Ken Cruikshank appointed Dean of Humanities

Ken Cruikshank is McMaster’s new dean of Humanities.

His appointment to a five-year term, effective July 1, was confirmed this week by both the Board of Governors and Senate. The McMaster professor of history has served as acting dean for the past year.

“Ken has performed admirably as acting dean and brings outstanding leadership to the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster,” says provost David Wilkinson. “His wealth of administrative experience and very high level of credibility with colleagues, students and staff will be essential in the coming years as the Faculty achieves its goals, while working together to successfully overcome challenges.”

Cruikshank joined McMaster’s history department in 1993, arriving in Hamilton from Trent University. He holds a PhD and Masters from York University and an undergraduate degree in History from Carleton.

He has served in a number of senior roles at McMaster including as chair of the Department of History, as a member of the University’s budget and planning committees, co-chair of the committee to recommend a president and chair of the transition committee for the president-designate.

As a faculty member he has held a number of executive roles in the Faculty Association including serving as its president.

“It is a privilege to continue to work alongside the highly-skilled and deeply committed Humanities faculty, staff and students,” Cruikshank says.  “McMaster is highly regarded for its tradition of liberal arts scholarship and I look forward to working with the entire McMaster family to ensure that we continue to offer high quality programs and conduct leading research in a sustainable manner.”