About Us

Chair of the Board

Yorkville University’s Julia Christensen Hughes, PhD, is a globally recognized academic innovator who is passionate about the transformational power of post-secondary education to change lives and improve society. As President and Vice Chancellor of Canada’s largest private university, she has led the creation of Yorkville’s Signature Learning Outcomes, a university-wide commitment to develop the next generation of ethical, highly skilled and socially conscious business leaders, psychotherapists, educators, and creative storytellers and designers.

Under Christensen Hughes’ visionary leadership, Yorkville – which boasts campuses in Vancouver, BC, Toronto, ON, and Fredericton, NB – has become a hub for innovative approaches to relationship-rich, accessible education, with distinctive capabilities in: the creation of an exceptional student experience; high-demand, career-relevant programs; leading student recruitment practices; and high-quality faculty with a commitment to student engagement.

Before joining Yorkville in 2022, Christensen Hughes enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public higher education, where she held a number of leadership roles. She served as President of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) from 2004 to 2007, while also directing the University of Guelph’s Teaching Support Services, providing leadership for the University’s commitment to “student-centred learning”. Following those achievements, she went on to serve as founding dean of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, establishing its unique vision of “being and developing leaders for a sustainable world”. Under her guidance, Lang’s MBA was ranked in the top ten in the world, by Corporate Knights.

A passionate advocate for innovation and integrity in student learning, Christensen Hughes has received many awards and accolades for her service, including being named Professor Emerita and receiving the John Bell Award for Outstanding Teaching in University Education from the University of Guelph. She also received the Sheffield Award from the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education, for research judged to be “most excellent” in the Canadian Journal of Higher Education. This award recognized her groundbreaking pan-Canadian study on academic integrity, which was featured on the cover of MacLean’s magazine and earned her regular interviews with the press, including with Michael Enright on CBC Radio. Recognizing her global advocacy for reforming business school education, Christensen Hughes was also invited to New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly on the need for business schools to embrace the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Christensen Hughes earned both her MBA and PhD from the Schulich School of Business at York University; her dissertation was on the topic of organizational empowerment.

Her published work includes the co-edited books Academic Integrity in Canada: An Enduring and Essential Challenge (2022); Taking Stock 2.0: Transforming Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2022); Taking Stock: Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2010); and Curriculum Development in Higher Education: Faculty-Driven Processes and Practices (2007). Her most recent journal articles have focused on the need to better align university rankings and faculty research with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Matthew Kunica is a Partner at Birch Hill Equity Partners, a Canadian, mid-market private equity firm with a long history of driving growth through a long-term focus and commitment to data-driven decision making supported by timely data and advanced analytics. Currently, he serves as Chair of ERCO and on the board of Yorkville University, previously serving on the boards of Bio Agri Mix, CCM Hockey, Hi-Pro Feeds, HomeEquity Bank, and Uni-Select. Before joining Birch Hill, Matthew worked in the investment banking groups of both Credit Suisse First Boston and BMO Nesbitt Burns in Toronto. He holds a BASc Honours Engineering degree from the University of Toronto.

Matthew’s time outside of Birch Hill primarily consists of engaging with his kids in their many school, extra-curricular, and community activities and serving on multiple corporate boards. He believes post-secondary education has the power to positively change lives, and that, while our public universities play a critical role in higher education, private institutions can offer distinct advantages. With Yorkville University, Matthew sees an opportunity to provide a more flexible and accessible university experience that focuses on small class sizes, great teaching, personalized attention, and career-oriented programming. When higher education is made more accessible, it expands educational opportunities for a broader range of students, enriching the educational landscape and contributing to a more dynamic workforce.

Chris Voorpostel is a Principal at Birch Hill Equity Partners, where, in addition to Yorkville University, he also serves on the boards of Softchoice and Polycor. He has also played a key role in Birch Hill’s investments in Citron Hygiene and Cozzini Bros. Previously, Chris was a founding member of Birch Hill’s data science team, where he worked on supporting capital reinvestment, evidence-based decision making, and value creation. Before joining Birch Hill, Chris was a consultant with Monitor Deloitte in Toronto, where he worked on corporate strategy engagements across a variety of industries, including financial services and consumer packaged goods. Chris holds an HBA degree in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.

For Chris, the post-secondary education experience was an opportunity for him to change his career trajectory and set him down the path he is on today. He is honoured to be able to serve on this board and help deliver a best-in-class experience to students at Yorkville University and Toronto Film School, in a way that will help them transform their lives.

Education: PhD (Public & NPO Administration), University of Colorado Denver; MBA Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba; undergraduate (Journalism and Political Science) University of Kansas 

Career Highlights: Jacke is President Emerita, Cape Breton University, having served as President from 1993-2002, and retiring as Professor in 2018. Highly engaged in Canada’s STEM initiatives, from 1995-2006 she served on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology (Canada), was its Deputy Chair (Operating Head) from 2003-2006, and was appointed from 2013-17 to its successor, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Council. In 2007-08, Dr. Scott chaired the International Expert Panel Review of the Alberta Science & Research Authority. A former Chair of the Board of the Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education (CANARIE), Ltd., she also served on the governing boards/committees of numerous companies and provincial, national and local institutions, and currently serves on the board of the MacDonald-Laurier Institute (Vice-Chair).

Honours and Awards: The Gzowski Award for Literacy (NS), Canada 125th Medal, hon. LL.D. by the Univ. of Waterloo, hon. Dipl. by Loyalist College, “Woman of Excellence” by the Canadian Progress Club of Halifax-Dartmouth, Lt-Gov.’s Medal for Excellence in Public Admin., Officer of the Order of Canada, 3 Queen’s Medals for voluntary service, “Reconocimiento” from Univ. de Cienfuegos, Cuba, for international and local devt. work in Guantánamo & Cienfuegos provinces (2017). 

