Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Higher Ed Leaders
- Dr. Jessica Denenberg, Associate Director, Student Services, School of Continuing Studies, York University
- Fostering approaches to international strategic partnerships in higher education
- Dr. Tim Fricker, Assistant Dean, Student Wellness, Support & Success, University of Toronto, Mississauga
- The current state of academic advising in Canada
- Dr. David Kim, Warden, Hart House, University of Toronto
- Considering diversity in student spaces
About the speakers
Jessica Denenberg
Associate Director, Student Services, School of Continuing Studies, York University
Jessica has been working in the field of international higher education for more than 17 years. In March 2023, she joined the York University School of Continuing Studies as Associate Director, Student Services. In this role, she leads the Student Services team, working to build and offer a wide range of career advising and program services that contribute to a rich and meaningful student experience. Prior to joining the School of Continuing Studies, Jessica held Manager and Director-level roles in Student Services and International Relations at the University of Waterloo, the University of Toronto, the Rotman School of Management, and in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (OVPRI) and York International at York University.
From 2007-2013, Jessica worked for the German Academic Exchange Service (known commonly by its German acronym, DAAD), a German national organization responsible for the promotion and funding of internationalization and partnerships in research and higher education.
Jessica holds a PhD in Higher Education from the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ¸ßÊÖÂÛ̳ (OISE) at the University of Toronto, a Master’s in Political Science from York University, and a bilingual specialized honours Bachelor’s degree from Glendon College, York University.
Tim Fricker
Assistant Dean, Student Wellness, Support & Success, University of Toronto, Mississauga
Tim Fricker is currently the Assistant Dean, Student Wellness, Support & Success at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Tim guides and supports UTM’s Accessibility Services, Health & Counselling Centre, and Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness, while sharing responsibilities for the broader UTM Student Affairs & Services portfolio. Previously Tim worked at Conestoga College and Mohawk College as the Dean of Students.
For over two decades, Tim has worked within many areas of post-secondary education, including colleges, universities, professional associations, and the private sector. Tim’s career started in student housing and residence life, then moved into leading campus-wide advising, student success and retention initiatives, and has continued into broad student affairs executive roles. Tim has a PhD from OISE in Higher Education and has led a variety of student success research initiatives, including launching Canada’s only research centre focused primarily on student success.
David Kim
Warden, Hart House, University of Toronto
Dave Kim is a lecturer at the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ¸ßÊÖÂÛ̳ in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education where he also coordinates a student internship program. Dave holds the position of Warden for Hart House at the University of Toronto and has been part of the Uof T community for the past 17 years where he has previously worked as Dean of Residence & Director of Student Life with Spaces & Experiences, among other positions. Dave has had a long commitment to equity work through his time as a graduate student (his doctoral thesis was focused on the experience of first-generation students), previous chair of the Positive Space Committee on the St. George campus, and co-chair of the staff working group of the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group. Inspired by his first-generation roots, he is a committed mentor at the University and dedicates his time to work that is focused on equity, access and outreach.