Humber Associate VP Embree retiring after 42 years

Humber College associate vice-president of planning and development Rick Embree. [PHOTO COURTESY: Humber College]

By Samantha Martin

Humber College’s associate vice-president of planning and development, Rick Embree has announced this will be his last year at Humber.

Embree is one of Humber’s longest serving members and after 42 years of working at the college, Embree has decided to retire in August.

News of his retirement began circulating at the college on Tuesday.

Humber’s director of strategic initiatives planning, Nancy Burt spoke with Humber News reporter Jeanette Liu. Burt has known Embree for many years and said Embree has been an important part of the development of the school.

“Rick came as a young man in his early twenties, and at that time he worked in a technology division and taught math,” said Burt. “ Since that time Rick has been working in various roles.”

The most important role Embree has taken on is in planning and development, a role that includes developing new programs for Humber.

After over four decades of working at the school the staff and friends he has made over the years will miss him once he officially retires this summer, said Burt.

“I don’t think Humber would be as it is if it weren’t for Rick Embree,” said Burt. “Rick has been at the head of a team that really developed Humber to be the way that it is today.”

Burt said she would describe Embree as a good boss and an “awfully nice man” who will be missed at the college.

Embree’s office is based at the North campus. There is no word yet on who might replace him.