Appointment of UTM’s interim dean, student experience and wellbeing

Dear colleagues, 

We are pleased to announce that Tim Fricker has accepted the position as UTM’s interim dean of student experience and wellbeing for a one-year appointment, which runs until Sept. 30, 2026. 

Tim joined UTM in 2024 as assistant dean, student wellness, support, and success, leading a team of 80+ full-time staff in accessibility services, recreation and athletics, health and counselling, and comprehensive student support. Alongside campus and tri-campus colleagues, Tim has helped implement recommendations of U of T’s student mental health task force, including by supporting a new collaboration with Trillium Health Partners on acute care pathways connecting campus with the hospital system. 

Tim brings to UTM 20-years of experience in student affairs and leadership roles, including as dean of students at both Conestoga College and Mohawk College. At Mohawk, he launched Canada’s only research centre focused on college student success, which earned nearly $2M in grant funding; created data-informed initiatives in student support; and won the innovative program-of-the-year award in 2019 from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). 

Tim has an undergraduate degree in geography, a master’s degree in education, and a PhD in higher education, with a thesis that explored relationships among student characteristics, academic advising participation, and student success.   

Congratulations to Tim on his new role, which encompasses the student affairs and services portfolio led by the (soon-to-be-retired) Mark Overton since 2001. Mark has offered to support the leadership transition – unsurprisingly, since he has done so much else to support this community for the last two-plus decades. 

Best, 

Alex and Sandy