The committee was confirmed at the June 26, 2025 Board of Governors meeting and will begin meeting in July 2025.
Yes. There are no limits or constraints on the search committee in terms of choosing where a qualified candidate may come from, as long as the candidate is 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 has selected Odgers as the professional search firm.