Dean, Faculty of Education

Wilfrid Laurier University and its Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford campuses are located on the Haldimand Tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. Laurier’s Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. We work with our Indigenous partners and colleagues to ensure that we are appropriately acknowledging those lands and their stewardship. 

Wilfrid Laurier University is seeking an inspiring, collaborative, and forward-looking academic leader to serve as its next Dean, Faculty of Education.

The Faculty of Education has an established reputation for excellence in teacher education at the undergraduate, graduate levels, educational research, professional learning, and community-engaged scholarship. Following significant growth over recent years, including the launch of the PhD in Educational Studies, the Faculty continues to expand the pathways through which it supports students, educators, researchers, and education leaders. 

Reporting to the Provost & Vice-President, Academic, the Dean provides strategic, academic, operational, and financial leadership for the Faculty across Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses and serves as a member of Laurier’s senior academic leadership team. The Dean will be responsible for advancing the Faculty’s priorities, strengthening partnerships with other Faculties, and contributing to the University’s broader academic mission and institutional strategy. 

The next Dean will foster a collegial, inclusive, and high-performing academic environment; support excellence in teaching, graduate education, research, and student success; and strengthen relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, school boards, Indigenous communities, government, professional associations, and education-sector partners across Ontario and beyond. They will provide visible and accessible leadership across both Waterloo and Brantford’s campuses, support faculty research and knowledge mobilization, and guide the Faculty through continued growth and change. They will bring sound judgment, transparency, and a demonstrated ability to build trust, engage in meaningful consultation, and make timely decisions across diverse constituencies. 

The successful candidate will be an accomplished academic leader with scholarly credentials appropriate for appointment at the rank of Professor, and progressive leadership experience in post-secondary education. They will have a strong understanding of teacher education, graduate education, educational policy, accreditation, and the K-12 sector, along with experience leading people, budgets, planning, partnerships, research, growth, and change in complex academic environments. A sustained personal commitment to truth and reconciliation and Indigenous sovereignty, grounded in humility, relationality, openness to learning, and meaningful action, is essential. 

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors ( 

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (View email address on us.fitly.work). Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility View email address on us.fitly.work. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-Apply-/ 

Laurier has partnered with Collin Ritch and Kate Ralston of Boyden for this recruitment.  To apply click here: boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3426 or for further information, please contact Collin Ritch at View email address on us.fitly.work and Kate Ralston at View email address on us.fitly.work. Applications are encouraged immediately.