Academic Dean

With gratitude, Renison University College acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Hodinohsyó:ni, and Attawandaran (Neutral) Peoples, which is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land granted to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometres on each side of the Grand River from mouth to source. The active work towards reconciliation takes place in all corners of Renison’s campus through research, learning, teaching, community building, and outreach.

Established in 1959 as an affiliated institution of the University of Waterloo, Renison University College offers a close-knit community where students live, learn, and grow, while benefiting from the academic breadth and resources of a world-class university. Renison is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach to understanding people, communities, and cultures. For example, its Social Development Studies program brings together psychology, sociology, and social work, while its health-focused Master of Social Work, the first of its kind in Canada, takes a holistic approach to the social and structural determinants of health.

Guided by its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, Meeting the Moment, Renison is focused on nurturing transformative leaders; advancing Indigenization, decolonization, inclusion, diversity and equity; fostering a strong and healthy community; strengthening teaching, research and learning; and advancing institutional sustainability. Together, through small-class learning, close faculty-student relationships, interdisciplinary study, experiential and community-engaged learning, and opportunities to connect scholarship with real-world challenges, Renison prepares students to see complex issues from multiple perspectives and develop the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the wider world.

Reporting to the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Academic Dean serves as Renison University College’s Senior Academic Officer and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. The role oversees undergraduate and graduate programs, academic planning, curriculum development, program innovation and quality, enrolment and registrarial activities, academic unit leadership, and student academic matters. Through a collegial, relationship-centred leadership approach, the Academic Dean will work collaboratively across Renison and with partners at the University of Waterloo to advance academic excellence, foster innovation in teaching and scholarship, strengthen partnerships and governance, and champion equity, inclusion, and decolonization across Renison’s academic life.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree and bring a proven track record as a scholar, educator, and administrator. They will possess significant experience in academic administration, including academic planning, faculty affairs, strategic enrolment management, budget and resource management, and governance. A strategic and future-oriented thinker, they will recognize and build upon Renison’s distinctive strengths, identify emerging opportunities, and translate innovative ideas into practical initiatives and measurable outcomes.

They will also be an inclusive and relationship-centred leader with a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and student success. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, communication, and listening skills, with a proven ability to build trust, foster collaboration, navigate complex issues, and resolve conflicts with diplomacy and sound judgment. Guided by integrity, creativity, and a commitment…