Office of the Provost reorganization nearly complete

A look at the new players

Maeve Haldane | McGill's Provost's office is on an invigorating roll with new appointments this fall. Psychology professor Morton Mendelson (see Entre Nous in the August 24 Reporter) was recently named Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), a new position that underscores McGill's commitment to the overall student experience. Now, Hélène Perrault has stepped up to the plate from the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education to take on the role of Associate Provost (Planning and Budgets) (see story).

Martin Kreiswirth will join McGill as Associate Provost (Graduate Education).

In February, Martin Kreiswirth will join McGill as Dean of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies and Associate Provost (Graduate Education).

Kreiswirth comes from the University of Western Ontario, where he was associate dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies since 1996, and dean since 2002. He is also a literary scholar, whose interests include narrative and literary theory, and the works of William Faulkner. Kreiswirth's research includes looking at the ways in which knowledge is produced, disseminated and categorized.

Kreiswirth became involved in graduate studies after setting up an interdisciplinary research centre in theory and criticism at Western in 1986. After a few years, the student demand was such that he started an MA program that thrived and was followed by a PhD program.

His interest in pedagogy and research made him a good fit for the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and, as he puts it, "I like to get things done." He was filling in as acting dean when he realized, "as dean, I could make things happen, make graduate education more prominent."

Kreiswirth is excited to come to McGill. "It's an interesting challenge and a fantastic place." Of Provost Anthony Masi and Principal Heather Munroe-Blum, he said, "We saw eye to eye what McGill is trying to do." He's excited about furthering McGill's graduate research, and acknowledges the funding challenges faced by the university. "The last thing I want to be is someone who just regulates and administers."

Currently, Kreiswirth is chair of the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, a post he will give up on moving here. He will continue to be on the executive committees of the North Eastern Association of Graduate Schools and the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies.

Laura Winer, executive director of the Office of the Provost, said that most of the office's changes are in place. "The only major player still to be named is the Chief Information Officer, and we hope to be able to make that announcement shortly."

And as the Office of the Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) reorganizes, the Office of the Provost will have increased integration with other units. "People are really excited about building structures where we're working together," Winer added. "It's a really good team feeling."