He has served as Toronto Metropolitan University's legal counsel since 2020
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has announced that Spiros Vavougios will join the Lincoln Alexander School of Law as the new Assistant Dean of Student Programming and Equity.
Vavougios, a legal professional and advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), started his new role on November 4. Since 2020, he has served as legal counsel in TMU’s Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat. There, he provided strategic advice across various areas, including human rights, administrative law, employment, corporate matters, and academic policy. His role required collaboration with senior leadership, where he managed risk and navigated complex legal issues. In recognition of his service, Vavougios was honoured with the Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Award in 2022 for his contributions to the university.
An active member of the TMU community, Vavougios has held teaching roles at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. He has lectured on topics such as administrative and regulatory law and has contributed to courses focusing on emotional and cultural intelligence within the legal profession. His mentorship extended to supervising law students during their professional placements within TMU's Office of the General Counsel.
Vavougios is involved in various professional organizations. He is a member of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors and the Council of Ontario Universities, where he previously served as vice-chair of the Legal Counsel Group. Additionally, he has a history of volunteer work, including coordinating a program focused on gendering adolescent AIDS prevention at the University of Toronto.
Vavougios holds a Bachelor of Arts in Equity Studies and Political Science from the University of Toronto, a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a Master of Laws from Yale Law School, where his research concentrated on constitutional history, anti-discrimination law, and free speech. He is also an alumnus of TMU’s Law Practice Program (LPP).
In his new role, Vavougios will oversee co-curricular programming, experiential learning, recruitment, admissions, career services, and student wellness initiatives.
In its announcement, Lincoln Alexander School of Law said Vavougios “brings significant professional knowledge and experience to this role, including his past work on EDI-related issues, his ongoing engagement with our students as an instructor and mentor, and his astute understanding of university policy and governance matters.”
The announcement coincides with the law school’s plans to move to a new location at 277 Victoria Street, a property recently acquired from the City of Toronto. The university is set to take possession in 2025 and intends to renovate the site to accommodate the law school’s growing needs.
