New Director of EDI and Human Rights appointed
The following message was also emailed to members of the UPEI community on March 5, 2026.
Dear UPEI Community,
I am pleased to share the news that, after a national search, Sula Levesque has been appointed to the position of Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), and Human Rights. Currently serving as Human Rights Resolution Specialist with UPEI’s Department of EDI and Human Rights, Sula will begin her new role on March 30, 2026.
The University of Prince Edward Island announced in December 2023 that it had created a new administrative department for EDI and Human Rights. The Department has three major categories of responsibility: (i) equity, diversity, and inclusion; (ii) sexual violence prevention and response; and (iii) administration of harassment and discrimination complaints. The Director position is responsible for oversight of the Department and for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the University community.
Sula brings extensive experience, education, and expertise to this critical leadership position. She is an experienced post-secondary administrator with over 20 years of progressive leadership in equity, diversity, inclusion, and human rights (EDIHR). In her most recent role at UPEI, Sula has been working to establish infrastructure for informal conflict resolution and guiding the community through the University's harassment and discrimination policies.
Sula has proven record of values-driven strategic planning, including building the Centre for EDIB at Georgian College from the ground up and co-leading a bi-campus EDI Action Plan at the University of New Brunswick. She views equity work as a system-level engine for culture change rather than a siloed or reactive function, focusing on changing how institutional decisions are made. With experience in executing change, operational leadership, human rights, and policy innovation, Sula is known as a trusted advisor; for her relational, capacity-building approach; and for achieving results, all while embedding equity as a living practice and leading with courage and respect.
Many thanks to the selection committee—Dr. Philip Smith, Dr. Tarek Mady, Katie Morriscey, Jonathan Hewitt, Kylie Fraser, and Eyitayo Ajibaibi—and to all those who contributed to the search process.
My sincere thanks go to Dr. Nola Etkin, Dean of Science, who served as Special Advisor to me and oversaw operations of the EDI and Human Rights department for the last six months. Dr. Etkin’s leadership was instrumental in ensuring that the University continues to foster a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members of our community. I also thank Mile Komlen, who was contracted to assist us with implementing recommendations from the EDIHR assessment, including the structural realignment of the unit to position it to perform its mandate and advance the goals outlined in the UPEI Action Plan.
We are so fortunate to have the benefit of Sula’s expertise in leading our excellent EDI and Human Rights team as we continue our journey of building a culture of trust, safety, and inclusion.
Congratulations, Sula!
Sincerely,
Jane Ngobia, PhD
Vice-President, People and Culture
University of Prince Edward Island
