Retirement: Nancy Simms

Hello Humber, 

It is with mixed emotions that I share that Nancy Simms will be retiring on August 31. Before that date, she will be using up some well-deserved vacation time starting in mid-July.  

Nancy began at Humber fourteen years ago and has been a tremendous leader of her team within the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion, across the college and the post-secondary sector. Initially, Nancy was the manager of the Human Rights, Diversity and Equity program in Humber’s Human Resources Department. With the contributions of several team members, external consultants and community partners over the years, she expanded and transformed the program into Humber’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion. 

As the Director for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion at Humber College, Nancy successfully weaved and embedded equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging throughout the College community. She was instrumental in leading Humber’s EDI work as the lead of the EDI Taskforce, which launched the EDI Framework and Strategy in April 2022 and the EDI Toolkit in June 2022.  

Some other key accomplishments under Nancy’s leadership include: 

  • The operationalization of Humber’s investigation and early intervention programs 
  • The development and installation of one of the most robust Human Rights, Equity and anti-racism educational programs offered for employees  
  • A College wide Employment Systems Review the results of which will be shared in the fall  
  • The launch of The Unlearning Circle: White Identified Humber Employees Dismantling White Supremacy Working Group Launched in November 2021 
  • Humber launch of a Black/African ERG in September 2020 and a 2SLGBTQ+ ERG in November 2020 
  • Humber College signed on to the Black North Initiative (BNI) in July 2020 
  • Signing of the federal government’s new Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Canada Charter in 2019 

Nancy is a recipient of several awards, including the Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Faculty Award 2021, the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award 2016, the CAPDHHE Distinguished Administrator Award 2017 and Humber College’s Administrative Distinguished Service Award 2017.  

While Nancy will be greatly missed at Humber, she will continue her passion for lifelong learning and will be teaching at Humber part-time in the fall.  

Nancy leaves behind a legacy of commitment, caring and compassion that will be carried on by those who have had the pleasure of working with and learning from her.  

Please join me in thanking Nancy for her years at Humber and wishing her the best on her retirement. Nancy’s Humber email will be active until August 31, for those who wish to reach out directly to Nancy to wish her well. 

Sincerely,  

Lori Diduch 
Vice-President, Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness