When you’ve worked for an institution for as many as 32 years, there are bound to be many people showing up at your retirement party. Such was the case with Rosanne Lopers-Sweetman, who will be retiring from her role as CAO at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education in January, 2020. From family to friends and colleagues, the event also attracted a record number of CAOs from across U of T – a measure of significance, according to Ira Jacobs, professor and dean of KPE, who kicked off the celebratory speeches.
Lopers-Sweetman first arrived to KPE on secondment as assistant dean of co-curricular education services and equity in 2008 and was appointed CAO in 2009. Before that she held down many roles at the university, including that of director of strategic initiatives and priorities in the Office of the Provost, assistant dean of administration and finance in the Faculty of Nursing, administrative assistant in the Office of the Governing Council and many more.
“It would be reasonable to assume she had seen it all by the time she came to KPE,” said Jacobs before going on to explain the Faculty’s unique dual mandate, which includes both academics and athletics.
“Rosanne helped support almost 1200 students in our academic programs and tens of thousands from across U of T who participate in our Sport & Rec programs,” he said.
She was involved in capital construction and renovation projects, from the Goldring Centre for High Performance to the Back Campus Field conversion and replacement of the Varsity stadium turf and track. She dealt with emergencies that ranged from fires to floods to deflated domes, and handled customer complaints from community members.
“But, I suspect some of you still only have a rudimentary understanding of the role of the CAO at U of T and even less an understanding of the scope and depth of related responsibilities at KPE,” said Jacobs before launching into the Ode to the CAO rap he personally wrote and dedicated to Lopers-Sweetman.
“… RLS gets lots of tests, the kind you wouldn’t know
Fires, floods, inflated egos and deflated domes
A fire fighter, expert planner, clean-up hitter, mentor
No one deserves a master’s degree in mop up studies more …”
Calling her a tremendous mentor, confidant and wise advisor, Dean Jacobs concluded his tribute to Lopers-Sweetman by announcing funds would be donated to purchase a paver stone that will be embedded in the walkway between KPE and Simcoe Hall to commemorate the many times she treaded that path.
But, that’s not all. Beth Ali, executive director of athletics and physical activity, shared that the Faculty would be providing swimming lessons to a family of refugees from Burundi, whom Lopers-Sweetman helped sponsor about 18 months ago.
“Rosanne is a committed volunteer who cares very deeply about her community. We are delighted to be able to assist with this family’s transition to Canada, provide them with a life preserving skill and enhance their sense of community,” said Ali.
Professor Gretchen Kerr recalled Lopers-Sweetman coming to KPE with extensive expertise, yet still worried that her lack of experience in sport and physical activity would make it difficult to fit in with such a group of faculty and staff, most of whom are former athletes or physical activity enthusiasts.
“As it turns out, we have trained Rosanne well and she’s retiring as an exceptional athlete,” said Kerr. “Being the CAO of such a unique faculty as KPE is no easy task. Rosanne has promoted the benefits of an integrated Faculty liked a skilled quarterback while showing the endurance of a marathoner in navigating the various needs and oftentimes competing interests of curricular and co-curricular mandates.”
These athletic skills will come in handy as she tries to keep up with the activity levels of her grandchildren, said Kerr.
Lopers-Sweetman thanked all the people who have “mentored her, opened doors, supported her in adversity and shared a laugh with her” since she started her career at U of T in 1987.
Remembering her first days at the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, as the Faculty was still known in 2008, she said it felt like she had arrived in the Wild West.
“There was so much going on - and all of it new, fast and unscripted. But my colleagues welcomed me into their energetic and creative community even though I have never in my life participated in organized sport.”
In fact, she attributed the Faculty’s “positive vibe” to the sport mentality that reigns throughout.
“There is an optimism and can-doism that comes from believing a less than stellar performance today only means trying again tomorrow. I’m sure that’s what kept me in the saddle for so many years,” she said.
Describing her run at KPE as “an exciting ride with much to show for”, Lopers-Sweetman drew many laughs when she wondered why she was the only one with the white hair.
Thanking her family for their unwavering support, she concluded by quoting a saying her first U of T mentor, Professor Emeritus Dan Lang, kept on his door.
“It said “Do the right thing.It will please some of the people and astonish others.” I probably haven’t astonished many people, but I hope I have done the right thing for you, for the Faculty and for the university in the years that I’ve served here.””