After 39 years of dedicated and exemplary service, it is both with happiness and a touch of sadness that I announce the retirement of Wanda Buote, Dean Education and Training Services, known as ETS, this coming November. Wanda has been an integral part of Humber, contributing her passion, commitment, and expertise to everything she has done. Throughout her career, Wanda has been a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration for both her colleagues and the many individuals that she has worked with. Her leadership, guidance, and vision have touched the lives of countless people, leaving a legacy that will be felt for years to come.

Starting from her grassroots beginning at Humber's bookstore in 1986, Wanda’s career is a testament to her dedication and passion for education. Her energy, passion, business acumen and creativity have helped move Humber forward across multiple areas, including in her progressive roles as Scheduler, Operations Manager, Director of Continuing Education, Director of Partnership Programs and Associate Dean in the Longo Faculty of Business (known as the Business School during her tenure); Acting Director, International; Principal of the Lakeshore Campus; and for the past seven years, Wanda has achieved much in her current role as Dean, Education & Training Solutions under the External Affairs and Professional Learning portfolio specifically working with associations and regulators. Most notably responsible for launching and managing Humber’s two largest and complex Continuous and Professional Learning regulated programs – the Real Estate Education Programs launched in 2019 & 2025 and Condominium Management Program in 2021 as well as the Mortgage Agent 1 Program in 2025. Wanda is equally proud of her work supporting the Testing Services pillar of her portfolio. She was integral in securing Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) Examination delivery contract in 2024 adding to pillar’s numerous credential testing agreements. Testing Services supported the delivery of upwards of 100,000 exams per year during peak enrolment times. Wanda has expressed her pride in having worked with many talented staff and professionals over the years; she is thankful for their dedication, passion, and effort in supporting the success of many, many Humber graduates.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Wanda for her unwavering dedication to supporting various college-wide initiatives over the years. Her leadership as United Way Co-Chair, Humber Gives Co-Chair, Humber’s Board of Governors Administrative Representative, and her involvement in numerous Humber committees has had a lasting impact.

Wanda's pride in her community work shines through her roles as Principal, particularly in the Lakeshore community. Her service on the Lakeshore Grounds Coordinating Committee, Lakeshore Lodge Long Term Care Home, the Gardens Project and the LAMP Community Health Centre Board for six years exemplifies her commitment. She was instrumental in launching the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre, leading stakeholder engagement, creating the vision and operational plan, and ensuring the community's active participation throughout the process. Wanda has demonstrated commitment to excellence, leadership, and community involvement through being awarded Humber’s Distinguished Support Staff Service Award, Distinguished Administrative Service Award and the Community Service Award and recently Robert A. Gordon Leadership Award.

Looking ahead, we plan to realign the departments within the Education & Training Solutions portfolio as part of our ongoing efforts to improve operational capacity and increase synergies. As such, Wanda will continue to oversee ETS until her departure in mid-November, at that time her direct reports will report directly to me.

As Wanda steps into this well-deserved next chapter of her life, we wish her nothing but happiness, health, and new adventures. While she will be greatly missed, we are excited for her to enjoy more time with family (especially in her new role as GW), time with friends and travelling with her husband Martin. Warmest wishes for your future endeavors! Please join us on November 4th on the 5th Floor of the Barrett Centre from 2 to 4pm to wish her well.

Jennifer O’Brien
VP, People(s), Culture and Organizational Excellence

We are pleased to announce that Salisha Paccione has joined our organization as Associate Director, Purchasing, effective September 3, 2025.

Salisha brings nearly 18 years of progressive procurement and supply chain experience, with a strong foundation in both public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as Procurement Manager for the City of London, where she led strategic purchasing initiatives to support municipal operations, vendor management, and compliance with public procurement regulations.

Prior to that, Salisha held key procurement roles with organizations such as WFS Ltd., Humber Polytechnic, Roche, and Shared Services West. Her background includes managing multimillion-dollar purchasing portfolios, leading complex RFx processes, fostering supplier relationships, and driving operational efficiencies. Whether working with unionized teams, public institutions, or global corporations, she has consistently delivered value through collaboration, strategic sourcing, and innovation.

Salisha also brings a unique depth of experience from the private sector, having spent several years at Bacardi Canada in both direct and indirect procurement roles. There, she worked closely with international teams and suppliers, implemented new purchasing systems, and introduced process improvements that led to significant cost savings and operational enhancements.

A certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), Salisha is known for her leadership, stakeholder engagement, and her ability to bring people, systems, and strategy together to achieve impactful results.

Please join us in welcoming Salisha to the team. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the contributions she will make in strengthening and evolving our purchasing operations.

