Dean's Executive

Robert Wood — Dean

The Dean is responsible for the general stewardship of the Faculty of Arts, in all strategic and operational facets, and in support of the University of Alberta’s One University vision. The Dean works closely with the members of the Dean’s Executive Committee, Department Chairs and the College Dean and Vice Provost (Social Science and Humanities) to elevate the faculty’s academic programming, student experience, excellence and innovation in research and creative activity, community engagement and fund development.

Robert Wood earned his BA and PhD in sociology from the U of A and is internationally renowned for his interdisciplinary research in problem gambling, particularly in the areas of policy and prevention.

Watch this Q&A to get to know Dean Wood better! 

Eva Glancy — Faculty General Manager

The Faculty General Manager (FGM) provides administrative oversight and operational leadership to the Faculty in both academic and non-academic units. The FGM is a strategic advisor to the Dean in matters of policy, planning, budget and finance, risk management and reputation. The FGM collaborates with all units of the Faculty to achieve operational excellence and alignment in strategic initiatives. The FGM ensures that the operational practices of this Faculty align with our values around equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization. 

Eva Glancy holds a Master of Arts in African Indigenous Literature from the University of London and a Master in Business Administration from the Alberta School of Business. Eva has been with the Faculty of Arts for over eleven years, holding leadership roles at the department, divisional and Faculty levels.

Marie Carrière — Vice-Dean (Research)

The Vice Dean (Research) is a senior administrator in the Faculty of Arts, reporting to the Dean, ensuring that financial, infrastructural and human resources within the Faculty of Arts are appropriately aligned to support the needs of researchers, and representing the Faculty in university-wide decisions about research. The VDR has oversight of administrative domains related to equity, diversity and inclusivity as well as Indigenous initiatives, and   oversees the operations and governance of the Faculty’s research centres and institutes.

Marie Carrière has an exceptional record of research leadership and administration at the University of Alberta. She has been a proactive champion of research and training, particularly in her twelve years as Director of the Centre for Literatures in Canada (CLC) and three years as Associate Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Arts. She is an interdisciplinary and intersectional researcher, with significant experience in collaborative scholarship, and is widely published as a critical theorist and literary scholar.

Xiaoting Li — Vice-Dean (International)

The Vice Dean (International) provides strategic leadership for the Faculty of Arts' international engagement portfolio. The Vice Dean is responsible for defining and advancing the Faculty's international vision, building and sustaining high-value international partnerships, and overseeing the full suite of international education initiatives, including transnational education (TNE) programs, articulation programs, summer programs, and student and faculty mobility.

Xiaoting Li is a Professor of Chinese linguistics in the Department of East Asian Studies. Her research examines how people use language and nonverbal behaviour to make meaning in Chinese interaction. She has held several academic leadership positions in the Faculty of Arts, including Associate Dean (International), Associate Dean (Research), Acting Director of the Kule Institute for Advanced Studies, and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies.

Marie-Eve Morin — Vice-Dean (Academic)

The Vice-Dean (Academic) is the chief academic officer of the Faculty of Arts responsible for academic planning (including budget and teaching plan), recruitment, retention and strategy. The Vice-Dean chairs the Academic Teaching Staff Evaluation Committee and oversees the experiential learning portfolio (including CSL, AWE and study-abroad programs). Together with members of the Dean’s Executive Council, the Vice-Dean fosters an environment in which world-leading research and excellence in teaching and engaged scholarship can flourish.

Ryan Dunch — Associate Dean (Graduate)

The Associate Dean (Graduate) supports the creation, administration and development of graduate programs. They aim to enhance the educational, research and work experiences of students, faculty members and administrators involved in graduate education as well as provide strategic leadership for graduate student recruitment, inclusion and success.

Weimin Mou — Associate Dean (International Programs)

The Associate Dean (International Programs) leads the Faculty's international engagement efforts in education and research to strengthen the Faculty's global influence. The ADI provides strategic leadership and support for international education in the Faculty including international student recruitment, the development of international degree programs, summer programs and student and faculty exchange.

Weimin Mou is a Professor in the Department of Psychology, which he joined in 2007. His research focuses on human spatial cognition, navigation, cognitive maps, and spatial learning across real, virtual, and mixed-reality environments. He has contributed to university and Faculty-level governance, including service as a member of the General Faculties Council and the Faculty of Arts Faculty Evaluation Committee, and has extensive experience in research leadership, graduate supervision, and academic service.

Donia Mounsef — Associate Dean (Access, Community + Belonging)

The Associate Dean (Access, Community and Belonging) is responsible for leading initiatives that support access and community engagement, and promote belonging at every level in the Faculty of Arts. In collaboration with the Dean, Vice-Deans, Associate Deans and the departments, she is responsible for creating an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity, racial justice, decolonization and accessibility. The Associate Dean (ACB) works on finding pathways to remove barriers and provides guidance for departments, centres and institutes, academic leaders and members of the Arts community, and advocates on behalf of underrepresented equity-deserving faculty, instructors, staff and students.

