Meet the Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Photo credit: Alyssa K. Faoro.

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano began her term as interim provost and vice-president, academic on October 1, 2022 following the announcement that Jennifer Simpson had taken on a new role with the university. 

Roberta joined Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) as vice-provost, faculty affairs in 2020 from York University where she held the position of associate dean, faculty affairs in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 

An accomplished scholar and academic leader, Roberta has extensive experience in academic labour relations and has played a crucial role in advocating for equitable hiring policies and programs. Her belief in open communication, collegiality and collaboration is demonstrated through her commitment to professional development and accommodation.

While at York, Roberta led the organization and facilitation of workshops for faculty on a variety of important topics, such as sexual violence response, Indigenizing curricula, and accessibility in academia. She also led major departmental renovations, which ensured accessible spaces for students, faculty and staff. Notably, she has been the recipient of numerous academic and professional awards, including the CIBPA Award for Excellence for service to the community. Roberta is the author of one monograph and two edited volumes on topics pertaining to Southern Italian dialectology, Social Media and the University, and Italian Foodways.

In addition to serving as interim provost, Roberta serves as one of the three executive co-chairs of the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism. She also serves as co-chair of the Faculty Working Group (ABR). Roberta is a full professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. 

Roberta holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from York University and a Labour Relations Certificate from TMU/Lancaster House. She is fluent in English, French and Italian.