I am pleased to announce that Dr. Leslie Reid, PhD'02, has been appointed Interim Dean of the University of Calgary's Faculty of Arts, with a mandate to maintain momentum on our key strategic initiatives, including Arts Renewal, and to continue positioning the faculty for long-term success.
Leslie Reid. Photo Courtesy Elyse Bouvier
Dr. Reid is a respected academic leader and professor (teaching) who has spent her career at UCalgary building collaborative relationships and supporting academic communities across the institution. She joined the university in 2003 in the Department of Geoscience and later served as Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Science. From 2017 to 2023, she was Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), working closely with academic leaders, faculty and students across all faculties to advance teaching excellence and institutional priorities. More recently, she has supported the Faculty of Arts through Arts Renewal and related transformational initiatives.
She is known for her collaborative, inclusive approach and for supporting teams through periods of transition, with a strong commitment to people and organizational well-being.
Dr. Reid advises that she is "honoured to serve the Faculty of Arts during this transition." Adding that her "focus will be on sustaining Arts Renewal, supporting the leadership team, and ensuring the faculty is well positioned as the search for its next Dean moves forward."
A full decanal search for the faculty's next permanent dean will begin shortly. As a senior leader from outside the faculty who will not be seeking the permanent dean role, Dr. Reid's appointment ensures continuity and momentum while the university proceeds with this search.
I would also like to thank Dr. Aoife Mac Namara, PhD, for her dedicated leadership over the past three-and-a-half years. Under her stewardship, the Faculty of Arts advanced its strategic direction and laid important groundwork through Arts Renewal. Dr. Mac Namara will continue to support this work as Special Advisor to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).
Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Reid to her interim role and thanking Dr. Mac Namara for her service to the Faculty of Arts and the University of Calgary, as Dean and now as Special Advisor.
Sandra Davidson, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, FCAN (she/her)
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
University of Calgary
