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I am pleased to announce that Jackie Sieppert has been reappointed as Dean of the Faculty of Social Work at the ��ݮ����Ƶ����, effective July 1, 2014 for a six-year term.

In April of this year, Sieppert indicated his willingness to be considered for reappointment. An Advisory Decanal Review Committee was then established to consider Sieppert’s performance during his first term as dean, and the appropriateness of his reappointment. The committee invited and reviewed commentary from those within the faculty and from the external community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide input.

Sieppert began his first five-year term on July 1, 2010. Since 1993 he has been a professor of social work at the university, teaching courses in program evaluation, research, organizational practice and social policy. He has also served at PhD coordinator and associate dean (research and partnerships). He earned his BSW and MSW from the ��ݮ����Ƶ���� and his PhD in social work from Arizona State University. Sieppert also contributes significantly to the community-at-large through active participation in human services boards and committees.

Sieppert’s research foci include community development with seniors, dynamics of successful collaboration and digital storytelling. His current research and education projects include development of an integrated victim support model for abused children, exploring use of digital stories for program evaluation and advocacy purposes, and preparing to host the 2016 World Congress of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Under Sieppert’s leadership during his first decanal term, the Faculty of Social Work developed a 2013-2018 strategic plan with the following three major goals: “to be the school of choice for those who want to become Canada’s most insightful and skilled social workers; be the leader in social work research in Canada; and ensure that our community is part of us and we are part of the community.” He also fully implemented a new BSW and MSW curriculum and led the successful delivery of an MSW cohort in Grande Prairie. In addition, his prudent budgeting has resulted in the faculty’s current fiscally-sound position.

I would like to thank the members of the Advisory Decanal Review Committee, which I chaired, for undertaking the extensive consultation process. They were: John Reynolds, vice-president (research) representative; Rick Enns, Faculty of Social Work tenured academic staff representative; Jennifer Hewson, Faculty of Social Work tenured academic staff representative; David Nicholas, Faculty of Social Work tenured academic staff representative; William Pelech, Faculty of Social Work tenured academic staff representative; Mary O’Brien, GFC representative; Ian Winchester, GFC representative; Dianne Tapp, decanal representative; Ginette Crichlow, AUPE representative; Natalie Dawes, MaPS representative; Carsten Krueger, SU representative; Chris Carlile, GSA representative; Sandra Hoenle, faculty association representative and Jane Matheson, external representative.

Jackie is a highly regarded leader in the Faculty of Social Work on our campus, throughout the province, and nationally. Through his caring and thoughtful ways he has connected the university to the community in which we serve and lead.

Please join me in congratulating Jackie Sieppert on his reappointment.��

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Dru Marshall

Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

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