Supporting faculty in their roles as educators and scholars will be the focus for McMaster’s newly appointed associate vice-president, Faculty. Susan Searls Giroux assumes her new role on July 1. The position is for a five year term.

“Susan brings an intense appreciation for the role faculty play at a university and a range of experiences that will help her to effectively support faculty across McMaster as they develop new approaches to their roles as educators and scholars ,” said provost and vice-president, Academic David Wilkinson.

“I feel very honoured to be entrusted with the responsibilities that comprise this portfolio,” said Searls Giroux. “Universities in Canada and across North America face a number of daunting challenges informed by shifting demographic, economic, technological and political contexts and commitments. Yet McMaster has a rich tradition of intensive and engaged scholarship as well as transformative pedagogical practice. I look forward to assisting and encouraging the professional development of faculty in their role as researchers and teachers as they redefine and renew the twenty-first century academy.”

The provost’s focus on delivering on the priorities and principles of Forward with Integrity inspired a reformulation within the provost’s office. The new AVP Faculty role will help to lead the development and implementation of initiatives that enhance the research-focused student-centred culture of teaching at McMaster. The portfolio also encompasses responsibility for curricular development and quality assurance at the undergraduate level, interdisciplinary programs not administered by a Faculty, the Centre for Continuing Education and educational programs with college and university partners.

Searls Giroux joined McMaster in 2004 as an assistant professor in English and Cultural Studies. Her promotion to full professor was previously approved effective July 1. Her undergraduate and masters degrees were earned at Miami University and she completed her PhD at Pennsylvania State where she was also a senior lecturer in the Department of English. Much of her research is concerned with the politics and history of higher education.