In April, Robyn Parr is joining the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students (OVPS) as its Executive Director.

Robyn will play a crucial role in overseeing policies and procedures for students and student organizations across all three U of T campuses to enhance and support the student experience at various stages of the academic journey, from first to final years of study and beyond.

“I am so eager to embark on this new journey at U of T and work collaboratively across the OVPS to meet the challenges ahead,” says Robyn.

“Supporting the OVPS mandate will be my priority and my intent is to do so with an equal balance of listening, drawing from my own toolkit of experience in higher education, and offering some new perspective on the unique challenges of U of T.”

Robyn brings with her a wealth of post-secondary experience with more than 20 years of expertise in higher education.

Prior to coming to U of T, she was based at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), serving in a number of roles, but most recently as their University Registrar and before that as Associate Registrar and Director, Student Financial Services.

Robyn also completed a two-year secondment in TMU’s Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, where she brought invaluable leadership as the Change and Opportunity Lead in 2019, and then as Executive Director in 2021.

Outside of her academic background, before joining TMU in 2012 (then Ryerson), she served as the Registrar for Canada’s National Ballet School (2009-12).

Ever interested in personal development and continuing education, Robyn will embark on an EdD program this year at Western University. Previously, she earned a Master of Arts, Leadership from the University of Guelph and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). In 2021, Robyn had the distinct accomplishment of receiving the Strategic Enrolment Management Endorsement through the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers: one of only four Canadian higher education professionals who had received this recognition at the time.

Robyn officially starts with U of T’s OVPS on April 9, 2024.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the U of T community,” says Robyn.

“I’ve already had such a warm welcome and I look forward to collaborating and discovering what makes you excited about the work. We’re going to make great things happen together!”