In a statement issued on Friday, October 28, professor Ira Jacobs, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto, announced the appointment of Beth Ali to the position of executive director of co-curricular athletics and physical activity programs at KPE.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 28, professor Ira Jacobs, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto, announced the appointment of Beth Ali to the position of executive director of co-curricular athletics and physical activity programs at KPE. Reporting to the dean of KPE, the executive director provides overall leadership and strategic direction to KPE’s co-curricular programmes, activities and services at the St. George campus, the U of T Varsity Blues programmes that involve students from all three U of T campuses, and related tri-campus initiatives.
“I am very happy and excited to announce the appointment of Beth Ali to the position of executive director of co-curricular athletics and physical activity programs at KPE,” said Professor Jacobs. “Through both her personal and professional experience, Beth has demonstrated exemplary advocacy for sport development and the benefits of sport and physical activity in the development of the whole person, especially the positive impact it has on a student’s university experience.
“Her experience, skills, and knowledge, combined with her passion for the University of Toronto, made her a natural and overwhelming choice to lead our co-curricular athletics and physical activity programs. We are very fortunate that she has agreed to assume that leadership role.”
A passionate “true Blue”, Ali was the director of intercollegiate and high performance sports at the University of Toronto from 2010-15. She is an active and highly respected leader within the Ontario University Athletics and national USports (formerly CIS) organizations. A former student athlete and national, provincial and university field hockey coach, she has held prominent leadership positions in that sport both nationally and internationally. She has also been chef de mission for Canadian teams at major international sporting events such as the FISU Games.
“I am honoured to have been appointed to this exciting position at the University of Toronto,” said Ali. “I am passionate about providing outstanding athletic and physical activity programs, services and facilities to all U of T students which enhance their university experience, build a sense of belonging and community, and contribute to their overall well-being now and in the future. I believe athletics and physical activity is a catalyst for campus spirit and institutional pride and contributes to the incomparable reputation of U of T. I look forward to continuing our partnerships with all student life staff and organizations to provide outstanding programs and services to our U of T community.”
Ali brings to her new position many years of university co-curricular senior leadership excellence at three different universities (U of T, Ryerson and University of Waterloo) and across the continuum of programming that includes inter-university and high performance sports, intramural sports, open recreation, children and youth, strength and conditioning. She was a key member of major sports infrastructure project planning committees that included the Mattamy Centre (former Maple Leaf Gardens) at Ryerson University, and the Back Campus Fields revitalization project and the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport project at the University of Toronto.
Ali’s appointment takes effect on November 1st, 2016.