Dr. Rick Ezekiel
Dr. Rick Ezekiel, vice-president student affairs
Dr. Rick Ezekiel holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, and an MSc in Neuroscience from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Rick's doctoral research focused on the impacts of oppressive structures on mental health and learning among postsecondary students with marginalized identities.
Rick comes to HÂþ» from Centennial College in Toronto, where he most recently served as Director of Equitable Learning, Health and Wellness leading the college’s health, wellness and student-accessible learning services and strategy. Some of the service transformations under his leadership resulted in the elimination of waitlists for mental health and accessible learning services across five campuses as well as significantly increasing service responsivity and student engagement among international students.
Prior to joining Centennial College, Rick held progressively senior leadership roles at Western University including Interim Senior Director Student Experience and Director of Research, Assessment and Planning (Student Experience), and played significant leadership and contribution roles to a number of divisional and institutional strategic plans, including Western's first Student Experience Divisional Strategic Plan, Student Mental Health Strategic Plan, and Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Rick looks forward to bringing transformational, human-centred leadership approaches, grounded in a compassionate, inclusive and caring community, to support and expand on the student experience at HÂþ».
"Education has the potential to serve as a force for more equitable, and transformational human development outcomes in students' lives. My professional and scholarly work centers on mitigating barriers and enhancing inclusion for students with marginalized identities — building educational conditions where ALL learners can realize their potential to thrive in learning and in life. Student Affairs plays a critical role in this aspect of a university's purpose. I am delighted to join this great university and intend to serve as a partner and ally to colleagues across the VPSA division, faculties, student communities, and the broader communities we serve in building on an exceptional and inclusive student experience at Dal."