Gervan Fearon
President of George Brown College
Cultural Connectivity Panel: Promoting Blackness through successful entrepreneurship
Dr. Gervan Fearon is President of George Brown College, An accomplished economist scholar and teacher, he brings his vision for the transformative impacts of education to leading one of Canada’s most culturally diverse, urban post-secondary institutions. Recognized for his ability to inspire and move teams toward positive and constructive change, Dr. Fearon collaborates across the college to support career-focused programs, advance applied research and innovation, and promote community development.
Dr. Fearon has an esteemed record of progressive leadership position in higher education. He served as the president and vice-chancellor at Brock University in Ontario and Brandon University in Manitoba (where he also served as provost and vice-president, academic) Prior to his presidential appointments, he was dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University, associate dean at York University’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies (where he also held a faculty position) and was a visiting scholar at the University of Washington. Dr. Fearon began his career as an economist and policy advisor in government.
Improving social and economic mobility through education is one of Dr. Fearon’s areas of expertise, and he shares his insights around the world. He currently chairs the external reference group for the federal government’s Supporting Black Communities Initiatives which is advancing Canada’s commitment to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, and is a board member with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Niagara Health and Ingenium – Canada’s museums of science and innovation. He also co-founded the Canada Caribbean Institute with Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, The University of the West Indies. His work has been recognized with the Order of Ontario, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and the Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award, among other honours.
Dr. Fearon earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) and received his master’s and bachelor of science degrees in Agriculture Economics from the University of Guelph, He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA,CGA) and an Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D).
