In the months following a watershed of Commerce students’ accounts of racial discrimination and systemic oppression within the Smith School of Business, Mark Green, provost and vice-principal (academic), announced a search for the next dean of Smith on Aug. 5.

This hiring process seeks to replace Interim Dean of Smith School of Business Brenda Brower, whose term took effect in November 2019 following the 16-year tenure of Smith faculty member David Saunders.

The previous Committee had last met in October 2019, leaving the new Committee to continue the search for a permanent replacement for Saunders.

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The Provost, who is chairing the Principal’s Advisory Committee in an advisory position for Smith, accepted submissions for Committee member suggestions via email in August.

On behalf of Principal Patrick Deane, Green said that members of the committee will advise him on the deanship and the present state and prospects of the Smith School of Business.

The resulting Committee is composed of 18 members in total, including Advisory Board members, Smith Commerce Society President Seby Monsalve, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion) Stephanie Simpson, Indigenous Recruitment and Support Coordinator Ann Deer, and faculty deans and professors from across the University.

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“Much has changed since the previous committee last met in October, and thus I have decided to form a new search committee,” Green wrote. “I think the community needs the opportunity to reflect on the appropriate composition of the committee for current circumstances, which include an enhanced focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigeneity within Smith and across campus.”

“Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane and I would like to thank Interim Dean of the Smith School of Business Brenda Brouwer for her ongoing leadership as we continue the search for the next dean.”

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