News

The Government of Canada has just announced the newest group of Canada Research Chairs (CRC), including two from Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts. Alana Cattapan, a professor in Political Science, is a tier two CRC in The Politics of Reproduction. Logan MacDonald, a professor in Fine Arts, is a tier two CRC in Indigenous Art. Congratulations to both outstanding scholars on their distinguished career achievement!

Organized by the Master of Public Service Policy & Data Lab and GEDI and sponsored by the Waterloo Cybersecurity & Privacy Institute, last week's Data and Privacy During a Global Pandemic conference brought together experts from the social and physical sciences, computer science, engineering, and statistics, including president-designate for the University of Waterloo, Dr. Vivek Goel.

Christopher Taylor (Department of History) was appointed Black Equity Strategist and Anti-Racism Advisor in the Faculty of Arts by Dean Sheila Ager this fall. The position was established in response to urgent calls for the University and the Faculty to take action against racism, and particularly in this context, anti-Black racism. Dr. Taylor participated in this Q and A to speak about his new role.

Part of Waterloo’s Thrive Week, the inaugural Virtual Conference on Student Mental Health Research includes discussion and research presentations by students, staff and faculty. Not surprisingly, many presenters are from the Department of Psychology and the Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment (CMHRT).

While this year has been full of unprecedented challenges, 2020 also marks a happy milestone: the Faculty of Arts just turned 60 years old. It was the fall of 1960 when Arts became the University of Waterloo’s third faculty. Happy birthday, Arts!

It's a long and often winding road to take doctoral studies to the finish line. From seminars, to exams, to TAs, RAs or course teaching, to research, research, research, and to the final thesis defense -- many of which were remotely conducted in this time of COVID. It's a huge accomplishment and the Faculty of Arts is so proud of our newest cohort of Doctors of Philosophy.

Maybe it’s as subtle as not wearing pink to work, or as drastic as downplaying certain traits to in order to stay safe. Maybe it’s the difference between how “tomboys” and “sissy boys” are treated. Either way, there’s no escaping it: society still equates “feminine” with “less than”. But where do these assumptions come from? And, more importantly, how can we change them?

Our brilliant researchers have done it again. Waterloo is ranked the top comprehensive institution for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants, according to the Maclean’s 2021 rankings. In fact, the University held first place last year and for the majority of years over the past decade. Researchers and staff in the Faculty of Arts play a significant part in this outstanding track record for funding success.

Two professors in the Faculty of Arts are among the Royal Society of Canada’s Class of 2020. Professor Imre Szeman (Communication Arts) has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), and Professor Jay Dolmage (English) has been named to the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

How will the disruptions of 2020 affect children, their development and schooling? Professors Janice Aurini (Sociology and Legal Studies), Dillon Browne (Psychology) and Kristina Llewellyn (Social Development Studies) joined this online community lecture moderated by Sheila Ager, Dean of Arts, to explore social and developmental consequences and how we can avoid exacerbating the effects of the global pandemic. Watch the full event.