Following a competitive search process, Krista Devine will take up an appointment as university counsel and chief legal officer, effective March 6. Reporting to the president, Devine will oversee the existing legal services team, as a result of re-organization, and work with senior leadership on a range of legal considerations. She will also manage the University’s relationship and strategy with external law firms.

Devine comes to the University from the Public Service Alliance of Canada after serving in various legal roles since 2006, most recently as general counsel of the Executive Office Branch. She brings over two decades of leading organizational legal portfolios and social justice to the role having worked closely with non-profit organizations and unions in Canada and the United States. Devine is a two-time UWindsor alumna, having obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Windsor Law in 1996 and her Master of Arts degree in political science in 1999. Devine also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University.

President Robert Gordon said he is delighted to welcome Devine to the University of Windsor community and credits the search committee for the impressive selection.

“Krista’s experience will transfer well to this role to further the University’s academic mission and institutional sustainability,” he said. “Universities across the country have been challenged by the increasingly complex post-secondary legal landscape, and I am thrilled that the search committee was able to identify an exceptional candidate for the role with a depth of leadership in contractual, labour, and human rights law and a people-focused approach to legal practice.”

For her part, Devine said she is “delighted” to join Richard Taylor, director of legal services, and the entire legal services team.

“I have been so impressed by the warm and thoughtful welcome I have received returning to Windsor,” she said. “I am excited by this opportunity to use my skills and experience to help support the leadership and broader community, to be part of building a progressive and dynamic University.”