Principal & Leadership | Upper Canada College

Principal of UCC Talking with Students and Smiling

Leadership & Governance

About Principal
Sam McKinney
Get to know UCC's 19th principal 
Principal Sam McKinney

Sam McKinney joined Upper Canada College in July 2016. Under his leadership, the College has set a course for the years leading to our bicentennial with our Strategic Directions: Towards 2029.

Principal McKinney is passionate about UCC’s mission and vision: delivering transformational learning experiences and inspiring students to become their best selves so they can make a lasting and positive impact on their world.

His experience as an educator and a father has shown him that students thrive in a school environment that addresses the needs of the whole child, and that meaningful and necessary learning occurs both within and outside the classroom. He believes strongly in the College’s International Baccalaureate curriculum, stellar co-curricular programming, and unique approaches to supporting individual and collective wellbeing. 

Prior to his arrival at UCC, Sam was both a teacher and a senior administrator at schools in Australia and Canada. He was the deputy headmaster and head of the Senior School at St. Peter’s College in Adelaide, where he was instrumental in the development of a middle years program, the physical construction of a new middle school, and the introduction of a comprehensive outdoor education program.

Sam was also the director of the Middle School at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide, a teacher and director of boarding at St. George’s School in Vancouver, and he taught at Hale School in Western Australia, alongside leadership responsibilities in boarding, pastoral care, and as master in charge of rowing.

Born and raised in the Niagara region of Ontario, Sam received his BA from Carleton University. He furthered his education in Australia, receiving a graduate diploma in education from the University of Adelaide and a master of education from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. More recently, he has furthered his studies at The Principals’ Center at Harvard University Graduate School of Education and the University of Pennsylvania.

UCC inspires growth and learning about oneself and the world. We nurture in each student the unique combination of head, heart and humanity that represents his best self.

PRINCIPAL SAM McKINNEY

IN THIS SECTION

Senior Leadership Team

Dr. Julia Kinnear
Vice-Principal, Learning and Academic Innovation

Julia oversees the College's academic program, from Junior Kindergarten through Year 12. She leads all International Baccalaureate (IB) elements, curriculum development, and the Wernham West Centre for Learning.

Sarah Fleming
Head, Preparatory School

Sarah leads the Prep School's faculty and staff to deliver excellence in teaching and learning for students in Junior Kindergarten through Year 7.

Andrew MacDougall
Head, Upper School

Andrew leads the College's Upper School faculty including the College's boarding program to deliver excellence in teaching and learning for students in Years 8 through 12. 

Brendan Dellandrea ’01
Vice-Principal, Advancement

Brendan leads annual and special fundraising, capital campaigns, alumni and constituent relations, and all community and school-wide communications. Additionally, Brendan oversees the implementation of school-wide strategic development.

Melody Miu
Vice-Principal, Enrolment Management

Melody is responsible for the recruitment and admission of new students and for the College's external marketing, both locally and internationally.

Evan Donohue
Vice-Principal, Operations

Evan is responsible for non-academic operations, including executing our Campus Master Plan and overseeing information and innovation, capital projects, facilities, safety, facility rentals, and summer camps.

Felix Moses
Vice-Principal, Finance

Felix provides strategic leadership for the finance function, including budgeting and auditing, risk management and insurance, financial assistance, procurement and contracts, working closely with our Board, committees and the UCC Foundations to ensure the College’s long-term financial sustainability.

Mary Modeste
Vice-Principal, People and Culture

Mary leads the people and culture function, which spans organizational culture and employee engagement, employee relations, safety, wellbeing, pluralism, talent empowerment, succession planning, total rewards, and organizational development.

Board of Governors

Richard Willoughby ’80
Chair

Richard Willoughby joined the Board of Governors in 2023 and became chair in 2026. 

He is a senior corporate partner with Torys LLP. He has a wealth of experience in domestic, cross-border and international mergers and acquisitions, giving practical and strategic counsel to some of Canada’s largest institutional investors, businesses and family enterprises.

Richard is chair of the UCC Campaign Cabinet, and has served the College as chair of the Plan 200 Committee, chair of the UCC Foundation Board of Trustees, and was previously a trustee of the UCC Foundations in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. In 2022, he received the John D. Stevenson Award for his service to the College.

Joannah Lawson
Vice-Chair

Joannah Lawson joined the Board of Governors in 2019. 

She is co-founder and president of her family foundation, collaborating with other philanthropic foundations, not-for-profits, universities and think tanks that push boundaries and move Canada and the world towards nutrient-dense food systems that are produced sustainably to help mitigate climate change. 

