Sheldon Levy will not be seeking a third term as president of Ryerson University, and the hunt is on for a new school head.
At the university’s last Senate meeting for the fall semester Tuesday, Levy told the Board of Governors and Senate to initiate a presidential search committee to find his replacement. His current term as president and vice-chancellor ends in 2015.
Levy started his first term as president in 2005, and scored a second five-year stint in 2010.
“Ten years is a long time and I’ll be 65 (in 2015) … you notice that (it’s) time for the baton to be handed off,” Levy said.
“There’s nothing negative. The university is doing well, the community is doing well. But you just feel there’s the right time and you’d rather go out when people would like you to stay, rather than to stay longer when people want you to go, so it just felt like the right time.”
“You do get to an age where you slow down.”
The presidential search committee, tasked with finding the next president, will be formed in early February 2014, Levy said.
He said working at Ryerson has been the highlight of his career. “I never would have imagined it would be as fun and exhilarating and meeting such great people. It’s just fantastic,” he said.
As for rumours on his future mayoral ambitions, Levy was clear.
“There is no hope (that I will run for mayor), positively not, scout’s honour,” he said.
“You can break all the news that says no way.”
Ryerson journalism graduate (2014) who loved The Eyeopener more than anything else at the school. Hi Ryersonian!