News

Congratulations to three faculty members in Arts who have been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). This month the RSC announced its new fellows, members and award recipients. Among them are Dr. Andrew Cooper, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Dr. Myra Fernandes, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and Dr. Geoffrey Fong, FRSC, recipient of the RSC Jackman Prize.

As Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives, Henderson will oversee the Academic Leadership Program and guide several initiatives within the Associate Vice-President, Academic portfolio, including supporting evaluation activities

Arts is honoured to welcome Dr. Talia Bettcher as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Trans Community Resilience. Joining the School of Social, Political and Historical Research, she is internationally recognized as a ground-breaking philosopher and scholar in the interdisciplinary field of transgender studies

Dr. Locksley Edmondson, the first Black professor at Waterloo, died on August 18, 2026 in Ithaca, New York, at age 92. An influential Jamaican scholar whose career spanned over five decades across several countries, Edmondson joined Waterloo’s new Political Science department in 1963.

Mathieu Doucet has been appointed Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Integrity, effective August 1, bringing significant relevant experience to the role including serving as Chair of the Philosophy Department for the past three years

Five interdisciplinary research projects addressing societal issues will strengthen our new schools’ research activity and create opportunities for faculty and graduate students to engage in transformative research that pushes traditional disciplinary boundaries.

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.

Dr. Daniel Smilek from Psychology is among four exceptional Waterloo educators who have received the 2026 Distinguished Teacher Award — one of the institution’s highest honours celebrating excellence in teaching. 

The School of Accounting and Finance (SAF), the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, and the Faculty of Arts mourn the loss of Professor Tony Wirjanto, a mentor and scholar whose impact extended well beyond the University and was shaped by his deep commitment to sustainability and climate research.

Dean Alexie Tcheuyap and the Arts Honours and Awards committee are pleased to share the results of the 2026 Arts Awards for Excellence in Service, Teaching, and Research.