Appointment of Professor Susan Hill as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Curriculum and Education and Professor Suzanne Stewart as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Research (PDAD&C #8)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President & Provost 
Date: September 6, 2019 
Re: Appointment of Professor Susan Hill as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Curriculum and Education and Professor Suzanne Stewart as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Research 
(PDAD&C #8) 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Susan Hill as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Curriculum and Education and the appointment of Professor Suzanne Stewart as Academic Advisor on Indigenous Research. Both Professor Hill and Professor Stewart’s appointments are until June 30, 2020.

Professor Susan Hill will advise me on ways to improve our Indigenous curriculum and education for students. Working collaboratively with the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Innovations in Undergraduate Education; the Vice-Provost, Graduate Research and Education; and the academic divisions, Professor Hill will examine and develop ways to improve Indigenous teaching and learning at the University, with a focus on academic curricula and new collaborative teaching opportunities in Indigenous Studies. Professor Hill will also provide advice to faculty and course instructors seeking to include Indigenous experiences and knowledge in their teaching, as well as oversee the development of an institutional resource bank for Indigenous content and teaching materials. In developing this new resource bank, Professor Hill will work closely with the University of Toronto Libraries and colleagues across the University to consolidate new and existing resources at the University.

Professor Suzanne Stewart will advise me on Indigenous research at the University of Toronto and will consult with the academic divisions to provide leadership and guidance to colleagues conducting research in Indigenous communities. In this capacity, Professor Stewart will work collaboratively with the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives on issues relating to Indigenous research and working with Indigenous communities, such as providing advice to faculty members and students interested in conducting collaborative research with Indigenous communities. Professor Stewart will also assist in the development of best practice and guidance documents for research ethics submissions to ensure that they are respectful and inclusive of Indigenous communities. In developing these new best practice and guidance documents, Professor Stewart will work closely with the U of T Elders’ Circle and our Indigenous community partners.

In undertaking these initiatives, Professor Hill and Professor Stewart will work closely with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

I am confident that Professor Hill and Professor Stewart’s expertise on Indigenous curricula, education, scholarship, and research will be key to furthering the University of Toronto’s commitment to the calls to action laid out in Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin – the University’s response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Please join me in welcoming them in their special advisory roles.