Canada’s Federation For Humanities and Social Sciences Welcomes New Board Members

Annie Pilote, dean of the faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies at the Université Laval, was named chair of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences at its 2023 virtual annual meeting last month. Members also elected Debra Thompson as a new director on the board.

The federation, its website explains, is “a not-for-profit charitable organization with a membership of over 160 Canadian universities, colleges and scholarly associations representing 91,000 researchers and graduate students, we provide the HSS community with a crucial platform of opportunities to make their voices heard where they are needed.”

Pilote served a one-year term as chair-elect and replaces now past-chair Mike DeGagné, who has completed his two-year term. DeGagné is the president and CEO of Indspire, a national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people.

New director Thompson, is an associate professor of political science at McGill University. She joins board members Penny Bryden, Jenny (Jing) Chen, Stéphane Grenier, Temitope Oriola and Barrington Walker, who were all re-elected for their second two-year terms. Deanna Reder, associate professor in the Departments of Indigenous Studies and English at Simon Fraser University, has left the board. The remainder of the board includes:

Barrington Walker | Associate vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion, vice-provost of equity and inclusion and professor of history at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Jenny (Jing) Chen | Professor and William A. Black Chair in commerce at Dalhousie University.

Penny Bryden | Professor of history at the University of Victoria.

Stéphane Grenier | Researcher and professor in social work at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Temitope Oriola | Professor of criminology and sociology and associate dean of undergraduate studies at the University of Alberta.