Laurier announces interim appointments for Brantford campus and Social Work

WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University has announced two senior interim appointments involving Laurier Brantford and the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work.

Both appointments are related to the departure of Dr. Leo Groarke, who is leaving his role as principal/vice-president of Laurier’s Brantford campus to accept an appointment as provost/vice-president academic at the University of Windsor.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Dr. Lesley Cooper will serve as acting principal/vice-president of Laurier’s Brantford campus for a term of 3.5 years, ending July 2013. The length of this acting term is designed to ensure stable and continuous leadership during a period of growth at Laurier Brantford. A search to fill the position of principal/vice-president of Laurier Brantford on a longer-term basis will commence in the summer or autumn of 2012.

Dr. Cooper is the current dean of Laurier’s Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, a position she has held since July 2006. Prior to joining Laurier, Dr. Cooper was head of the School of Social Administration and Social Work at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, and director of the Australian Centre for Community Services Research.

Dr. Susan Cadell will serve as acting dean of Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work. Dr. Cadell, an associate professor in the faculty and director of the Manulife Centre for Healthy Living, will serve as acting dean from Jan. 1, 2010 to the end of June 2011. A search for the position of dean of the Faculty of Social Work will commence in summer or autumn 2010.

“Drs. Cooper and Cadell are extremely capable, accomplished and respected individuals,” said Dr. Max Blouw, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor. “In addition to their strong administrative experience, both are acknowledged leaders in their fields of research. They will provide experienced leadership in their new respective roles while the university embarks on a search to fill both positions on a longer-term basis.”