The Dean search for the largest faculty at Queen’s has begun.
According to a recent announcement in the Queen’s Gazette, the University launched its search for a new Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) on June 4. Typically held for a five-year term, the position will be filled following a search process that’s expected to continue throughout the 2025–26 academic year.
The current Interim Dean, Bob Lemieux, was appointed after the resignation of former Dean, Barbara Crow, in 2024. Lemieux has been serving a two-year term, set to finish at the end of the current academic year.
The committee, chaired by Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), Matthew Evans, includes 16 other members—faculty, administrators, and two students, including a Graduate student representative, who will all take part in the decision-making process. In a statement to The Journal, the University explained that additional opportunities for feedback will be available to those not on the committee, including through an online survey.
“In addition, the firm assisting with the search will be working directly with the student representatives on the committee to determine the best way to ensure the opinions and voices of students are reflected in the overall process,” the University wrote.
Ivana Drinziu, President of the Arts & Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS), is one of two students on the panel. She said the next dean should be someone with integrity, financial acumen, and the patience to build trust with students and departments.
“Leadership-wise, I would say integrity, and [someone who has a] sort of financially acumen. A little bit of knowledge in that area [is important],” Drinziu said in an interview with The Journal. “They should be a strong communicator, try to build trust across departments and student groups, and they should probably prioritize collaborative leadership rather than top-down
decision making.”
In regard to the faculty’s recent budget challenges, including ArtSci set to spend $35 million over budget during the 2025-26 school year, Drinziu reiterated the importance of financial acumen in the dean’s role.
“Experience in strategic budget management, risk management, and institutional restructuring will be beneficial. It was for the previous dean [Lemeiux], and I’m assuming that’s where the faculty is looking to take us as well,” Drinziu said.
Speaking about the search process, Drinziu believes there are strategies in place to ensure the student voice is reflected. However, she acknowledged that many students may still feel disconnected from the process, adding that this is where her role as ASUS president becomes important.
“I’m an elected student leader, and I think my most notable job description is advocacy for our students and making sure that their opinions, their feedback, their concerns, and their comments, are meaningfully considered in the search,” Drinziu said.
As for how ASUS plans to collect feedback, Drinziu explained while they’re still planning exactly what it will look like, they’ve discussed the possibility of town halls, surveys, and focus groups. While also planning to take advantage of their website and social media to promote feedback, she stressed her hope to make her email as available as possible to hear directly from students.
The Office of the Principal sent out an email on May 4 to FAS students, faculty, and staff to inform individuals of the search and similarly encourage feedback to the Provost’s email.
Tags
ArtSci, ASUS executive, budget challenges, Dean search
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