Dear Colleagues
It is with mixed emotions that I announce Catherine Gagne’s resignation from the Faculty, effective August 12, 2011. After serving for 12 years as the Chief Administrative Officer, she is moving on to exciting new challenges at Simcoe Hall. She has been appointed to the role of Senior Manager, Budget Administration and Institutional Planning, where she will be providing leadership and direction for the overall administration of the University’s $1.7 billion annual operating budget.
This year marks Catherine’s 20th anniversary working at U of T, with the majority of that time spent working in the Faculty. Catherine has shown creativity, breadth and dedication in her 12 years as CAO. Her work ethic and perceptive nature have led her to serve on many critical boards and committees, and her colleagues often seek her advice. She has been an active role model and mentor to many staff members over the years, and her contributions were aptly recognized this year with the Chancellor’s Award for Influential Leader.
Catherine has played a lead role in the implementation of the Faculty’s new budget allocation process after having served on the University’s new budget model implementation committee and the Faculty's new budget model development committee. Another initiative that required exceptional command of detail was the implementation of the Province’s IT enrolment growth program (ATOP), which provided for the building of the Bahen Centre for Information Technology and the creation of new academic positions in Engineering to accommodate a 30-percent increase in undergraduate enrolment. She also spearheaded the establishment of the Staff Awards Program and the highly successful “Faculty Day”, an annual professional development day for all Engineering faculty and staff.
She will be certainly missed in Engineering; however it is comforting to know that in addition to her exceptional skill set, she will also take her knowledge and appreciation for our Faculty to Simcoe Hall.
I would like to add my personal ‘thanks’ to Catherine for her steady and effective leadership during my first five-year term as Dean. I will miss her collegial and resourceful approach to solving problems as well as her sound and balanced guidance. She has been a great asset to our Faculty!
We will have an opportunity to thank Catherine at an informal gathering. Details will be circulated in due course.
Please join me in congratulating Catherine on this appointment, wishing her well on her new endeavours, and thanking her for her tremendous service to Engineering.
Cristina Amon
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