Sheridan welcomes Dr. Vicki Mowat as incoming Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies

Sheridan College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vicki Mowat as Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies (FAHCS), effective January 12, 2026.

Dr. Mowat brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across the postsecondary, government, and health and social services sectors. Her career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening inclusive, community-focused education, advancing applied research, and building meaningful partnerships that improve outcomes for students and the communities we serve.

“Dr. Mowat is a thoughtful, values-driven leader whose work reflects Sheridan’s deep commitment to applied learning, research excellence, and community impact,” said Mary Vaughan, Provost and Vice President, Academic at Sheridan. “She brings a rare combination of deep sector expertise, genuine care for people, and a strong belief in the power of education to change lives. I am delighted to welcome her into this role and know that her leadership will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our students, our faculty and staff, and the communities we serve.

“I also want to specifically express my gratitude to Lee Weare, who didn't hesitate to accept the interim dean role and has led the Faculty with incredible dedication, integrity and commitment to students and academic excellence. I know that he and Vicki will work closely together over the next several weeks to ensure a smooth transition for our faculty, staff, students and external partners,” added Vaughan.

Dr. Mowat joined Sheridan in 2019 and since 2024 has served as Sheridan's Dean of Research, providing strategic and operational oversight for applied research, innovation, and multimillion-dollar external funding portfolios. In this capacity, she restructured Sheridan's Applied Research portfolio and provided leadership to four research centres focused on advancing innovation across health, technology, and social impact. She has implemented Sheridan's refreshed Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship strategic plan; advanced interdisciplinary partnerships across health, STEM and social sciences; and created supportive frameworks for research excellence, ethics, privacy, data governance and student success. Her leadership has sustained strong research revenue, strengthened institutional reputation, and deepened collaborative partnerships with hospitals, community agencies, and regional partners.

Dr. Mowat also recently served as Interim Dean of the Pilon School of Business, where she demonstrated her capacity to lead a large academic unit with steadiness, care, and strategic insight.

Prior to joining Sheridan, Dr. Mowat held senior leadership roles at Kinark Child and Family Services and across multiple Ontario government ministries. In these roles, she led award-winning research, evaluation, policy, and program initiatives spanning child welfare, early childhood education, Autism, mental health, developmental disabilities, youth and adult justice, and violence against women. Her work has consistently emphasized evidence-informed practice, system improvement, and service models that support vulnerable populations.

Dr. Mowat holds a BA, MA, and PhD in Psychology from Carleton University. She has received provincial and institutional recognition for her leadership and sector impact and remains an active contributor to research advisory committees and collaborative sector initiatives.

As Dean of FAHCS, Dr. Mowat brings an inspiring vision that builds on Sheridan’s strengths while expanding opportunities in applied education, research, and community engagement. She is deeply committed to preparing compassionate, highly skilled graduates, strengthening partnerships across health and community services, and advancing innovative programming that responds to evolving regional needs.

Sheridan welcomes Dr. Mowat to her new role and looks forward to the leadership, collaboration, and community expertise she will bring to the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies and her continued role as Dean of Research.