Appointment of Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science

PDAD&C#50, 2012-13

To:   Faculty, Staff and Students of the Faculty of Arts & Science

      Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

From: Cheryl Misak, Vice-President and Provost

Date: March 28, 2013

Re:   Appointment of Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science

CC:   President David Naylor

      The Bulletin

As announced on March 4th by the Chair of Governing Council, Professor Meric Gertler has been appointed the 16th President of the University of Toronto.  He will be ending his term as Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science on April 30, 2013, having provided stellar leadership to its students, faculty, and staff for the last five years.

I am extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Professor David Cameron as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, effective May 21, 2013 until June 30, 2014 or until the appointment of a new Dean, whichever comes first.  Professor Rob Baker, Vice-Dean, Research and Infrastructure, has kindly agreed to serve as Acting Dean for the first three weeks of May.

Professor Cameron has been Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto since 1985.  His research interests include Canadian government and politics, particularly questions of federalism, Quebec nationalism, French-English relations, constitutional renewal and national unity.  He has written and edited numerous books, including: Nationalism, Self-Determination and the Quebec Question; The Social Thought of Rousseau and Burke: A Comparative Study; and, The Referendum Papers: Essays on Secession and National Unity. Professor Cameron is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, and also a recipient of the Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies, the University of Toronto's Ludwik and Estelle Jus Human Rights Prize, the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award, and the Adrienne Clarkson Public Service Laureateship.

Professor Cameron served as the Dean of Arts and Science at Trent University from 1975-1977 and Chair of Trent's Department of Political Science from 1970-1975.  At the University of Toronto, he has served as Vice-President, Institutional Relations from 1985 to 1987; Acting Chair, Department of Political Science from 2002 to 2003; Acting Vice-Dean, Undergraduate Education and Teaching of FAS in 2003-2004; and, Chair of the Department of Political Science from 2006-2012.  In addition to extensive administrative and advisory work at the federal level and internationally, Professor Cameron served from 1987 to 1995 in a series of positions for the Government of Ontario as follows: Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs; Deputy Minister and Special Advisor to the Premier on Constitutional Reform; and, Special Constitutional Advisor to the Premier of Ontario. 

I am extremely grateful to Professor Cameron for stepping forward during what will be an important transition for both the Faculty of Arts and Science and the University of Toronto.