Arts is now six schools!

I am incredibly proud to celebrate an exciting milestone for the Faculty of Arts with the launch of our new schools. Yesterday, July 1, marked the moment when the Faculty’s new organizational structure was realized — we are now six schools:

• The School of Critical and Creative Humanities includes all programming and research from Communication Arts, English Language & Literature, Fine Arts, French Studies, Germanic & Slavic Studies, Spanish & Latin American Studies.
• The School of Social, Political and Historical Research includes all programming and research from Anthropology, Classical Studies, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology & Legal Studies.
• The former departments of Economics and Psychology are renamed the School of Economics and the School of Psychology.
• The existing School of Accounting and Finance and Stratford School of Interaction Design & Business will continue.

Since last fall’s Board of Governors approval of our proposal to restructure Arts, tremendous commitment and effort have been made by faculty and staff, particularly in the two new multidisciplinary schools and in my office, to prepare for this moment. We have elected new school directors, appointed school governance roles, and reappointed current staff to new roles within the two new schools. I am so grateful for the patience, cooperation and support of my colleagues during this transition. We have done it together!

Now we look to the future. Our new structure positions Arts not just to adapt but to lead, especially in the context of evolving educational and economic priorities. Every one of us — students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners — are experiencing rapid technological change, pressing social challenges, and real fiscal constraints. I firmly believe the research and teaching in Waterloo Arts provides the perspective and skills for understanding complexity and shaping a more positive future.

Our six schools are leaning into their core strengths while also collaborating across our disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, creative and media arts. We are already well underway in developing new interdisciplinary programming, research and public engagement plans. In fact, we have just selected the successful proposals for our new Schools Interdisciplinary Research Projects, which are generously supported by the Vice President, Research and International. I’m looking forward to announcing these timely projects, along with other brand-new signature initiatives, in the coming weeks and months.

This is our moment. And I cannot be more energized by what lies ahead. So, stay tuned.