Keynote Vice-Presidents' Panel

Retired Vice President, Academic, Seneca College & Fleming College

Laurel Schollen brings almost four decades of experience in the Ontario public college sector to her research interest. Laurel began her career teaching biology in the School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry at Seneca before serving in various administrative roles. Between 2008 and 2014, Laurel directed the province-wide College Mathematics and College Student Achievement research projects. In 2014 Laurel became vice present academic at Fleming College. She returned to Seneca in 2016 as VPA and was responsible for the academic, applied research and student services portfolios. Laurel retired from Seneca in 2021 to complete her Ph.D. and consult.

Senior Vice President, Academic, Humber College

Gina Antonacci is the Senior Vice President, Academic at Humber College. She began her academic career as a faculty member and went on to hold numerous positions within the academic division at Humber. In her current role she provides academic leadership to the College and recently led the Humber community through the creation of a new, exciting academic plan. Gina holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Niagara University and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Toronto. Gina’s doctoral dissertation was entitled “The Transformation of Three Colleges to Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning in Ontario.

Vice President, Student Affairs, Niagara College

Rick is an experienced senior leader in the Ontario college sector having held roles as Registrar, as well as, Director of Student Services. Rick served as Vice President, Student Affairs at St. Lawrence College and is currently Vice President, Student Affairs at Niagara College.

Rick also has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, as Aboriginal Program and Services Manager at Mohawk College, Director of Education for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Project Consultant for Grand River Employment and Training, and as a Counsellor for Grand River Post Secondary Education Office.

Rick has served on various community boards including the Maltby Centre (Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington), Pathstone Mental Health (St. Catharines), and Grand River Employment and Training (Ohsweken). He currently sits on the Ontario College Application Service Board.

Rick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Social Work (Policy Analysis) all from McMaster University. He recently completed his PhD (Community College Leadership) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Wilfrid Laurier University

Dr. Mary Wilson is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Theory and Policy Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). Mary is an award-winning educator, researcher and administrator who has served as a senior leader in Ontario colleges and universities, most recently as Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning at Laurier. With a particular interest in higher professional and vocational education, her research and practice interests focus on the study of postsecondary education and the intersections of system, institution, curriculum, faculty and student development efforts that function to enable and disable change.

Vice President, Academic, Collège La Cité

A passionate proponent of andragogy, Dr. Lynn Casimiro holds a Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy, a Master’s in Physical Activity, a PhD in Education and a certificate in public administration. She has published extensively in the fields of online learning, interprofessional care and access to French-language services. She has been Director of the Academic Health Council as well as adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa. She was also Director of Education, researcher and founding Chair of the Research Ethics Board at the Montfort Hospital. She is currently Vice President Academic at La Cité where she has implemented a competency-based approach.