New Dean Starts at University of Toronto's Faculty of Information

I just received the press release below about the new iSchool dean. I have been impressed with the school as of late, all the positive forward-looking changes, and have to admit feeling jealous of the students attending today. They are learning some very interesting things! I find some of the new dean's thoughts interesting, especially the idea of establishing an undergraduate program. As many of you know, information studies have for years been at the graduate level. I'm curious to know what he has in mind.

For immediate release from the University of Toronto
January 21, 2009

SEAMUS ROSS JOINS U OF T’S FACULTY OF INFORMATION AS EIGHTH DEAN

(Toronto, ON) –– The Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, is pleased to welcome Dr. Seamus Ross as its eighth dean, for a seven-year term. He commenced his term on January 1, 2009.

Dr. Ross' areas of research include preserving cultural heritage and scientific digital objects, humanities informatics, and the application of information technology to libraries, archives and museums.

“The Faculty of Information had what I was seeking in my next challenge ― contributing to research and teaching in a highly relevant field given society’s reliance on information consumption, a young faculty offering fresh ideas and insights, and graduate students eager to contribute to society,” says Dean Ross.

His top priorities include increasing research initiatives and grants, expanding facilities and space, and establishing an undergraduate program. Dr. Ross also hopes to build upon the Faculty’s long-standing commitment to students by hiring more faculty members to offer an even broader range of learning opportunities.

Dean Ross is the founding director of the Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII), at the University of Glasgow. Under his leadership, HATII conducted innovative research into the use of information and communication technology (ICT) within the humanities, archives, libraries, and museums, and promoted collaborative IT-based research within the Arts and Humanities. From 2004 until the end of 2008, Dean Ross was also the Associate Director of the United Kingdom’s Digital Curation Centre.

This news item is also posted here. See also the appointment notice from the Provost's Office (May 2008).