On December 31, 2018, Professor Luc De Nil will end his second term as Vice-Dean, Students in the School of Graduate Studies. Professor De Nil is not eligible for reappointment.

A faculty member in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Professor De Nil was appointed Vice-Dean, Students of the School of Graduate Studies in 2012. Since then, he has served as an expert resource on matters of academic integrity at the graduate level and has played a leadership role in developing resources and supports to improve the graduate student experience. From 2016 to 2017, he led the consultation team engaged in updating the School of Graduate Studies’ Graduate Supervision Guidelines for faculty and students. He was also instrumental in facilitating supervision workshops for faculty in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI). Most recently, Professor De Nil applied his administrative expertise and keen understanding of graduate student issues to the role of Acting Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Acting Vice-Provost, Graduate Research & Education.

I am pleased to announce that the Agenda Committee of Academic Board has approved the extension of Professor Charmaine Williams’ appointment as Acting Vice-Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies for a six-month term ending June 30, 2019. An Advisory Committee to recommend the appointment of a new Vice-Dean, Students will begin its work in the winter term.

Professor Williams has served as Acting Vice-Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies since May 7, 2018. In addition to consulting with students on academic matters, she has brought her extensive knowledge of graduate student issues to a wide range of outreach initiatives, including facilitating Orientation sessions for incoming graduate students and collaborating with University partners on faculty workshops focused around conflict resolution and supervision. An Associate Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and the Factor-Inwentash Chair in Health and Mental Health, Professor Williams has also served as Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Officer (2003-2004) and Provostial Advisor on Access Programs (2014-2015). From 2009 to 2014, she served as Associate Dean, Academic of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

Please join me in thanking Professor De Nil for his outstanding contributions to the graduate community and in congratulating Professor Williams on the extension of her appointment.