I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, as Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), effective October 1, 2026.
Denise brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in equity, diversity and inclusion within post-secondary education, along with extensive experience advancing institutional change through strategy, policy, education, partnership and community engagement. Her career has focused on working collaboratively with academic leaders, faculty, staff and students to embed EDI into academic planning, recruitment, student and employee experience, governance and institutional policy.
Denise joins the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering following a distinguished career at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she served as Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion and Assistant Vice-President/Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion from 2012 to 2022. She was TMU’s inaugural senior EDI leader and established its first EDI-focused vice-presidential portfolio, building the EDI Office and developing the infrastructure to advance equity, anti-racism, accessibility, human rights, reconciliation, and community inclusion across the university.
Denise is also familiar with the University of Toronto community. From 2023 to 2025, she served as EDI Lead and Advisor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, advising departmental leaders on matters related to equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigeneity and accessibility. She supported the development of the Black Health Advisory Table, led EDI data initiatives and provided mentorship, coaching and professional development. She subsequently continued her connection with the department as an Adjunct Lecturer.
An educator and scholar as well as a senior institutional leader, Denise holds a PhD in Higher Education and Public Policy from the University of Michigan, a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University and a BA in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Chicago. She has taught and written extensively on higher education, diversity, qualitative research and institutional change, and has been recognized for her leadership, including the 2022 WXN Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Canadian EDI Leaders Award and TMU’s 2022 Honorary Viola Desmond Award.
As Director, EDI, Denise will work with colleagues across the Faculty and University to support the Faculty’s EDI priorities and contribute to a culture where students, faculty and staff can participate fully and thrive. Her experience working directly with academic faculties and senior leaders, combined with her practical and collaborative approach to institutional change, will be an important asset to our community.
I extend my thanks to the following members of the search committee for their thoughtful input and participation on this recruitment:
Philip Asare, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice and Division of Engineering Science; Dean’s Advisor on Black Inclusivity; Chair, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advisory Committee (IDEA);
Lisa Camilleri, Chief Administrative Officer;
Jodie Glean, Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, UofT;
Deepa Kundur, Professor and Chair, Edward S. Rogers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering;
Paige McFarlane, Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Denise O’Neil Green to the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and congratulating her on her appointment as Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.