Call for Nominations – Advisory Committee for the Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (PDAD&C #69)

To:         Faculty, Students, and Staff, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs
From:    Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President & Provost
Date:    May 6, 2020
Re:         Call for Nominations – Advisory Committee for the Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (PDAD&C #69)


On June 30, 2021, Professor Ira Jacobs will complete his term as Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. Professor Jacobs is completing his second five-year decanal term and is not eligible for reappointment.

As Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), Professor Jacobs has been an exceptional leader, and has propelled the Faculty to recognition as one of the world’s top schools for kinesiology, exercise science, and sports-related subjects. Under his leadership, KPE has placed a renewed focus on interdisciplinary approaches to kinesiology and has shared its research and expertise with other health science Faculties through new partnerships and collaborations. KPE is also the administrative home for all of U of T’s varsity, intramural, club sports, recreational fitness, and physical activity programs. Professor Jacobs has been a champion for these programs and has promoted student participation in physical activity and sport to an all-time high, with tens of thousands of active and engaged students each year. In 2014, Professor Jacobs oversaw the opening of the Faculty’s new building, the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, a multi-purpose facility used for fitness training, research, a sports medicine clinic, and as the home courts for the Varsity Blues teams. Professor Jacobs has been instrumental in enhancing and deepening research and teaching at the Faculty, including new and expanded partnerships with more than 100 community organizations, and through the creation of the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre as an EDU led by KPE – one of the first centres of its kind in the world. Professor Jacobs has been a steadfast and collaborative leader, and his accomplishments have fostered a culture of excellence and innovation at the Faculty for years to come.

In accordance with Section 60 of the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am writing to call for the nominations of individuals to serve on the Committee that will advise on the appointment of a Dean.

The Policy mandates the composition of the Advisory Committee as follows:

  • The Vice-President and Provost (Chair);
  • Three to five members of the teaching staff of the Faculty;
  • One to three students of the Faculty;
  • The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or representative;
  • A librarian, where appropriate;
  • Two or three other qualified scholars from within or outside this University, but outside of the Faculty;
  • In addition, the Committee may include an alumnus/a, a member of the administrative staff, and a senior member of the appropriate professional community.

The Advisory Committee will begin meeting in the coming months. Nominations for the Committee should be submitted to the Office of the Vice-President & Provost by May 20, 2020, via the online form.

Questions about this search process may be directed to Assistant Provost Archana Sridhar at archana.sridhar@utoronto.ca.