Prof. Chuck Macdonald will be concluding his term as Dean of the Faculty of Science in August 2021, when he will prepare to begin an appointment as Dean of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Science on Sept. 1, 2021.
“On behalf of the Carleton community, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Chuck for the leadership he has provided the Faculty of Science and the University since joining Carleton in August 2018,” said Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Jerry Tomberlin.
Over the last three years, Macdonald has been instrumental in bringing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to the forefront of the Faculty of Science’s strategic priorities and operations. A number of significant faculty-specific EDI initiatives, notably the inaugural appointment of Prof. Rowan Thomson as Assistant Dean, EDI, the establishment of the Awareness, Collaboration and Engagement (ACE) event series and the Faculty of Science EDI Committee, have supported and furthered the university’s collective work.
Under Macdonald’s leadership, the Faculty of Science has seen substantial growth in student enrolment and research funding and has dramatically increased communications and outreach activities. His focus on sharing science research with the broader community has been well supported by community-focused events such as the increasingly popular annual Biology Butterfly Show and annual Chemistry Magic Show. Macdonald has overseen the launch of new certificates in Science Policy and Science Communications and the development of research-based Master’s and PhD programs in Data Science—both of which are set to be approved by the province. During his term, he also hired more than 30 new faculty members.
“I would also like to recognize Chuck’s leadership in managing the operations of the Faculty of Science throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, where he has continued to foster an important sense of community through virtual town halls and regular communication,” said Tomberlin. “Although we will all greatly miss Chuck, please join me in congratulating him on his next opportunity at Dalhousie University.”
Carleton has engaged a search firm to assist with the search for a new Dean of Science and will be forming an advisory search committee shortly. There will be an opportunity for community consultation later in the process. In the meantime, an interim Dean of Science will be announced in the coming days.