Trent University is pleased to announce that following an extensive search process, Dr. Nona Robinson has been appointed as the Associate Vice-President Students, beginning May 1, 2012.

The Associate Vice-President Students is responsible for key retention and student development programs, such as new student orientation, first-year experience, student conduct and judicial affairs, student activities and events, student government, leadership development and service learning. She is responsible for all student support services including the Career Centre, Academic Skills Centre, Disability Services, Counselling and Health Services, and Housing. The AVP Students also provides advice to the College Heads with respect to student retention activities within the colleges. The AVP Students is the advocate for students within the university community and works closely with student organizations to ensure student perspectives, experience, and needs inform the administrative decision-making process.

Reporting directly to the Provost and Vice-President Academic, Nona in her role as the AVP Students will provide leadership, strategic direction and primary administrative oversight for a broad portfolio of high-quality programs and services that contribute to and enhance students’ success and engagement at Trent University. As a senior member of the executive management team, Nona will advise on the policies and institutional practices that best promote the engagement, retention and graduation of students at the Oshawa and Peterborough campuses of Trent.  She will also provide advice on legal and policy issues as they relate to the best practices in student affairs.

"I am delighted to be appointed as the AVP Students at Trent," Nona said. "I am excited to come to an institution that is clearly focused on creating and sustaining a wonderful, engaged student experience, and into a position which has a strong focus on student advocacy.”

Since 2004, Nona has been the Dean of Students at University College (UC) at the University of Toronto. Previous to this, she served as UC’s Co-ordinator of Student Life for four years. During her tenure as Dean of Students, the College built a new residence building, expanded its food services, and opened an innovative Commuter Student Centre. Nona has also been involved in a range of student life initiatives across the University of Toronto. She has presented a wide range of topics for the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services conferences, and co-edited their national magazine, Communiqué, for three years. As an undergraduate, Nona earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph in History, was President of the Guelph Students Association and was involved in two campus newspapers. She completed her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Higher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her MA research focused on the experience of full-time elected student leaders in Canada, and her doctorial thesis explored the values of Canadian student affairs practitioners.  

"Dr. Robinson brings a wealth of experience to this position together with an impressive record as a student affairs practitioner," said Gary Boire, Vice-President Academic at Trent. "Nona will provide valuable leadership as the university strives to enhance the individual student experience”.

Members of the Search Committee included: Professor Gary Boire (Chair, Provost and Vice-President Academic), Mr. Bill Byrick (Director of Athletics), Professor Carolyn Kay (HIST/LEC College Head), Kyle Morrissey (GSA), Sheldon Willerton (TCSA), Stephanie Williams (AVP Human Resources), and Michelle Willson (AVP Strategic Enrolment Management).

For more information, please contact: Professor Gary Boire, (705) 748-1011 x7695, provost@trentu.ca