Person

Cukier, Wendy

[ca. 1986]

Wendy Cukier joined Ryerson in 1986 as a professor at Ryerson University in Information Technology Management, an associate Dean of that School between 2004-2010 and Interim Director of the MBA-MTI/MMSC graduate program. In 1999 she founded the Diversity Institute at Ryerson and in 2011 she became Vice-President of Research and Innovation, a post she held until 2016. Dr. Cukier spearheaded Ryerson’s social innovation strategy to help engage faculty and students from across the university in all disciplines in the innovation agenda. This included leading the bid to become Canada’s first Ashoka Changemaker Campus. She also created innovative programs to support student learning, experiential learning and applied research (iSTEM, ADaPT, Summer Company, RECODE, RBC) with particular focus on leveling the playing field between Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and Social Science and Humanities (SSH) funding and opportunities. Dr. Cukier holds a PhD in management science; an MBA in marketing and information systems and an MA in social and cultural history; and an Honours BA in English and history. She also has been awarded an honorary Docteur d'Universite from Laval University and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University. An active volunteer, working with non-profit and industry organizations including the International Women's Forum and the Diversity Forum at Toronto Region Board of Trade, she is on the Board of Directors of the Environics Institute, Women’s College Hospital and several hi-tech start-ups. She is a recipient of the Governor General's Meritorious Cross, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours. She was also named one of the University of Toronto's 100 Alumni Who Shaped the Century, and in 2010 was selected as one of 25 Transformational Canadians by The Globe and Mail, La Presse and CTV. Dr. Cukier was awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction Award and named a 2013 Top 25 Women of Influence.