Barbara Billingsley, a professor of law at the University of Alberta, has been appointed new dean of the Faculty, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Billingsley, who is originally from Calgary, earned her BA, LLB and LLM at the University of Alberta. Before joining the Faculty in 2001, she practised civil litigation in Edmonton at Brownlee LLP and Sharek & Co. She is a member of both the Law Society of Alberta and the Law Society of the Northwest Territories.
"I am excited to serve as the next dean of the Faculty of Law and I look forward to collaborating with my fellow professors, staff and students in shaping the Faculty's future," said Billingsley.
Previously, Billingsley served as the Faculty's Associate Dean of Research and of Graduate Studies, as a board member of the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, and as a board member, vice-chair and chair of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Constitutional Studies.
Her own research and teaching focuses on insurance law and civil litigation, and on constitutional law as applied to civil disputes.
"She is a well-known and sought-after expert in the area of Canadian insurance law," said Steven Dew, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) of the University of Alberta.
Billingsley is the author of General Principles of Canadian Insurance Law (LexisNexis) and a contributing co-editor of The Civil Litigation Process: Cases and Materials (Edmond). She has written numerous articles on insurance law, civil litigation and constitutional law matters, and has contributed to seven textbooks. She has also spoken at almost 60 conferences, seminars and guest lectures over the course of her career.
As an instructor, Billingsley has taught undergraduates and supervised graduate students. She received the 2018 Canadian Bar Association/Law Society of Alberta Award for Distinguished Scholarship, the University of Alberta's Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the Faculty of Law's Hon. Tevie Miller Teaching Excellence Award.
She began teaching at the Faculty as a sessional in 1996 and became a full-time faculty member in 2001.
In making the announcement of Billingsley's appointment, Dew thanked Interim Dean David Percy, QC, for his service and leadership.
"I would also like to thank the members of the selection committee for their commitment, service and hard work on behalf of the Faculty. Please join me in congratulating Professor Billingsley on her appointment."
Billingsley's five-year term as dean of the Faculty of Law is effective July 1, 2020.