Vice President, People, Culture and Student Services

The Office of the Vice-President, People, Culture & Student Services is built around three connected commitments: the people who work at Trent, the culture they share, and the services that support students.

On the people arm, the office leads Human Resources for current employees, retirees, and prospective employees — recruitment, compensation, payroll, benefits, pension administration, job evaluation, and learning and development. It also leads the University's labour relations and collective bargaining, working with employee groups to reach and sustain fair, durable agreements, and oversees occupational health and safety in the workplace.

On culture arm, the office fosters an inclusive and engaged learning environment and workplace, advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion through the Equity and Human Rights Office. Alongside Risk Management and Campus Safety, this work sustains a safe, fair, and accountable environment across the University.

On student services arm, the Vice-President has oversight of the Division of Student Affairs & Trent's Colleges. These departments central to student well-being and campus life —academic skills & advising, counselling, health services, student accessibility services, orientation, and spiritual affairs. These teams deliver the student-centred supports that make Trent the “place to be and become”.
 

Stephanie Williams is Vice-President, People, Culture & Student Services at Trent University, where she provides executive leadership for a broad portfolio supporting employees, students, workplace culture, campus safety, risk management, equity, diversity and accessibility, and environmental health and safety.

With more than two decades of service at Trent, Stephanie has held progressively senior leadership roles across the University. Since first being appointed Vice-President in 2020, her portfolio has expanded to include Human Resources, Student Services, Campus Safety & Risk Management, Human Rights, Health & Safety, and the Colleges of Trent.

Stephanie has played a key role in advancing major institutional priorities, including Trent’s transition to the University Pension Plan, the adoption of equity, diversity and inclusion recommendations, and the continued enhancement of student support services. Through her leadership, the University has strengthened supports related to employee benefits, labour relations, mental health, Indigenous student support, accessibility, and campus well-being.

As Vice-President, Stephanie works closely with the President, senior leadership, faculty, staff, students, unions, and campus partners to support an inclusive, safe, and people-centred university community.