ɬÀï·¬

Appointment of Dean of Science

Dear members of the ɬÀï·¬ community,

I am pleased to announce that Prof. Alanna Watt will be ɬÀ﷬’s next Dean of the Faculty of Science. The ɬÀï·¬ Board of Governors approved her appointment at its meeting on April 23, 2026, and her five-year renewable term will begin on May 1.

Prof. Watt joined the Faculty’s Department of Biology in 2011 and established a thriving research lab focused on understanding the cerebellum, a brain region essential for motor coordination. Her scientific output has been impactful and her research has been published in high-profile journals such as Nature Communications, PNAS and Science Advances. A gifted teacher, Prof. Watt has won two major ɬÀï·¬ teaching awards: the President’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the Leo Yaffe Award for Excellence in Teaching.ÌýShe has served her community as a member of ɬÀ﷬’s Senate, as Interim Chair of the Department of Biology and as Associate Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Science; she has held the role of Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science since July 2025.

Prof. Watt’s contribution has served to elevate the Faculty’s global reputation and impact, ensuring it remains an environment where students, faculty and staff can thrive both personally and professionally. Her vision for the future, combined with her strengths in research, teaching and leadership, position her as a passionate advocate for science who will guide the Faculty with purpose and integrity. Prof. Watt is also an outstanding leader who twins rigour and empathy in her work and establishes inclusive environments where colleagues and students alike can thrive.

Please join me in warmly congratulating Prof. Watt on her appointment.

To the members of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of a Dean of the Faculty of Science, I extend my sincere thanks for their work and commitment to the process.

With best regards,

Professor Angela Campbell

Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic)


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