Justice Eileen Gillese, former dean of Western Law, has been named chancellor of Brescia University College, the Board of Trustees announced Monday. Gillese, who follows Joan Francolini to the position, will assume the role at the Western affiliate’s baccalaureate ceremony on June 14.
“We are so grateful Justice Gillese has accepted this important ambassadorial role at Brescia,” said Elizabeth Hewitt, Board of Trustees chair. “Throughout her career, she has been, and continues to be, a mentor and a role model for women, whether they are students, lawyers or her own daughters.”
Gillese was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2002, after serving as a Superior Court Justice from 1999-2002. Prior to her judicial appointments, she was dean and professor of law with Western’s Faculty of Law, where she taught trusts, pensions, property, administrative law, and legal research and writing (1983-99). She has received a number of teaching awards, including the Edward Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching and the inaugural National 3M Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching.
She holds a bachelor of business administration and commerce from the University of Alberta and undergraduate and graduate law degrees from Oxford University, England, which she attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Born in Edmonton, Alta., she is married to Robert Badun and has four children.