Key recipients of the foundation’s philanthropic focus are the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition in the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Lawson Centre for Sustainability at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Other organizations they support include Farmers for Climate Solutions, Canadian Organic Growers, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, Clearwater Farm and Community Food Centres Canada.

Before becoming a certified nutritionist, Joannah had a successful career in organization change management in the high-tech industry and was recognized with the Nortel President’s Award of Excellence in Innovation. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Toronto and is the proud recipient of the university’s Arbor Award for volunteer service as well as the Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa) from Trinity College, University of Toronto.

At UCC, Joannah has served on the College’s Nutrition Committees at both the Prep and Upper Schools and on the Association Council’s Wellbeing Committee.

Joannah has served as co-chair of the Campaign Cabinet at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and as an executive of U of T's Boundless Campaign.

Dr. Joseph Wong
Vice-Chair

Dr. Joseph Wong was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2020. 

Joe is the University of Toronto’s vice-president, international and the Roz and Ralph Halbert Professor of Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. In addition, he is a professor of political science, a former director of the Asian Institute at the Munk School, and a past Canada Research Chair in health, democracy and development.

Joe has authored a number of academic articles and several books, and he has been a visiting scholar at leading global institutions in the U.S., Taiwan, Korea and the U.K. His academic research focuses on poverty and social policy innovation.

Joel Feldberg
Member-at-Large

Joel Feldberg joined the Board of Governors in 2021.

He is the president and CEO of Global Furniture Group. Prior to joining Global Furniture Group, he was an associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt in Toronto, where he focused his legal practice on the areas of corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Joel has a bachelor of laws degree from Osgoode Hall and is a member of the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations. Joel serves on the boards of Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, and BIFMA.

Larry Grafstein ’78
Member-at-Large

Larry Grafstein was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2026.

He is the deputy chairman of the Global Investment Bank at RBC Capital Markets.

With more than thirty years of experience spanning all industries and geographies, Larry has worked on some of the largest and most complex M&A, restructuring, equity and privatization deals. Larry has been a member of the U.S.-based Upper Canada Educational Foundation since 2001, and is a member of the UCC Campaign Cabinet.

He is a graduate of Harvard University, Oxford University and the University of Toronto.

John Hockin ’89
Member-at-Large

John Hockin was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2026.

John is the managing partner and chief investment officer of Sea Cliff Partners in San Francisco. He has more than thirty years of experience in investment banking at organizations including Morgan Stanley, J.H Whitney & Co, Golden Gate Capital and KKR.

John is a member of UCC’s Association Council. During his time at the College, John won the Lieutenant Governor Medal in 1987 and 1988. He holds a BA in economics from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Arjay Miller Scholar). 

Dr. Ifedayo Kuye ’05
Member-at-Large

Dr. Ifedayo Kuye joined the Board of Governors in 2021.

He is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and an adjunct faculty at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He is also senior medical director, clinical programs, at Oscar Health and a limited partner at SCAN Capital, a non-profit Medicare Advantage payer and provider. He was previously the medical director of value-based care in the Johns Hopkins Office of Population Health, where he led initiatives to improve the health care system’s population health and value-based care strategy.

Ifedayo received his undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard College. He received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School and has an MBA from Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar).

He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he served as a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School.

Christie Love Thomas
Member-at-Large

Christie Love Thomas was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2026 and serves as a member of UCC’s Association Council. She has also served on the Prep Parents’ Organization and as a Class Representative.

Christie is the vice-president of strategy at Jona Capital, where she oversees asset allocation, external portfolio managers, private equity investments and an actively traded portfolio of public equities. She sits on the Jona Capital board, the KingSett fund advisory board and the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation board.

Christie holds a BA (Hons.) from Huron University College and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

J.P. Mackay ’02
Member-at-Large

J.P. Mackay joined the Board of Governors in 2021. 

He is the chief operating officer at Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust.

He previously served as the president of UCC's Association Council and currently serves as chair of the Barbara A. Barrow Scholarship Foundation and is a member of the Lang Scholar Program advisory board.

He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and the Ivey Business School.

David Morgenstern ’90
Member-at-Large

David Morgenstern was appointed to the Board of Governors by the Association Council in 2021.
 
David currently serves on the Association Council as chair of the Events and Engagement Committee. His involvement with the College includes the Think Ahead Campaign (Boarding Cabinet), the Principal Search Committee, Founder’s Dinner co-chair and Annual Fund representative.
 
He is the president of Accenture Canada and is a member of Accenture’s Global Leadership Council, Accenture Canada’s Executive Committee and Inclusion and Diversity Council. David also serves on the INSEAD NAA Board of Directors.
 
He received his BA from McGill University and his MBA from INSEAD. 

Cynthia Schyff
Member-at-Large

Cynthia Schyff was appointed to the Board of Governors in 2023 and has served on the Finance and Audit Committee since 2018.

