As McMaster University Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Susan Tighe prepares for her transition to the role of university president, Jeremiah (Jerry) Hurley, the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, will serve as acting provost from April through June 2025.

Hurley has served as dean of Social Sciences since 2015. Under his leadership, the faculty has expanded interdisciplinary programming, deepened community engagement in research and teaching, and advanced equity, diversity, inclusion, and indigenous strategies (EDIIS).

His tenure also saw the launch of the Social Sciences co-op program, providing students with valuable, paid work experience and growing opportunities for experiential learning.

While serving as acting provost, Hurley will continue in his role as dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

“Jerry’s leadership, commitment to innovation, and dedication to academic excellence make him well-suited to step into this role during this important transition,” said Tighe.

“I appreciate his willingness to take on this responsibility and am confident that McMaster will benefit from his experience and collaborative approach.”

Hurley was recently reappointed for a third term as dean of Social Sciences, which will begin in January 2026 after a six-month administrative leave. The process to appoint an acting dean for the faculty during this period began in early 2025.

“I’m honoured to serve as acting provost during this transition,” said Hurley. “McMaster’s strength lies in its collaborative and innovative spirit, and I look forward to supporting the university community in this role.”

The selection committee created to lead the search for McMaster’s next provost is actively recruiting for the role. Further details about the transition will be shared in the coming months.