Sanjay Gandhi
Director, Financial Planning

We are pleased to announce that Stefanie Bernaudo will be joining the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) as Associate Dean, Grants and Research Development, effective Monday, July 21, 2025. Stefanie will step into this role during Tania Massa’s absence and provide strategic leadership to support Humber’s research funding strategy, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster partnerships that amplify the impact of our applied research.

With over eight years of experience in research grant development and administration, Stefanie is a seasoned leader committed to advancing research excellence. In this role, she will be instrumental in helping Humber continue to be one of Canada’s top research institutions, pursuing innovation and high-impact projects that solve real-world problems and create meaningful outcomes for our communities.

Prior to joining Humber, Stefanie served as the Partnerships and Awards Specialist at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where she connected faculty with strategic funding opportunities, built industry and community partnerships, and supported the pursuit of high-profile research grants and awards. She also served as a Research Officer in the Faculty of Science at York University, driving research growth and external funding.

Stefanie holds a PhD in Biological Sciences, with a specialization in the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer. Her expertise spans grant writing, research strategy, contract negotiation, and stakeholder engagement across academic and applied research environments.

Please join me in welcoming Stefanie to Humber Polytechnic. 

Tyler Charlebois
Dean, Office of Research and Innovation (Acting)

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kristan Lingard as the Senior Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellness.

Kristan brings over 15 years of progressive academic and administrative leadership at Humber, most recently serving as Acting Senior Dean of the Faculty. Her appointment reflects a deep and ongoing commitment to student success, educational excellence, and institutional innovation. In her interim role, she provided strategic and operational leadership during a period of significant growth and transformation, expanding program delivery across multiple campuses, increasing enrollment and developing new programs. She is a strong champion of innovations in interprofessional education, simulation-based learning, and competency-based curricular design.

Throughout her career at Humber, Kristan has also served as Associate Dean, Program Coordinator, and Professor. A Registered Kinesiologist and former hospital-based practitioner, she brings an appreciation of the intersection between academic programming and health system needs. She is committed to strengthening regulatory and industry partnerships and advancing inclusive and responsive education at Humber.

Kristan holds a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from York University, and she is currently completing her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership at Western University, where she is building on her evidence-informed and reflective approach to academic leadership.

We look forward to Kristan’s continued leadership as she advances the Faculty’s mission to prepare skilled, compassionate, and career-ready graduates who will shape the future of health and wellness in Canada and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating Kristan as she begins her new role.

Gina Antonacci
Senior Vice-President, Academic

I am pleased to announce that Todd Carmichael has been appointed as the new Principal of Lakeshore Campus.

Todd brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a career that spans the private sector, international development, and more than a decade in higher education. He began his professional journey as an exploration geophysicist, working both in Canada and internationally, before transitioning to roles in community health with Canadian and global non-governmental organizations. His work in international development supported grassroots initiatives across East and Southern Africa, as well as South Asia.

Todd later joined Toronto Metropolitan University, where he led a Global Affairs Canada-funded program in Latin America and went on to serve as Director of the university’s international office. He also held faculty-based roles focused on strategic planning and partnership development, contributing significantly to the institution’s global engagement strategy.

Most recently, Todd has been part of Humber’s Integrated Planning and Strategy division, where he supported operational planning for key initiatives from the Humber Inspired planning process and the Building Brilliance vision.

Todd is also a proud Humber alumnus, having graduated from the Graduate Certificate program in International Project Management at Lakeshore Campus in 2005. His return to Lakeshore in this leadership role brings his Humber journey full circle.

Todd holds a BSc in Engineering from Queen’s University and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Business Administration, Higher Education Management program at the University of Bath.

Todd will commence his new role on August 28th - please join me in congratulating him as he begins his new role.

Gina Antonacci
Senior Vice-President, Academic

After 15 years of exceptional service, Margaret Fung, our long serving and extraordinarily dedicated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Manager is retiring at the end of the month. While we will miss her greatly, we are thrilled for Margaret as she embarks on this exciting new chapter. Since joining us in 2010, her leadership has shaped a safer, more resilient workplace that the rest of us have benefited from.  Margaret’s impact can be seen throughout our campuses as she led countless staff safety initiatives, modernized our health and safety program and recruited and mentored numerous health and safety professionals. Margaret provided Humber with outstanding guidance and steady leadership throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, all in the midst of uncertainty and ever-changing public health restrictions.  

