David Cameron is completing his term as dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts & Science, a position he held for six years, but his guiding influence will continue when he comes back to serve as special adviser to the president and provost in January.
An accomplished political scientist, Cameron has been hailed as a steadying force at the university, which he has served in many capacities, including vice-president of institutional relations and chair of the political science department.
"I think I've had the best job in the university and one of the best jobs, frankly in my whole career," Cameron said about his time as dean. "And I've had some pretty good jobs over the years."
His resumé includes senior positions with the Ontario government such as deputy minister for intergovernmental affairs and deputy minister and special constitutional adviser to the premier.
Cameron, a scholar of Canadian federalism, Quebec nationalism and constitutional reform, later turned his attention to political change and constitution-making in conflict and post-conflict situations in places like Sri Lanka, Iraq, Somalia, the Western Sahara and Jerusalem.
"I've learned that most jobs that are truly fulfilling are hard," he said. "They're filled with challenges, opportunities and laced with engaging puzzles and strategic choices."
"Not all hard jobs are good, but most good jobs are hard," he added. "And being the dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science is a good, hard job."
Cameron became interim dean in 2013 as the faculty was going through financial turbulence.
Under his leadership, the faculty has, by many accounts, grown, found new momentum and developed a greater sense of community.