Cynthia is head of finance operations and transformation at Powerfleet. She was previously the chief financial officer of Fleet Complete, a global provider of fleet management solutions. She has more than 30 years of international management experience developed in high-growth and innovative technology industry environments. Prior to joining Fleet Complete, Cynthia served as CFO of Blue Ant Media and Algorithmics and worldwide head of operational risk and governance risk and compliance within the IBM Risk Analytics business.

Cynthia holds a bachelor of commerce from Queen’s University and is a CPA, CA. 

Chanakya Sethi ’03
Member-at-Large

Chanakya Sethi joined the Board of Governors in 2024. 

He is a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, where his practice focuses on high-stakes litigation matters.

In addition to serving on the UCC Board of Governors, Chan is currently president of the Association Council. 

Chan won the J. Herbert Mason Medal in his graduating year from UCC. He holds a bachelor of arts (music) from Princeton University, where he was editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian. He is also a graduate of Osgoode Hall at York University, where he was executive editor of the Osgoode Hall Law Journal and recipient of the Gold Medal for graduating first in his class, and Yale Law School (master of laws). 

 

Board Committees
Finance and Audit Committee
  • Cynthia Schyff, Chair
  • Richard Willoughby ’80, Board Chair
  • Sam McKinney, Principal
  • Felix Moses, Vice-Principal, Finance
  • Adam Brueckner ’97
  • Matthew Casey ’83
  • John Hockin ’89
  • Radhika Kakkar
  • David Matheson ’99
Governance and Nominating Committee 
  • David Morgenstern ’90, Chair
  • Richard Willoughby ’80, Board Chair
  • Russell Higgins ’81
  • Blake Hutcheson ’80
  • Dr. Ifedayo Kuye ’05
  • Joannah Lawson
  • J.P. Mackay ’02
  • Dr. Joseph Wong
  • Sam McKinney, Principal
  • Brendan Dellandrea ’01, Vice-Principal, Advancement

UCC Association Council

The UCC Association represents those with a demonstrated interest in the College, including all Old Boys, parents, faculty and staff.

The UCC Association Council is its independent governing body, with 21 elected and eight ex-officio members who meet throughout the year. Council members help deliver programs and events that engage our school community, including Association Day (A-Day) and the John D. Stevenson and Harold A.D. Roberts Circle Awards for outstanding UCC volunteerism.
 

Association Council Members
  • Chanakya Sethi ’03, President
  • John Hockin ’89, Chair, Events and Engagement Committee
  • Nina Piatek, Chair, Awards Committee
  • Kanwaljeet Biln
  • Bruno Castonguay ’98
  • Matthew Casey ’83
  • Anthony Chan ’97
  • Sunir Chandaria ’98
  • Gord Cheesbrough ’01
  • Chris Cruz ’02
  • Sevion DaCosta ’17
  • Anu Dhir
  • Ellen Fang
  • Ira Nishisato ’87
  • Ali Merali ’02
  • Max Rosenfeld ’99
  • Jamie Schwartz ’94
  • Christie Love Thomas
  • Rodger Wright ’70
  • John Yip ’91
  • Evan Young ’96

Ex-Officio

  • Richard Willoughby ’80, Chair, Board of Governors
  • Nicol Domingues, President, Prep Parents' Organization
  • Ann Tebo, President, Parents' Organization
  • J.P. Mackay ’02, Past President
  • Sam McKinney, Principal
  • Brendan Dellandrea ’01, Vice-Principal, Advancement and Principal’s Delegate
  • Mark Ferley ’96, Faculty Representative
  • Leanne Gardner, Associate Director, Community Relations

Association Appointed Board of Governors

  • Dr. Ifedayo Kuye ’05
  • David Morgenstern ’90
  • Richard Willoughby ’80

 

UCC Foundation

The UCC Foundation is a separate, independent entity governed by its own Board of Trustees and supported by staff shared with UCC. Its primary purpose is the careful stewardship of the school's endowment. The Foundation is a registered charity, distinct from the College, and was incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario in 1962.

UCC Foundation Board of Trustees
Elliot Johnson ’94, Chair

Elliot has served as a trustee since 2016 and was formerly a member of the UCC Foundation Investment Committee. 

He is the chief investment officer and chief operating officer of Evolve Funds, an investment firm specializing in exchange-traded mutual funds. Previously, he held senior roles at a number of large Canadian asset management, wealth management and capital markets firms.

Elliot was a trustee of Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he chaired the Committee on Investments.
Tanya Covassin

Tanya has been a trustee since 2018. She serves as a director of various private and public companies. In addition to her global board work, Tanya has a background in both investment banking and private equity. She has originated, structured, executed and managed large-scale private and public investments and financings. 

