Dear colleagues,

I am writing to share that we have a new dean in the Faculty of Education.

Dr. Daniel Laitsch is currently a professor in the SFU Faculty of Education. His scholarship and teaching are based in the social foundations of education and the role professional educators play in advancing a just and equitable society. Over his 17 years at SFU, he has served on the Faculty of Education’s executive committee and as an active member of senate and associated senate committees. He has previously held leadership roles as president of the SFU Faculty Association and president of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC, and currently chairs the board of directors of the Institute for Public Education BC.

Dan’s term begins on September 1, 2023. Please join me in congratulating him on his new role.

I’d also like to thank Dr. Kris Magnusson for ably stepping in as dean pro tem, beginning in May 2022, as we conducted this search. Recently, Kris began providing leadership to the SFU Medical School project, and other academic leaders in the Faculty of Education stepped in as co-deans. I’d like to recognize the support of Dr. Kriistina Kumpulainen, Associate Dean, Academic and Faculty Development; Dr. Lucy LeMare, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies in Education, Director, Centre for Research on Early Child and Health Education (CRECHE); Dr. Michelle Pidgeon, Associate Dean, Indigeneity, ʔək̓ʷstənəq ts'up'new̓ásentas; Dr. Nathalie Sinclair, Associate Dean, Research and International.

Yours truly,

Dr. Wade Parkhouse
Provost and Vice-President Academic, pro tem