Adam B. Kahan

Vice-President, University Advancement

For the past 10 years, Kahan has been leading the division of University Advancement and is ultimately responsible for building strong relationships with external community partners and with alumni, donors and friends; advancing the brand and reputation of Ryerson University; and supporting the university’s highest priorities through marketing and communications and private and public sector fundraising activities.

Kahan joined Ryerson in March 2003. To date he has led fund raising resulting in over $240 million for Ryerson. He has transformed the Alumni Relations unit, and has built a strategic marketing and communications team, which has significantly enhanced the brand and reputation of the university.  

Kahan has extensive Canadian and international experience in leading not–for–profit organizations, and an extraordinary record of fundraising with  results in excess of $3.5 billion for institutions in the United States, Canada, England, Israel and South Africa.

Prior to joining Ryerson, Kahan was Founder and Co-President of ABK Associates, a management-consulting firm based in New York and Connecticut, with clients that included a national museum and several national and international organizations. He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1995–2001); Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of  the United Jewish Appeal—Federation of Greater New York (1989–1995); the Executive Vice President of the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science (1986–1988); and as Campaign Director for the United Jewish Appeal of Metropolitan Toronto (1984–1986). Kahan also currently serves as a Vice President on the Board of The Canadian Club – Toronto.

Kahan is a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a BA in Law and Sociology, and pursued a Masters in Communications at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.