posted on April 10: McMaster’s humanities dean moving west

Daniel Woolf, dean of the Faculty of Humanities, is taking on a new challenge at the University of Alberta.

He's been appointed the university's next dean of arts. The University of Alberta Board of Governors still needs to ratify Woolf's appointment.

“It's an incredibly exciting opportunity,” Woolf says. “It's a chance
to tackle new professional challenges. It also means I can be closer to family.”

Woolf arrived at McMaster in July 1999. Among his achievements during
his time as dean were the development of the McArthur multimedia wing
and introduction of the successful communication studies program.

He says, “I'm leaving with mixed emotions. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at McMaster and have learned a lot from faculty and staff colleagues. I know the Faculty will continue to grow stronger and I'm sorry I won't be a part of its future accomplishments.”

The dean's position in Alberta was left vacant when Ken Norrie left the post to become McMaster's provost early this year.

“Daniel has provided McMaster's Faculty of Humanities with inspired leadership. He's also been an important part of the University's senior management team. He deserves our congratulations and I wish him well as he takes on his new duties,” says Norrie.

Woolf will leave McMaster at the end of June and will assume his
position at the University of Alberta on August 1.

Norrie says it's too early to determine when the search for a new dean will begin, but the campus community will be kept informed when those decisions are made.