Susan Denburg to lead Forward with Integrity implementation

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Denburg_Susan.jpg” caption=”President Patrick Deane is appointing a senior leader to help guide the cross-campus effort to implement priorities identified in his letter to the community: Forward with Integrity. Susan Denburg, associate vice-president academic in the Faculty of Health Sciences will have the additional role of Strategic Advisor to the President. File photo.”]President Patrick Deane is appointing a senior leader to help guide the cross-campus
effort to implement priorities identified in his letter to the community: Forward with
Integrity.
Susan Denburg, associate vice-president academic in the Faculty of Health Sciences will
have the additional role of Strategic Advisor to the President.
“The University is very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Denburg's abilities leading
these important efforts,” President Deane said. “I look forward to her strategic counsel
and to her leadership as we deepen the conversation around the priority areas of
education, community engagement, research and internationalization.”
Earlier this fall, the President shared his letter with the McMaster community. It outlined
the priorities and principles he believes will best help shape the University's
development.
Since its release, there have been widespread discussions about the priorities including
a series of town halls involving students, the launch of a lecture series on the future of
undergraduate education and universities, as well as a number of discussions involving
community leaders and others.
Among Denburg's first steps will be the formation of a senior advisory panel to help
guide the operationalization of the priorities. In addition to the advisory panel, time-
limited task forces are being formed focusing on each of the four priority areas.
These groups will draw on the vast expertise available within the University community
and recommend approaches based on McMaster's strengths that advance its academic
and service mission. It is expected that these task forces will begin their work in January
and report by the end of the winter academic term.
“The deans have been most helpful in recommending people who are recognized
experts in these priority areas and who also have broad knowledge of the University,”
Denburg said. “We need the right people around the table for this important work to
have the most effective and creative outcomes.”
The engagement of the deans and the entire community will be central to the success of
the initiative as they work within and across the Faculties to identify particularly
successful programs and explore new initiatives consistent with the priorities and
principles articulated in the President's letter.
“This is an exciting time for McMaster,” Denburg said. “By working collaboratively and
leveraging the expertise, experiences and skills of our faculty, students and staff there
is an unprecedented opportunity to secure the future of McMaster as a forward-looking
institution in touch with and responsive to the needs of its internal and external
communities.”