Presenter – Dr. Gervan Fearon

Gervan speaks in “Preparing for 2030” at 2:15pm on October 25th.

Dr. Gervan Fearon is the Dean of The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education and is an Associate Professor with the Department of Economics at Ryerson University. The Chang School is Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult education. Dr. Fearon holds a Ph.D. in economics from The University of Western Ontario and a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Guelph.

Dr. Fearon joined Ryerson from the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies at York University, where he was an Associate Dean (Academics). In this position, Dr. Fearon was responsible for co-ordinating the development of academic programs, and for enrolment management within the Faculty. He has also served as the Associate Dean (Students), Atkinson College, with responsibilities including supporting student recruitment and retention, and contributing to initiatives aimed at improving student success. Simultaneously, he held a cross-appointment in Economics and in the School of Public Policy and Administration.

Dr. Fearon’s career has been shaped by a passion for education and the transformative opportunities it holds for individuals, communities and society, as well as a demonstrated commitment to enhancing the student experience. He has also taught at the University of Guelph, University of Toronto, and the University of Western Ontario, as well as served as a visiting scholar at the University of Washington. He is the recipient of the 2007 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for Atkinson at York University and the 2000 Professor of the Year Award from the Division of Management at the University of Toronto at Scarborough.

Gervan has also worked several years in the Ontario government, including serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs, as well as a Senior Analyst with Treasury Board Division, Ministry of Finance. He has also worked in the private sector with Chase Econometrics (now WEFA Group) a Division of Chase Manhattan Bank. Additionally, he has served as a consulting economist testifying before the Copyright Board of Canada and, recently, co-authored the 2010 Scotiabank Caribana Festival Economic Impact Analysis Study.

In the area of community development, Dr. Fearon was the faculty administrative leader of the York University TD Community Engagement Centre, an innovative community-based facility designed to improve public access to and involvement in university activities and resources. Outside his academic roles, Dr. Fearon is in his third year as President of Tropicana Community Services, a United Way agency that provides support to new immigrants.

Dr. Gervan Fearon is the recipient of a number of community awards, including: The British Methodist Episcopal Church and Toronto Police Service Community Award for 2008 and Marcus Garvey Memorial Award for Community Service, Plant Africa Television and Magazine (2008). He has also participated in the Ontario Task Force consultation process on the Roots of Youth Violence Task Force, 2008.