Donia Mounsef is a professor of theatre and performance studies in the Department of Drama. Her research focuses on media and intermediality in performance, gender, intersectionality and politics, the violence spectacle and French and Francophone theatre and performance. Prior to her appointment as Associate Dean (ACB), she served as Vice-Dean and Associate Dean (Academic) at Faculté Saint-Jean.

Angela Schroeder — Associate Dean (Student Affairs)

The Associate Dean (Undergraduate) is a key decision-maker for undergraduate student petitions and appeals, particularly those related to academic standing and violations of the Code of Student Behaviour. They play a crucial role in supporting departments as they develop undergraduate course and program changes and assist with securing governance approval for course and program changes.

Angela Schroeder completed undergraduate studies in Music at University of Calgary, then earned a Master of Music in Conducting Degree at Northwestern University, followed by a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. She has guest-conducted bands at festivals and clinics across Canada, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and Thailand. Angela has previously served as Director of Bands for the University of Alberta Department of Music, Area Coordinator for Winds and Percussion, and as executive director of the Alberta Band Association.

Beyza Ural Marchand — Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs)

The Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) is responsible for providing academic leadership related to the administration of Arts’ undergraduate programs; advancing Faculty priorities with respect to program rationalization, revitalization, and creation efforts; and coordinating the development of best practices and standards for undergraduate programming. The Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) is also responsible for identifying opportunities for resource efficiency and conducting regular environmental scans of all of undergraduate programming within the Faculty of Arts.

Beyza Ural Marchand is a full professor in the Department of Economics. Her research focuses on international trade and development economics, with an emphasis on the impacts of global integration on consumer prices and household welfare, investigating topics such as the effect of tariffs on prices, income distribution, and overall economic well-being. Her work has been published in leading journals in economics. Dr. Ural Marchand received her Ph.D. in Economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, New York. She is also a Research Fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics in Germany.

Crystal Fraser — Indigenous Advisor to the Dean

The Indigenous Advisor to the Dean supports the growth of Indigenous-led and focused spaces of teaching, learning and research for the Faculty of Arts. The IAD counsels the Dean and the Dean’s Executive on matters relating to Indigenous initiatives, decolonization and indigenization, in addition to liaising with the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. The IAD also chairs the Arts Indigenous Council, which continues the work of participating in respectful relations amongst all peoples on campus and is a response to the 94 Calls to Action detailed in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This position also works alongside the rest of the University on the implementation of Braiding Past, Present and Future, the Indigenous Strategic Plan.

Dr. Fraser is a historian and Indigenous studies scholar at the University of Alberta whose work centres on Indigenous histories, oral history, governance, and community-driven research in the Canadian North. A citizen of the Gwich’in Nation, she is an Associate Professor in the Department of History, Classics, and Religion and the Faculty of Native Studies. Her work is grounded in relationship-building, reciprocity, and accountability to Indigenous communities, and she has contributed to Indigenous initiatives and reconciliation work at the University of Alberta and nationally.

Lauren Patterson — Assistant Dean (Development)

The Assistant Dean (Development) is responsible for faculty-based fundraising initiatives. They work closely with faculty and academic leaders to create and execute a strategic development program that fosters philanthropic relationships and results in contributions from individuals and organizations. They embrace their shared role in sustaining Arts' impactful development program and culture to build strong, supportive relationships with its worldwide community of students, alumni, public and corporate communities.

Lauren Patterson, CFRE, holds a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University and is an alumna of the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts. With fifteen years of fundraising experience in the Edmonton community, Lauren specializes in building meaningful partnerships that connect community and philanthropic support with the university’s academic mission.

Jan Boulter — Operations Manager

The Operations Manager (OM) oversees the overall administrative management of the Faculty’s General Office, Dean’s Office and academic departments and units. The OM manages the team that provides administrative executive support to the Dean, Vice-Dean, Associate Deans and Faculty General Manager, as well as facilities management, event support and research support. The OM also oversees the administrative processes relating to FEC and ATSEC and develops and implements administrative processes within the Faculty to ensure consistent and effective administrative support.

Jan Boulter has been with the Faculty of Arts for over 30 years, holding various support and leadership roles in the Department of Psychology and as the Faculty of Arts Operations Manager since the summer of 2023.

Kristy Wuetherick — Senior Officer (Student Programs + Services)

The Senior Officer (Student Programs and Services) is responsible for managing and coordinating undergraduate student services within the Faculty of Arts. The Senior Officer oversees advising services, student engagement, work experience and cooperative education and learning development. In addition, the role supports admissions, enrollment management, transfer credits, academic assessments and governance processes.

Having completed both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education at the University of Alberta, Kristy Wutherick has remained an engaged member of the university community. Kristy has been working in student services at the University of Alberta since 2000, and in her current role with the Faculty of Arts since 2018. When Kristy is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, playing handbells, reading and listening to podcasts.