Interest in Higher Education/Yorkville University:   

 Having grown up in financially constrained family and community circumstances, and also immigrating to Canada as a young adult, I have always been focused on learning and how it benefits both personal and community development.  This has kept me focused on “learning for change” and applying learning with others in community economic and social development.  YU’s focus on lifelong learning and skills for personal, social and civic good is – in my view – a key value proposition for learners and for Canada.

Member, Board of Governors, Yorkville University

Dr. Verna Magee-Shepherd’s extensive postsecondary experience has spanned the university, college, and institute sectors. Her roles have included President and Vice-Chancellor, University Canada West; Acting President, BCIT; Vice-president of Education and Student Services, BCIT; Dean, Student Services, Langara College, Associate Dean and Faculty member School of Health, BCIT. She has also served on several boards, including as YWCA Board Chair and Consultant to the Looking Glass Foundation, and is now an Emeritus Member. Verna holds an EdD in Education Leadership and Policy from the University of British Columbia, an MSc in Medical Science from the University of Calgary, and a BA in Human Nutrition from the University of British Columbia.

Since retirement from academia, Verna has served a 10-year government appointee as a Vancouver Marriage Commissioner. Her philanthropic endeavors include significant support of the University of Calgary Pathways to Medicine program, scholarships through the Looking Glass Foundation, and annual Adopt-A-School donations. Supporting student success, in the many ways success might be defined, is a particular motivator for Verna. Responding to health and social situations that impact learning has been shown to make profound positive differences in students’ lives and benefit their families and communities. Yorkville has set high standards for education delivery and, importantly, augments studies with diverse services to support the attainment of student goals.

Education: PhD & MA (Psychology), McGill University; BA (Psychology), University of Victoria 

Career Highlights: Special Advisor to the President, Yorkville University; Founding President and Vice-Chancellor, Thompson Rivers University (1998-2010); Research Fellow, Memorial University of Newfoundland (1970-73); Associate Professor, Chair Department of Psychology, and Acting Dean Division of Science, University of Lethbridge (1973-80); Associate Superintendent, School District No. 51, Lethbridge, Alberta (1980-87); Professor and Dean of Education, Saint Mary’s University (1987-92); Professor and Vice-President Academic, St. Thomas University (1992-98). 

Scholarship and Research: My research, focused on the “relative age (or “birthdate”) effect”, has explored the relationship between age differences in children that are placed in age cohort groups (hockey teams, grade placement, etc.) and their athletic and educational achievement.  This research, which was first published in the 1980’s, has received significant worldwide attention because of the prominence given to it by Malcolm Gladwell in his bestselling book “Outliers”.  The first article published in 1985 (R.H. Barnsley, A.H. Thompson,  and P.E. Barnsley) continues to be recognized as it has received over 300 citations and almost 10,000 reads (ResearchGate).

Community Engagement and Leadership Roles: President, Psychologists Association of Alberta (1981-1982); Public Member, BC Drug Benefits Council (2010-2013); Co-Chair, BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (2011-2017); Director, Vancouver Island Health Authority Board (2013-2018); Director (2010-2022) and Board Chair (2018-2021), BC Automobile Association (CAA).

Honours:  Fellow, Canadian Psychological Association (1984); Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002); Doctor of Education (honoris causa), Saint John’s University, Bangkok, Thailand (2006); Pioneer Spirit Award, City of Kamloops (2008); President Emeritus, Thompson Rivers University (2011); British Columbia Community Achievement Award (2012); Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Order of British Columbia ((2014).

Interest in Higher Education and Yorkville University:  Throughout my life and my career I have been motivated by the belief that the foundation, basis, and path to “hope” is education.  And from this belief, I have focussed on creating, developing, and fostering access to education for everyone.  As I continue to pursue these goals, I have welcomed my appointment to the Board of Governors, as Yorkville University is clearly committed to nurturing student success by providing accessible, quality education. 

Education: LLB McGill University; MA (Political Science), Brown University; BA (Political Science), University of Toronto. 

Career Highlights: Legal Counsel with the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association.  He practices in the areas of labor relations, collective bargaining, education law and employment law.  Mr. Roher is the co-author of An Educator’s Guide to the Role of the Principal, Third Edition, An Educator’s Guide to Safe Schools and Ontario Employment Standards Act, Quick Reference Guide, 2024 Edition.  Mr. Roher is the author of An Educator’s Guide to Violence in Schools and Canadian Law Reporter Special Report: Violence in the Workplace, Fourth Edition. He is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Education & Law Journal, published by Thomson Reuters.

Mr. Roher was the National Leader of the Education Law Group with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto, where he worked for 38 years. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for 18 years where he taught the Education Law course. 

Honours and/or Community Engagement: 

In 2008, Mr. Roher received the Arbor Award from the University of Toronto for his role on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

In May 2011, Mr. Roher received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education (CAPSLE).

From 2014 to 2022, Mr. Roher was selected by his peers for inclusion in each year’s edition of the Best Lawyers in Canada (Education Law).

Interest in Higher Education/Yorkville University: 

Mr. Roher has represented colleges and universities in Ontario, among many other clients, over the past 38 years. He represented Yorkville University and Toronto Film School for many years. Mr. Roher has worked extensively with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and Ministry officials with respect to accreditation of courses, new university programs and regulatory issues.  He has a long history of advising colleges and universities on employment law, human rights, education law, workplace health and safety and governance issues.

Mr. Roher is committed to the mission of Yorkville University to build an outstanding national university that provides programs focused on academic excellence, inclusivity, and a student centric flexibility, with an enhanced student learning experience