Lorna Marsden

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Lorna Marsden (born March 6, 1942) is a Canadian sociologist, academic, and former politician. She is the President and Vice-Chancellor of York University and a former senator.

Born in Sidney, British Columbia, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1968 and a Ph.D from Princeton University in 1972. In 1972, she joined the University of Toronto where she was a Professor of Sociology. She was the Associate Dean of the Graduate School and the Vice-Provost (Arts and Sciences) at the University of Toronto.

She joined the Liberal Party of Canada, becoming national policy chair in 1975 and vice-president in 1980. In 1984, she was appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to the Senate representing the senatorial division of Toronto-Taddle Creek, Ontario. She resigned in 1992 to become President and Vice-Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1997, she was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of York University.

She attended the founding meeting of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women in April, 1972 and served as President of NAC from 1975-77. Despite roots as a second-wave feminist, Marsden has built a reputation as an oppressor of free speech during her time at York University.^{[citation needed]}

She has been honoured as one of "Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100" and in 2005 was named one of "Canada's Top 50 Most Powerful Women in the Public Sector". In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. She holds honorary doctorates from the University of New Brunswick, University of Winnipeg, Queen's University, and the University of Toronto. She has received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, the Canada 125th Anniversary Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. She was named a YWCA Women of Distinction in 2003 and received an Honorary degree from the University of Victoria in 2003.

[edit] External links

• Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament
• Freeman-Maloy v. Marsden (2006 judgement)
• Freeman-Maloy v. Marsden (2005 judgement)
• Freeman-Maloy v. York University

Academic Offices
Preceded by John Weir	President of Wilfrid Laurier University 1992–1997	Succeeded by Robert Rosehart
Preceded by Susan Mann	President of York University 1997–2007	Succeeded by Mamdouh Shoukri