This version of the article corrects Lachemi’s quote about Benarroch’s experience in paragraph 9.
Michael Benarroch, who is currently the dean of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, has been appointed as Ryerson University’s new provost and vice-president, academic effective July 1.
Benarroch earned his bachelor of arts in economics at the University of Winnipeg, his master’s degree in economics from Western University and a doctorate in the same major from Carleton University.
He worked for the University of Winnipeg for 21 years, during which he helped create the faculty of business and economics and served as its founding dean before entering his current role at the University of Manitoba.
Benarroch worked with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, and later served on the economic advisory council for the premier of Manitoba. In 2009, he was given the Shem Tov Award for service to the community by the Jewish Foundation of Winnipeg.
According to a press release issued by Ryerson , Benarroch is excited to embark on his new journey.
“I am extremely pleased to be joining a university so renowned for innovation, community engagement, diversity and a learner-centred culture,” Benarroch said. “The provost’s position is an exciting opportunity to contribute to Ryerson’s continued and future success.”
The provost is responsible for providing leadership in academic policy and programming, strategic planning and university budgeting. Benarroch will be Ryerson’s chief academic officer, chief operating officer and the principal adviser to the president on all academic affairs.
Prior to Benarroch’s appointment, associate professor Chris Evans had been serving as interim provost and vice-president, academic since December 2015, a spot once held by current president Mohamed Lachemi. Lachemi was appointed president of the university last September.
The president is confident that Benarroch is the right fit for this position: “He has experience and expertise,” says Lachemi. “He has a very strong, strategic plan for (The Asper School of Business), focusing on things that are extremely important for us at Ryerson.”
Lachemi says that among other important topics, Benarroch plans to focus on providing quality education and engaging with the community.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Lachemi referred to Benarroch having a strategic plan for the Ted Rogers School of Management. The corrected version says that Lachemi believes Benarroch has a strategic plan for the business school at the University of Manitoba and that his plan focused on elements that were also important to Ryerson which stood out to the search committee. We regret this error.
Fourth-year journalism student and Student Life/Commuting Reporter at the Ryersonian.