UTM’s newest dean draws on humble beginnings to offer hope and opportunity

Nicholas Rule, U of T Mississauga’s new vice-principal, academic and dean (VPAD), was the first person in his family to attend university. 

“Getting an education literally transformed my life, lifted me out of poverty, and gave me opportunities to have an existence that I never imagined for myself,” says Rule, who grew up in rural Florida without access to a good education system. 

He says he did not come across peers with a comparable background, or, at least, any who acknowledged humble beginnings, as he progressed through his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and a master’s and PhD program at Tufts University. 

The experience motivated him to create a mentorship program in 2019 with the Society for Personality and Social Psychology for first-generation scholars in psychology, to support others who may be similarly struggling to fit into the world of academia. 

Rule, who identifies as gay, is a stalwart advocate of equity, diversity and inclusion. He says he wants to ensure that marginalized and underrepresented groups in UTM’s academic environment have the resources they need.  

He is also passionate about assisting people who are financially disadvantaged. One of his objectives is to foster a community comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds, particularly those who come from a lower socioeconomic standing. 

“At a personal level, I would like to do outreach and connect with people at UTM or living in Peel region, who come from a background like mine, and give them the opportunity, the hope, and the chance at the life of their choosing,” he says. 

He also wants to embrace UTM’s excellence and build on what it has to offer as a premier research institute that services a large, vibrant and diverse community. 

“I’d like to see us do more in terms of letting people know what UTM really has to offer and what's unique – from the extremely gorgeous campus with first-rate, modern architecture to the excellent academic programs that are only available here, as well as the fantastic research happening on this campus,” says Rule, who started his term as VPAD on July 1. 

He adds that he intends to support the groundwork that has already been laid, specifically the priorities outlined in UTM’s Strategic Framework, and continue to build on existing partnerships. 

An expert in social psychology, Rule joined the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2010 as a Canada Research Chair. His four-year term as VPAD runs until the end of June 2027. 

Read more:

• Listen to the full VIEW to the U interview with Professor Rule where he speaks more about his background, his impressions of UTM and the value that the imposter syndrome brings to his academic approach. 
• Read the full transcript of the View to the U podcast episode. 
• To find out more about Professor Rule's research, see the Social Perception & Cognition Laboratory website.