Charlotte Yates

Dr. Charlotte Yates (PhD) recently retired from her role as the first woman President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph, having previously served as Provost and VP Academic at the University of Guelph. Formerly she was Dean of the Faculty Social Sciences at McMaster University, where she was a full professor in Labour Studies and Political Economy.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Yates has been an advocate for inclusive excellence, focus on advancing positive change for equity seeking groups and transforming institutions and governance. Her leadership experience has given her keen insight into the many challenges facing Universities. As President, she successfully advanced a new Strategic Plan, including securing international recognition for UofG’s reputation in One Health, building international partnerships and increasing fund raising. Throughout her career she has developed equity-advancing policies and decision making structures, mentored young leaders and faculty and nurtured an inclusive culture at a time of growing polarization.

Dr. Yates is one of Canada’s leading experts in the Canadian automotive industry, and currently leads the Automotive Policy Research Centre. She has also made significant contributions to studies of labour market inequalities and employment, unions, and women, work and family. During her career she has secured more than $10 million in research funding, authored three books, published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and reports, and supervised more than 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.