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Meet the Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano in a black blazer, sitting in an office
Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano

Photo by Alyssa K. Faoro

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano is provost and vice-president, academic at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). 

Roberta first joined TMU as vice-provost, faculty affairs in 2020 from York University, where she held progressive academic administrative roles including undergraduate program director, chair of a large department, and both the associate dean, programs and associate dean, faculty affairs portfolios in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 

Roberta has extensive experience in academic labour relations and, in her vice-provost, faculty affairs role, advocated for equitable hiring and evaluation policies and developed, with a great team, a robust and well-received suite of initiatives dedicated to enhancing faculty professional development. Her belief in open communication, collegiality and collaboration is demonstrated through her commitment to professional development and accommodation.

While at York, Roberta led the organization and facilitation of workshops for faculty on a variety of important topics, such as sexual violence response, indigenizing curricula, and accessibility in academia. She also led major departmental renovations, which ensured accessible spaces for students, faculty and staff.

In addition to serving as provost, Roberta serves as one of the three executive co-chairs of both the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism and the TRC Strategic Working Group. Roberta is a full professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures in the Faculty of Arts. 

Notably, she was the president of the Canadian Association for Italian Studies (2020-2022), the vice-president of the Italian-Canadian Archives Project (2019-2021) and has been the recipient of numerous academic and professional awards, including the CIBPA Award for Professional Excellence for service to the community. 

Roberta holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution from York University, and a Labour Relations Certificate jointly from TRSM and Lancaster House. She is fluent in English, French and Italian.

Provost responsibilities include:

  • Overseeing the academic program
  • Setting and implementing the university’s budget
  • Enhancing student life, engagement, and skills
  • Supporting scholarly, research, and creative activities
  • Proposing and implementing innovative technologies
  • Establishing outreach and access initiatives
  • Cultivating experiential learning opportunities
  • Developing and presenting faculty achievement awards

From Roberta