Humanities dean reappointed to second term

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/suzannecrosta2012.jpg” caption=”Suzanne Crosta, Dean of Humanities, has been reappointed to a second term. A two-time graduate of McMaster, Crosta’s scholarly career and international reputation was built from her work in the field of French colonial, African and Caribbean literature and genres. Photo by Cavouk.”]Suzanne Crosta, Dean of Humanities at McMaster University in Hamilton has been re-
appointed to a second term. She will now serve until 2017.

The Board of Governors confirmed the re-appointment last week.

“Dean Crosta has led the Faculty of Humanities with great distinction, building strong
partnerships with our students, faculty and the community. She has also expanded the
Faculty's international reach. McMaster is well-served by her leadership and by the
Faculty's plan for continued success,” said Ilene Busch-Vishniac, provost and vice-
president academic.

“I am honoured to be asked to continue the building up of the Faculty of Humanities,”
Crosta said. “The next five years will be transformational for the humanities at
McMaster. We are set to implement an impressive range of exciting initiatives to further
strengthen and enhance research, teaching and the student experience. Our Faculty is
home to some of the most innovative, creative and intellectual talents in their respective
fields. I am looking forward to serving faculty, students and staff and to taking
McMaster to even greater academic achievements.”

A two-time graduate of McMaster University, Dean Crosta earned her doctorate at the
University of Toronto. She returned to McMaster as an assistant professor in the
Department of French in 1990.

Crosta's scholarly career and international reputation was built from her extensive
contributions to, and publication record in the field of French colonial, African and
Caribbean literatures and genres. She is fluent in six languages.

In 2002, she was appointed associate dean and was named dean in 2007. In her first
term as dean, Crosta developed and championed an impressive number of new
initiatives in the Faculty, from international partnerships and collaboration such as the
Confucius Institute to the establishment of a number of new graduate and
undergraduate programs, new institutes and distinguished chairs.

The next five years will see the construction of the L.R. Wilson Hall at McMaster, which
will house both the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences. Crosta sees this
investment as central to fulfilling her plan for enhanced student learning, integrated
research and community partnerships.

“We are grateful to our donors and supporters of the L.R. Wilson Hall. Their
contributions will allow the Faculty of Humanities to build on the important
advancements we are making in research and teaching. By facilitating collaboration
under one roof, we will create new synergies and innovations that will define the
twenty-first century humanities at McMaster,” Crosta said. “I see my job in the next five
years as helping to realize our Faculty's tremendous potential – to ensure our faculty
and our students have every opportunity to make their mark at a national and
international level.”