Dr. Julia Colyar joins HEQCO as Vice President, Research and Policy

David Trick, Interim President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, announced today the appointment of Julia Colyar as Vice President, Research and Policy, effective May 20.

Julia brings to HEQCO more than two decades of experience in higher education policy and research as a scholar, teacher and practitioner.

Julia joins HEQCO from the Council of Ontario Universities, where she is Director of Policy and Sector Collaboration. During her seven years at COU, Julia has provided leadership on a number of complex files, building close relationships with leaders in the higher education system and government. She is widely respected for her inclusive leadership style and her record of building effective relationships with a diverse range of higher education stakeholders.

Earlier in her career, Julia was an assistant professor of higher education at the University at Buffalo and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has authored or co-authored more than twenty peer-reviewed publications, focusing on areas such as access for low-income and underrepresented students, women in higher education leadership, qualitative research methodologies, and effective ways of preparing students to enter higher education.

Julia holds an Honours B.A. from the University of California at Davis, an M.A. from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy from the University of Southern California.