Tanya earned her BES (Hons.) from the University of Waterloo and her MBA from the University of Toronto. She also has an ICD.D certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Jim Garner ’77

Jim has served as a trustee since 2019. He was vice-principal, advancement and strategy of Upper Canada College and is a former Association Council president and member of the Board of Governors.

He is an experienced senior executive with broad expertise in finance, healthcare and life sciences, and the education sector. He has extensive board experience as a director and executive across public companies, the broader public sector and not-for-profit organizations. He has also held several executive roles in both the private and public sectors, including executive vice-president, corporate services at The Hospital for Sick Children, where he oversaw the planning of the $400-million Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning.

Jim holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Queen's University and an MBA from the Institute of Management Development in Switzerland. He is a CPA/CA and a Chartered Business Valuator and earned his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Patti MacNicol
Bio coming soon.
Christine McLean

Christine has served as a trustee since 2023.

She is a portfolio manager at Fairbank Investment Management. She began her career at Sprucegrove Investment Management as an investment analyst and later served as director of research. She is a board member of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd and Branksome Hall.  

Christine holds a bachelor of science in business administration specializing in finance from the University of Richmond, Virginia. 
Niral Merchant ’93

Niral Merchant has served as a trustee since 2018.

He is a principal of Augmentram Capital Corp., a private merchant bank and has held senior financial leadership roles in a number of operating companies. 

Niral has an MBA from INSEAD and is a chartered professional accountant and a CFA. He is an active volunteer serving on the boards of several philanthropic and community-based organizations.
Raymond Shiu

Raymond Shiu has been a trustee since 2020. He is director, private capital — consumer and retail at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). He has been involved in a number of direct investments across the consumer sector and currently sits on several boards of private companies within the OTPP portfolio.

Raymond earned a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the Ivey Business School.
Stephanie Tjon

Stephanie Tjon has served as a trustee since 2023.

She is manager, business support team in the Office of Economic Growth and Innovation at the OSC. Prior to joining the OSC, Stephanie practised business law at Osler and was a senior accountant at KPMG. She sits on the OSC’s Inclusion and Diversity Council and volunteers in her community on a number of committees and boards.

Stephanie holds a bachelor of commerce from Queen’s University and a law degree from the University of Toronto.
Percy Wong
Bio coming soon.

UCC Foundation Ex-Officio

Cynthia Schyff, College Board Appointee
Chanakya Sethi ’03, President, UCC Association

Foundation Staff

  • Brendan Dellandrea ’01, Executive Director
  • Felix Moses, Treasurer
  • Erika Reuter, Secretary

UCC Foundation Honorary Trustees
  • David Beatty ’59
  • Cathy Clark
  • Charles Cowan ’46
  • John Eaton ’57
  • Peter Eby ’56
  • Alan Ely ’65
  • Bernard Gustin ’65
  • Tom Heintzman ’58
  • Sam Hughes ’48
  • Arthur James ‘33
  • Hans Michael Jebsen
  • Desiree Jebsen
  • Lee Lau
  • Margaret Lau
  • Elizabeth Lee
  • Jimmy Lee
  • Michael MacMillan ’74
  • Diane Mara
  • Ted McMurrich ’34
  • Kelly Meighen
  • Michael Meighen
  • Tony Ormsby ’44
  • Paul Phelan ’69
  • Andy Pringle ’69
  • Loretta Rogers
  • John Stevenson ’47
  • John Stewart
  • Richard M. Thompson
  • John Thompson ’60
  • Roly Browning Watt, KC ’62
  • Julia West
  • Galen Weston
  • Michael Wilson ’55
  • William Wong ’82

 

UCC Foundation (U.S.)
Trustees

Incorporated in the State of New York and registered with Internal Revenue Service 501(c), the Upper Canada Educational Foundation provides a vehicle for U.S.-based members of the UCC community to support the College and receive an IRS tax receipt. The Upper Canada Educational Foundation is guided by its Board of Trustees and managed by UCC staff.

  • Fabio Savoldelli ’80, Chair
  • Brendan Dellandrea ’01, Vice-Principal, Advancement
  • Randy Carver ’82
  • Elliot Johnson ’94
  • Erik Schatzker ’88
  • Duncan Webb ’76

 

UCC Foundation (U.K.)
Trustees

Incorporated in the United Kingdom. and registered with Inland Revenue, the UCC United Kingdom Foundation provides a vehicle for U.K.-based members of our community to support the College. It’s guided by its Board of Trustees and managed by UCC staff.

  • Stewart Robertson ’81
  • Roly Browning Watt, KC ’62
  • Peter Wilson ’82