Catherine Anderson has been appointed acting vice-provost, Teaching and Learning, during vice-provost Kim Dej’s six-month research leave.

Anderson, an associate professor (teaching stream) in the department of Linguistics & Languages, is the director of the Gender & Social Justice Program.

“I am pleased that Dr. Catherine Anderson will be stepping into the role of acting vice-provost, Teaching and Learning,” says Susan Tighe, provost and vice-president (Academic).

“Catherine’s dedication to enhancing the student learning experience, her innovative approaches to pedagogy, and her collaborative spirit make her an excellent fit for this role. I look forward to seeing her continue the impactful work of advancing teaching and learning at McMaster.”

In her new role, Anderson will be responsible for enhancing the quality of teaching both within and beyond instructional spaces, as well as advancing McMaster’s Teaching and Learning Strategy.

“Throughout my 20 years in the classroom in Humanities, I’ve been guided by my belief that one of the most effective ways to change the world is through education,” Anderson says.

“My work has often been enriched by collaborations with others across the university who share that vision, which is why I’m so excited to work with and learn from the incredible team in the office of the vice-provost, Teaching and Learning.”

“With the depth of knowledge in this office, and in the MacPherson Institute, the Office of Community Engagement, and the INSPIRE office, I’m confident we can sustain Kim’s work during her well-deserved research leave.”

Anderson earned a PhD in Linguistics from Northwestern University. She is also a McMaster graduate, having completed an Honours B.A. in Linguistics in the 1990s.

She is the associate editor of the Teaching Linguistics section of Language and a two-time winner of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Award for Teaching Excellence. She was recognized for her open-access e-textbook, Essentials of Linguistics, which was funded by eCampusOntario, and is the most-adopted resource in the Ontario Open Library.

Anderson begins her six-month term as acting vice-provost, Teaching and Learning, on Jan. 1, 2025.