Donna Varrica returns as Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs

Donna Varrica was appointed on Feb. 25 by the Board of Governors to the position of Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs. She is replacing Megan Ainscow, who is on maternity leave.

Donna has overall responsibility for website content, internal communications, major College-wide events, and media relations. “I am graced with an exceptional team,” Donna said. “We work hard to put Dawson’s best face forward, even in challenging times. The Corporate Affairs duties are new to me, but I will be surrounded by experienced people, such as Janet Pakulis, and aided by Gabrielle Gayrard, the new Associate Director, Corporate and Legal Affairs, and Elise Harding, to support a dedicated Board of Governors and its chair, Sean Smith.”

Donna’s vision for Dawson communications is to “enhance our image and reputation generally, and to show our collective pride by putting the academic achievements of our incredible students, faculty and staff front and centre.”

On the Corporate Affairs side, Donna’s responsibilities include the selection process for a new Director General. “It has been a privilege to work with Diane Gauvin for over 20 years in her various positions. To see her successor take their position in January 2026 at the midpoint of the College’s sixth decade as a college of first choice will be a milestone for us all,” Donna said.

Donna has spent most of her career leading communications in the field of higher education: 10 years at Concordia and over 20 at Dawson, both of which are her alma maters. Donna is a graduate of the Literature and Languages program at Dawson, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Concordia University. In the mid-1990s, she took an educational leave to go to London, England to pursue a master’s program in International Journalism. “It was the most enriching academic experience of my life, and also in my personal life as I married my Dutch classmate, who is a working journalist for his national newspaper, covering Canada and the U.S.”