Founded in 1959, York University is now the second largest university in Ontario and third largest university in Canada. However, starting in 1970s the success of the university was far from guaranteed.

Leading the Modern University documents the challenges and solutions that five successive university presidents (H. Ian Macdonald, Harry Arthurs, Susan Mann, Lorna Marsden, and Mamdouh Shoukri) encountered from the very early 1970s up to 2014. This book is the rare occurrence where a series of university presidents describe and analyze the challenges they faced regarding financing, morale crises, and succession. With each president contributing a chapter, covering her or his own years in office, Leading the Modern University reveals that large public institutions have internal dynamics and external forces that supersede any individual leader’s years in office. This is a case study for those interested in organizational change as seen by the leadership of a major public institution during a dynamic period in higher education.

Lorna Marsden is President Emerita of York University (1997-2007) and Wilfrid Laurier University (1992-1997). She was a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto for the previous twenty years.

Lorna R. Marsden's profile page

"Marsden’s book is comprehensive and informative. I fully recommend it to anyone who is passionate about post-secondary education and who hopes to understand the forces continuing to shape university leadership."

University of Toronto Quarterly, vol 87 3, Summer 2018

‘What an interesting, well written, and relevant book, developed in collaboration with her presidential colleagues. Each president, in turn, describes aspects of the office deemed fit for public consumption, each in their unique voice and perspective.’

Canadian Journal of Higher Education vol 47:01:2017