Her achievements also extend beyond Humber. During her tenure with us, Margaret was the 2011 winner of the Hugh Nelson Award of Excellence in Occupational Hygiene. This is an annual award presented to an individual who has worked or is working as an occupational hygiene professional in a full-time capacity. She was also a past president of the Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario as well as the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists and contributed to the growth of the field in the province and nationally.  

Margaret’s last day at Humber will be June 27, 2025. Please join me in congratulating Margaret on her retirement and in thanking her for her service to Humber. Humber is a safer workplace thanks to Margaret’s many efforts. 

Christopher Parkes
Chief, Legal, Risk and Privacy Office

Please join us in celebrating the retirement of Melinda Kao, who is retiring after 22 years of dedicated service at Humber.

Throughout her career, Melinda has made significant contributions across several departments, including Community Workforce and Development (COWD) and Program Planning, Development & Renewal. Her commitment to excellence, collaborative spirit, and leadership have left a lasting impact on colleagues and the institution.

While we are sad to see her go, we are grateful for the work she has done and wish her all the best in this next chapter of life.

To share your personal congratulations, please sign this e-card!

In addition, we will be hosting a drop-in celebration on Wednesday, June 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. in LinX.

Please stop by and join us.

After 17 years of dedicated service to Humber, Dawn Macaulay has decided to retire at the end of June. We will all miss Dawn tremendously and wish her the very best in her future aspirations.

Dawn came into her role as Dean of Innovative Learning at a critical time in Humber’s, and the sector’s, history. She provided guidance and mentorship to the Innovative Learning teams of Teaching Excellence and Digital Learning through and beyond the COVID pandemic, and in doing so supported Humber’s resilience at that challenging time. Over the past few years, Dawn has worked closely with leaders across the institution to foster a learning innovation ecosystem to help achieve Humber’s vision for transforming education at a time of significant change.

As those of you who have worked with her know, Dawn is a kind, collaborative, and deeply thoughtful leader and colleague. She has always led with respect for and appreciation of her team. She creates positive impacts for students by building meaningful relationships across departments to advance teaching and learning innovation. Dawn has an unwavering commitment to supporting and celebrating the diversity of students, and to helping faculty deliver inclusive learning experiences. Her leadership of Universal Design for Learning and her collaboration with Indigenous Education and Engagement on curriculum are examples of Dawn’s values in action that have helped transform Humber.

Prior to taking on her current role, Dawn was the Associate Dean Liberal Studies in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Amongst her many accomplishments in her role in FLAS was her development of the Degree Breadth Committee, where she was instrumental in enhancing Humber’s liberal studies curriculum and in developing processes to support both current and prospective students as they pathwayed into and through Humber.

On behalf of everyone in Innovative Learning, PPDR, and the entire Humber community, thank you Dawn for your service and contributions to our students and community. We will continue to benefit from your contributions long after your retirement.

With deep gratitude,

Vera Beletzan
Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning

After an extraordinary 42 years of service, we are honoured to recognize and celebrate the retirement of David Patrickson, a dedicated educator and mentor in the Mechanical Engineering Program at Humber Polytechnic.

Throughout the decades, David has shaped countless minds, inspired future engineers, and left an enduring legacy of excellence, integrity, and passion for teaching. Their commitment to student success and the advancement of mechanical education has made a lasting impact on our community.

Please join us as we express our gratitude and best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.

Date: June 4, 2025
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: North Camups, NX111

We invite all colleagues and friends to sign a card and share a message of appreciation by June 4, 2025 before 12 p.m. 

Let’s come together to celebrate a truly inspiring career and the beginning of a new chapter.

Shaun Ghafari, Dean, Engineering
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST)

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Sykes as Indigenous Curriculum & Pedagogy Specialist with Indigenous Education & Engagement. Aaron will join the Humber community in his new position on May 20, 2025. 

Aaron Sykes (Kanien'kehá:ka -Canadian), originally from the Quinte area and a member of the Wolf Clan, is deeply committed to decolonizing the education system and reclaiming queer Indigenous identities. With a passion for promoting Indigenous contributions and fostering inclusive spaces, Aaron holds a Master of Education specializing in urban Indigenous education.

Drawing from his own experiences and identities, Aaron has explored intersections between two-spirit historical and contemporary identities and community education. His work is guided by a desire to honour diverse Indigenous perspectives and empower marginalized voices within educational spaces. 

Residing in downtown Toronto, Aaron embraces a healthy lifestyle and enjoys activities such as cooking, biking, stand-up paddling, and practicing yoga. He finds inspiration in connecting with nature and values the importance of well-being and humour in his personal and professional life. 

Please join me in congratulating Aaron in his new role! 

Danielle Jeancart
Associate Dean, Indigenous Education & Engagement